SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 558, 14 October 1882, Page 20

SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

(Per B.s. Manapouri, from Melbourne.) ~,-.-. (UNITED ERESS ASSOCIATION). . ,••' ■ Bluff, October 8. ■j The English mail, per R.M.S.S. Verona, has ~.. arrived at Albany. A -■ OK London, August 25. Military operations in connection with the Egyptian campaign have proceeded hitherto with smoothness and promptitude, and the success, so far, is gratifying to the country, »nd is eliciting the. admiration of foreign critics. On the 17th, two days after arrival, Sir Garnet Wolseley had matured his plan of i action, .and* on the afternoon of the 18tb, the whole of the First Division,comprising two : brigades under the Duke of Connaught and General Graham, steamed off in. transports, escorted by ironclads from Alexandria, in an easterly direction. The destination was stated to be Aboukir, andthe vessels did steam right o >. again direct for Port Said, where they arrived on the morning of the 28th. The transports r subsequently proceeded to Ismailia, where disembarkation was completed in accordance with pre-arranged plans. Admiral Hoskins had previously seized Port Said, and Admiral Hewett occupied Suez, and the British i'.' forces thus controlled both ends andthe whole length of the canaL No opposition worth mentioning was anywhere offered by Arabi s troops. The progreßß of the transports be- • tween Port Said and Ismailia was retarded, : awing to the grounding of the Catalorua, "which, however, subsequently got off, -" Sir Garnet Wolseley arrived at Ismailia »n the' 21st, with the greater portion of the force. General Graham, covered by fire of ; i shell from the fleet, had already landed and ' v pushed on to Nefich, the next station en the Ismailiaand Cairo Railway, and occupied it - with the 46th Light Infantry, after a slight skirmish with, the enemy. Admiral. Xfoskfart nquadron was occupied on the 19th in seizing Port Said, Kahtara, and Ismailia. Admiral Hewitt sent the gunboats Seagull and MosV' quito to Chalong Ration, five miles beyond the Little Bitter Lakes.' Captain Hastings landed a detachment of blue-jackets and two companies of SeaforthY Highlanders, who immediately attacked the enemy, whs- were entrenched behind "the station. The seamen and Highlanders behaved, splendidly, and charged the position at the point of . : the bayonet, driving out the enemy, capturing . one gun, and making a hundred prisoners. ' One hundred and sixty-eight of the enemy were killed, the British loss being two killed ■'and two wounded; : The British advanced -guard hoW at Nefich consists of three ■ ■'■■■ squadrons of theUUb Hussars and two gnm. i.;'J The Egyptians'main body, consisting of 15,000 .regular .troops; 1. and h contingent of 10,000 •. : ■ Bedouins, were, afrdate of despatch, repoi.ted aaconcentrated-at Tel-Ei-Kebir, twenty-five V miles from Kefich. ; British losses during the ... .campaign have hitherto been trifling. The climate has been cooler than, usual, and the men's health excellent. The soldiers have dis- .>, played .great readiness for their work, and the ' commanders in. every instance acted with great professional capacity. The opinion of the German correspondents accompanying the ex- - peditioh is favorable as to the ;pbysique, cool- ' ness, discipline, and temperance, of the English soldiers.