THE SOUDAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10082, 18 March 1896, Page 5

THE SOUDAN.

THE dongola EXPEDITION.

MINISTERIAL statement.

Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.-Copyright.

London, March 10. In the House of Commons to-day, in reply to a question about the Dongola Expedition, Mr. Curzon, Under-Secre-tary for Foreign Affairs, sr.id that by the massing of Dervishes not only was Dongola threatened, but also Mareb, Tukara, and Kassala, which, taken together, portended a serious advance.

The expedition, as well as being a safeguard to Egypt, would be a timely diversion that would greatly help Italy, London, March 17. Mr. Curzon, in the House of Coramons, said that influences were at work in Africa, which would possibly yet prove a source of danger to the peace of Europe.

Sir W. V. Harcourt said he should net oppose the expedition if its scope was limited to averting immediate danger, but if it was the initiation of a forward policy, aimed at the re-conquest of the Soudan, the Opposition would stedfastly resist it. Mr. Balfour said it was unlikely any Power would object to their uniting with Italy to enter Darfour. There was profound national sympathy with Italy, and moreover the Soudan was under the worst rule in the world. It was impossible to conceive a more beneficial change than its transfer to British influence, Cairo, March 17, The Egyptian Government has asked for half a million pounds, Egyptian, from the reserve fund for the cost of the expedition.

The French newspapers loudly condemn this.

The camel corps and battery of

Maxims aro starting. Already ten steamers have arrived at Wady Haifa loaded with materia! to extend the railway from Sarras to Aksah.

The whole force will be assembled by April 1.

It is expected that General Kitchener will be in command, with Col. Rundie in charge of the second division and Col. Hunter of the third.

The Khedive is greatly interested if! these military preparations,