KHARTOUM RIOTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1180, 1 December 1924, Page 5

KHARTOUM RIOTS

NAMES OF OFFICERS KILLED. NO MORE TROUBLE REPORTED. [By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] Deceived December 1, 10.30 a.m. CAIRO, Nov. 30. No further incident has been reported from Khartoum. The officers killed are Captain McLaren, of the Argylls, and Captain Tunics, of the Leicester.;. It is understood that Zaghlul has obtained a passport for Europe. —A. and N.Z. cable. GORDON HIGHLANDERS. DIVERTED TO EGYPT. F 'ceived December 1, 9.45 a.in. MALTA, Nov. 30. The First Gordon Highlanders which were duo to proceed to India have been diverted to Egypt.—A. and N.Z. c-üble. COMMUNICATION RESTORED. Received December 1. 9.45 a.m. CAIRO, Nov. 30. Telegraphic communication has been restored with Khartoum. —Reuter. DETAILS d’F THE CONFLICT. FIGHTING IN THE STREETS. ’■ LONDON, Nov. 29. The Daily Chronicle’s Cairo correspondent says that the long-standing insurrectionary movements in the ranks of the Egyptian army spread to a portion of Soudanese forces, fanned by Egyptian officers, who were plentifully supplied with Zaghlul propaganda funds. The trouble at Khartoum began by two platoons of disaffected Soudanese storming the hospital where one British and two Syrian doctors were killed. A running, indiscriminate fight opened in the surrounding streets between the mutineers and a few British troops who hurriedly rushed up. Soon all the British troops were out. The Soudanese, who had taken up sheltered positions, were effectively surrounded and a street fight on a large scale followed. The British brought up machine-guns which stopped the rushes of the fanatical Soudanese, who were caught like rats iu a trap. The Britishers were soon masters of the situation. Reuter states that the mutiny started on the evening of the 27th. Two platoons of Soudanese, with two Vickers’ guns, were encountered in Kliedivial Avenue, near the Egyptian Army Hospital, by two British platoons, both'forces facing each other at a distance of 150 yards. The British officer unsuccessfully tried to persuade the mutineers to obey orders. A black officer acted as spokesman for the mutineers. Towards dusk the aeting-Sirdar arrived and addressed the mutineers. Someone in the darkness shouted in Arabic that the mutineers refused to recognise the nctingSirdar. The latter again asked if the in mincers would take orders and an answer was returned in the negative. Orders were then given to round up the mutineers.

Official details show that the mutineers were intercepted near the hospital by a platoon of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, after which the acting-Sirdar called on them to return to duty. They refused and, after every opportunity to surrender had been given, lire was opened on them, the mutineers replying with rifle and machine-gun lire. They then withdrew under cover of darkness. On the ' morning of the 28th, if was found necessary to bombard and demolish the building wherein the main body was located. The survivors then surrendered. The mutineers suffered heavily, but the other units were not affected. When addressing the mutineers, who were en route to Gordon College at the time, a British officer and Colonel Huddleston, the aeting-Sirdar, advanced alone in front of the British continegent, Colonel Huddleston emphasising the fact that the behaviour of the rest of the Soudanese troops had hitherto been excellent. The position remains normal. Diplomatic circles in London describe the situation as serious, but not critical. —A. and N.Z. cable. SITUATION WELL IN HAND. CAIRO, Nov. 29. An official report states that the situation in Khartoum is well in hand. The military authorities are wirelessly communicating with Khartoum. The circumstances tire obscure, but it is understood that the Egyptian troops at Khartoum are not giving trouble. The mutiny was confined to about 200 of the lith Soudanese, the remainder of the battalion helping to overpower them. The East Dorset--; arrived at Port Soudan to-night. Xo alarm need be felt regarding the situation in Khartoum. —A. and N.Z. cable. EGYPTIAN PROTEST. SHELVED BY FRANCE. PARTS, Nov. 29. The Egyptian protest to foreign Parliaments entile up before the Foreign Affairs Committee of tile Chamber of Deputies, whereto if was automatically referred. The protest was read, and then ordered to be placed in the archives. There was no discussion anil ihe document was therefore shelved. —A. and N.Z. cable. TROOPS IN STREETS OF CAIRO, CAIRO, Nov. 29. In view of the protests raised against the arrests of the deputies the Egyptian Government has issued a communique stating that a judicial authority is investigating the question whether Parliamentary immunity is suspended during the adjournment of a session, emphasising the grave and exceptional motives necessitating the arrests and appealing' to . the public to await the decision calmly. - A big meeting of students of the A 1 Azhar University passed off without incident. The British cavulry and infantry paraded Cairo during the morning. Air reconnaisariees were carried out at the principal towns, where all is quiet.—A. and N.Z. cable.