THE FALL OF KHARTOUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7271, 9 March 1885, Page 6

THE FALL OF KHARTOUM.

The War Office issued the following at half past twelve p.m., February 5 —Telegrams from Wolseley announce that the fall of Khartoum took place on January 26 th. He s»ys that Colonel Wilson arrived at Khartoum on January 2Sth, and was greatly surprised to find that the enemy was in possession of the place. He immediately started on his return down the river, and proceeded under a heavy fire from the rebels. When some miles below the Sanblika Cataract Colonel Wilson's steamers were wrecked, bat he and his whole party managed to reach an island safely, where they*are secure. A steamer has gone to bring them back to the British camp, near Metammeh. Wolseley says he has no information regarding the fate of Gordon, and does not know whether he is dead or alive. HOW THE PLACE WAS TAKES. Despatches received from Korti state that the natives report that the Mahdi has 60,000 men in the vicinity of Khartoum, and that he introduced a number of emissaries into the city. These emissaries mingled freely with the native troop 3 under Gordon, and by bribes, threats, and working on their religious feelings, induced them to mutiny. Seven thousand of the garrison deserted to the rebels, leaving Gordon only 2500 faithful soldiers. With this small force he attempted to hold the city against the Mahdi's great army, but after severe fighting, in which large numbers of the rebels were killed, he was compelled to surrender. When Sir Charles Wilson reached Khartoum he found the Madhi's forces occupied both the town and citadel. He tried to land and ascertain the fate of Gordon, but this he found impossible. The enemies' guns were turned upon him in full force, and he was therefore compelled to turn his back upon the fallen city and return to Gnbat without finding out whether Gordon was dead or alive. . Wolseley telegraphs that he does not consider the British position at Gubat in any immediate danger. wolsbley's first NEWS, The first news of the fall of Khartoum received by General Wolseley was brought by a messenger who left the island where Colonel Wilson was stranded,and came on foot to Gubat. Two messengers were despatched to Korti, via Abuklea and Gakdul. They reached their destination, which is probably owing to the fact that the news of Khartoum's fall was not known in the desert. Intelligence of the disaster, however, has since spread far and wide, and some tribes that have hitherto professed friendship for England have declared for the Mahdi. Colonel Wilson had three steamers, two of which were wrecked in the Nile, exactly; half-way between Khartoum and Metammeh; The third steamer, carrying Colonel Wortley and party, came* on and brought the news to the British camp near Metammeh. '~ COLONEL WILSON'S APPROACH TO KHARTOUM. The Arabs still hold Metammeh. The garrison there received the news of the tall of Khartoum with repeated' salvos of artillery. When Colonel Wilson's flotilla approached Khartoum it was compelled to run the gauntlet of a heavy fire from both banks. The rebels had four Krupp guns on the river banks at Halpajeh to bombard the steamers. When the British force reached Umdurman numbers of the rebels continued the fusilade. Things looked worse when it was discovered the enemy was in possession of the island of Tutti, just outside the city. The English still pushed ahead, but were dismayed to find the garrison had commenced tiring upon them. No flags were flying from the public buildings, and the town appeared in undisputed possession of the enemy. The palace seemed gutted. Finding it impossible to land in the face of overwhelming numbers of rebels, the British were obliged to retire. Humours concerning the fate of General Gordon are many and varied, but all agree that the Mahdi captured Khartoum by treachery; The most reliable reports point to one Foraz Pasha as the traitor. It is said he, being left in charge of the ramparts, opened the gates on January 26 th, and admitted the enemy. Some rumours state the Mahdi, together with a few Levantines, are cooped up in a church. Others say General Gordon was seen wearing Mahdi's uniform. The majority agree, however, that General Gordon is killed. A despatch from Cairo, February 6th, says news had reached there that 2000 men were massacred at Kha r toum. The military opinion at Cairo is th»' the whole I rce of tht British army should be direiteu coward the cloture of Berber, while 15,000 reinforcements from England or ~idia should land at Snaki m to secure their r - • t, or enable them ti chastise the rebels. The excitement in London on receipt of the i n?WB of . the *»pture of Khartoum was < "_,.

mendous. The War Offic* was besieged with army 'Officers tendering services for active doty, and telegrams were received from officers throughout the country asking assignments to rescue expeditions should Government ■ conclude to take such action. The papers' were furious in their attacks on the Ministry, and declared the sola responsibility for the disaster rested with them, as they refused to allow the relief expedition to start in time. The council at the War Office in the evening decided to despatch 3000 troops to Suakim immediately, and orders have been sent to Portsmouth to begin fitting out the troopships. General Stephenson telegraphs that 5000 men will b? needed to clear the road to Berber, as the news of the fall of Khartoum will induce the central tribes to join Osman Digna. General Stephenson also advises that the present strength of the troops in Upper and Lower Egypt be maintained, and reinforcements be drawn from England and India. General Wolseley has renewed his demand for an expedition to Suakim of 3000 men under General Greaves. General Wolseley has commenced his advance from Korti for tbe relief of the troops near Metammeb, and had Bent orders to General Earle to hasten his advance against Berber in order to assist in the relief of Metammeb.. The objective point of all General Wolseley'a movements now is Metammeh. rtTBTHEE PAETICCTLiBS. Despatches from London (February 7) say: Wolseley telegraphs the rebels had become defiant since the fall of Khartoum, and the situation looked serious. A message was received from the Mahdi on the 6th stating that Gordon had become a Mussulman, and that all English officers had better follow his example. . The Mahdi had no wish to fight the English ; but, unless they embraced the true faith, they would not leave one in Soudan. Colonel Wortley, who was in charge of the only one of, Colonel Wilson's three steamers which succeeded in reaching Gubat from Khartoum, the two others having been wrecked, furnished a. detailed report. He saw the rebels thronging through the afreets of the captured city, saw flags flying, and many signs of rejoicing. No particular excitement was created among the different tribes under Osman Digma's control at the news of the fall of the city. They were convinced long ago that the Mahdi could have entered the city in force at any time he wished. General Wolseley was given supreme control of the campaign by the Cabinet Council of February 6. An order was telegraphed him on the 6th that he ascertain, if possible, before taking decisive action, whether Gordon is dead or alive, and if still alive he was instructed to endeavour to terminate the campaign without further fighting. The General asked for specific orders as to what he should do if Gordon were found dead. After a very prolonged and animated discussion, the Cabinet replied that the campaign ahoald be prosecuted until the rebellion was suppressed. The decision of the Cabinet in giving Wolseley carte blanche caused great satisfacion. Ten thousand British troops at stations on the Mediterranean are available for service in the Soudan. These include eight regiments of the line, thirteen batteries of Artillery, and five companies of Engineers, The Middlesex Regiment, at Dover, and sixty members of the Commissary Department at Aldershot, were ordered on the sth to prepare for active service. The War Office reports no troops can be spared from Ireland.

A Cairo telegram of February Sth " reported a council of war, at which General Stevenson was present. He advised a retreat of the troops from Metammeh and Korti, and the concentration of the entire force toward Berber, and after the capture of Berber to await the expedition coming to Suakim before making an advance on Khartoum. This would involve delay till autumn. The hot weather which begins in March will make it impossible for the English forces to stand the marches. General Wolseley has adopted General Stevenson's advice to send a strong force to Suakim. It is reported the Indian troops will garrison Suakim, while a force of 6000 British will advance upon Berber. The expedition will be composed of drafts from Indian regiments and the acclimated British troops now in Egypt, who will be replaced by drafts from England and the Mediterranean. The Government has decided to maintain the fall strength of the garrisons in Egypt. The Indian Government stand ready to embark from Bombay a force of Ghoorkha infantry and Sikh lancers. London despatches of the 9th say the opinion prevails in the War Office that Gordon is still alive and engaged in defending himself in some inaccessible part of the city.

The Grenadier Guards have been ordered to hold themselves in readiness for foreign service. Great activity prevails at Chatham, Woolwich, and Aldershot. The Guards were to leave about Saturday, February 15. The nine battalions of troops ordered from England, Malta, Gibraltar, and India are sent at Wolseley's request. The whole force, after reaching Suakim, will operate between that place and Berber, to secure possession of the route between those points, and then effect a complete junction with the British forces on the Nile both above and below Berber. Among the troops ordered from England are the 20th Hussars, third battalion of the Rifle Brigade, the battalion of the Scots Fnsileers, the battalion of the Coldstream Guards, and a squadron of the Fifth Lancers. General Wolseley declines to permit noncombatants to remain at the front, and will stop all newspaper correspondence. Correspondents returned from Gubat to Korti. News from General Earie's army, dated February 7, says that on the Thursday preceding the Came! Corps had a skirmish inland with hostile Arabs, and captured a number of Remington rides, camels, and cattle. Earl Rosebery is making patriotic speeches. He said to the Liberals at Epsom on the Sth that the Soudan campaign had been sent to test the spirit and patriotism of the country, and it behoved Englishmen to present an undivided front to the enemy. The Pall Mall Gazette of the 9th said the Cabinet had decided that tie defeat of El Mahdi was necessary to rindicate England, and the Khedive of E/ypt believes that if England does not take immediate steps to crush him, his influence may seriously threaten the stability of the British Empire in India. Despatches of the 10th say Lord Wolseley asks that the advance from Suakim be made within a month. He sees no necessity' for waiting until autumn. General Walseley, with the British forces, started from Korti on the evening of the 10th to cross the desert to Gabat. Only a portion of his regiments remain at Korti. General Earie's advance on Berber commenced on the 10th also. ; •'■'' '•-'- t*"- ; --'-' ="" 1

Lord Bereaford returned to Korti on February 9, bringing, with .him Colonel Wilson and party, who were stranded on an island some distance up the Nile while returning from' Khartoum. The rescue was made with considerable difficulty. Lord Wolseley telegraphed^ as follows:— " 1 cannot speak too highly of the pluck of Lord Charles Bereaford and party. Col. Wilson's men likewise behaved admirably, and with the usual determination of Englishmen." The Standard's correspondent telegraphed on February 12 particulars of the fight near Dulka Island, on the Nile, in which General Karle and Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre were killed. The Arabs had fortified a pass and built a small fort on the left bank of the river. When General Earle's forces reached the pass they were subjected to a galling fire from field guns which the enemy had placed in a commanding position. General Earle had no artillery, and ordered the troops to charge. It was more of a scramble than a charge, bat the Arabs were driven from the heights at the point of the bayonet, and fell back slowly towards the river. All that then remained to be captured was the little fort on the river bank. As the British column advanced, it was met by a steady and well directed fire from behind sand and watlings which composed the fort, and many men of t[,3 attacking party -were killed. General Earle again ordered his men to charge, and pat himself at the head of the colurrn. He was killed during this charge. The fort was ultimately captured, but at a terrible cost. In addition to General Earle and Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre, three officers and eight men were killed, and 35 were wounded. General Brackenbury succeeded E*rle. DEATH OF GENKRIL GORDON. The L udon Daily News of February 11th appeared in deep l our ling'for the death of General Go.con, and at the same time published the following fromfladkul:— " Natives who escaped from Khartoum say General Gordon was killed whilejn the act of leaving his t ally the faithful troops. The latter were cut down to a man, and for hours the beat pact of the town waa a, scene of mer»

I act even * dren being spared All .* nd *2their followers." ™" ma The following «e additional detail falling ol General GordonnSdS?A*i Khartoum :—At dayheht on u« j * capture, which » * *• 26th and 27th of * *• attention was attracted by .£ G ° r<ion '« tumult in the streets; He left tfiS*" palace, or Government building £ %?$* had made his headquarters/to JLS*** cause of the disturbance. Oust « v Ol *• the itr eet he was .SbedSgJt*** Ml dead. The tumult Sf 2?. b ?*.««d: Mahdi'. troops, who bad 'gab*"* l * El the interior of the town through t££ to and who were soon in vaEZr*** the place, including the citadel , V* 50 °* massacre of the garrison followed. £"l scenes of slaughter are described *» *■• ing the Bulgarian atrocities, "and the worst horrors of the Sepoy Ss** Panic-stricken Egyptian, were^n,^ 1 * their flight, and put to &£** « the most fiendish tortures So *** transfixed with spears, and left *?» i_T w » to death. Most of the victims weS, !wd lated in the most horrible manner ¥* were gouged out, noses slit and tonne,?" out by the roots. In many ca ß « ?v *** lated parts of the victims' bodied into their months while they Jl thnat living. The massacre included man? ** combatants,- and the Egyptian worn* °°*" subjected to the most shameful inH;«.v * More than a hundred women Si girls were given over to the Mahdi't f»ru? era to be used as slaves. After th» ila 7 1 ' many of the Arabs were seen ro»u ; n!! iT" the streets with the heads of £|r *v mS impaled upon spears. The next junki l ■pent in a saturnalia of blood and defeati • *** Since the capture of Khartoum, Bv w*" has repaired the fortifications and made* place well nigh impregnable, flehas' T it his permanent headquarters, and^^T. 8 have an abundance of guns, small arnu ammunition. Both Colonel Wilsoa'aste' *°* were wrecked owing to the treacherfrfS pilots, who will be court-martialled ™* The Standard, of all the morning ****. refused to believe the story of G f*J death, and on the afternoon of February published a despatch from its correspond? at Korti, declaring on the word of Yd. senger that Khartoum had not been a tured by the Mahdi, and that General (W still held the city. The Government offi?? do not credit this. A second despatch saw the Mudir of Dongola refuses to believe th reports concerning the capture of RhartotTm and the massacre of Gordon and the Ban? son. STO * A telegram was received at the Wi* Q &(iJt on February 13, from General WuUele7 He sends an account of the fall of Khartoum as given by a native eye-witness to thee? trance of the rebeis into the town. TV," place was entered January 26th. General Gordon was killed by a volley rom the rebel riflemen while on his way from headquarter* to the Austrian Consulate. The Austrian Consul was killed in his own residence, and the Greek Consul is held a prisoner by the Mahdi. ' A despatch from Korti (February 15) says that the Mudir of Dongola is now convinced that Khartoum has fallen and General Gordon is dead. Some of the rebels on gaininj? access to Khartoum, went to the Govern. ment House, and met Gordon coming out armed along with Mohammed Bey Mustapha and twenty cavasses. While proceeding to the Austrian Consulate they met a party of rebels, who fired a volley, and Gordon and Mohammed Mustapha fell dead. A despatch from Calcutta (February 15) says that the Press, both Anglo-Indian and native, are mosly loyal in their comments on the events in the Soudan ; but a difference of opinion is expressedjin regard to the despatch of Indian troops to Egypt The Press is unanimous that India bhould not be saddled with the expense of the campaign. Native officers, including Mahometans, bare petitioned for active service. .*•"""', .*'•' MISCELLANEOUS. Mr. Courtney and Mr. John Morley, M.P's., are arranging for a Conference of all members of Parliament opposed to a continuance of the war in the Soudan. Many of the Liberals urge that the Soudan and Egyptian muddle be handed over to th» Sultan. They are alarmed at the heavy losses sustained by Wolseley'a command, and at the terrible vista of boundless expense. The Government has given a contract for the construction of a railway from Suakim and Berber to Messrs. 7 icaa, Airo, and Co. The contractors will r jvide all the materia!! which the Government undertakes to transport to Egypt. The work will begin Immediately. The sentries about the Sheernesi powder magazine were trebled on February loth in. consequence of the appearance at that place of suspected dynamiters. Extra guards have also been placed about Eton College. Mr. Gladstone sent out letters on the 14th to his supporters, imposing upon them the importance of their presence at the opening of Parliament. The War Department has organised a corps of balioonista from the Engineer Corps for experimental service in tbe/lSoudaa. ' At a Liberal meeting held in Birmingham on January 2Sth, a resolution was unanimously passed expressing sympathy with the Conservative party in their" great loss by the death of the " gallant soldier and patriot, th» genial and kind-hearted Colonel Burnaby."