EVENTS ON THE UPPER NILE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 37

EVENTS ON THE UPPER NILE.

Cairo, April 29. Tho Egyptian Government rely on the resolution of the Caisse de la Deffe of 1892, directing that four members may apply the reserve to an expedition in the Soudan. Tho final decision in tho enquiry is to be given on May 11th. London, April 30. Lord Salisbury, addressing an assembly of tho Primrose Leagues, said it was the duty of England to recover the lost southern provinces of Egypt, which were now prostrate beneath the most fiendish despotism that had ever cursed the earth, and without the slightest shadow of immediate relief. The expedition was in accord with tho trust held by England, and was really a fulfilment of pledges. Cairo, May 2. Three squadrons, of cavalry and.

Soudanese battalion have routed 300 | Dervishes near Akaseh, and killed many. Cairo, May 3. Cue thousand Dervishes, armed with rifles, are assembled near Akasheh, and an attack is impending. Cairo, May I, In tho rout of the Dervishes near Akasheh the Egyptian cavalry behaved gallantly, and killed thirty of the enemy. The Dervishes' riflemen would not light, and retreated. ARMY ESTIMATES. According to the Army Estimates, just issued, tho gross amount required for the year ending March, 1897, is £20,9-1-0,778, consisting of £17,070,000 for effective services, and £3,870,1.18 for non-effectivo service, compared with a gross estimate of £20,805,758 for tho year ending March, 18!Jd, to which was added a supplementary estimate of £70,U)0. The net estimate for the year ended March, 1897, is £18,05G,G00, compared with £18,053,800 for the year ending March, 189(5, showing a net in crease of £2NOO. Tho number of men to be provided for is 150,171 against 155,403, an increase of 771. The principal increases are,:—Pay departments of general stall', reserve, &c, C 2055 ; transport and remounts, £23,200 ; clothing establishments and services, £18,000; warlike and other stores (supply and repair), £180,150; and works, buildings and repairs, £IB,IOO. The chief decreases are:Militia pay and allowances, £12,000; Volunteer corps pay and allowances, £199,700; provisions, forage and other supplies, £ol,loo.—Lord Lansdowno in his memorandum explains that the groat decrease in tho estimate for tho Volunteers is accounted for by special grants which were made for the year ended March, 1890. With regard to the force in Egypt, his Lordship states that the hope expressed by Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman that it might bo found possible to withdraw a battalion in 1895 had not been realised, and events which had recently taken place in that part of Africa rendered it impossible that there will hi! a reduction of (he Egyptian garrison during the current, year. Special efforts, he [states, are being taken to provide as rapidly as possible the new rind converted guns for the artillery. Recruiting for 1895 was satisfactory, there having been no dilliculty in obtaining the full number required, and the loss from desertion was smaller than in any previous year since the establishment of the short service system. Dilliculty wis still, however, experienced in obtaining officers for the Volunteer force, and :in additional sum had been taken to assist officers in providing an outfit. The increase in the clothing vote is attributed to expenses for manoeuvres and completion of issue of helmets to militia, and the increase for works is stated to be chiefly due to automatic increase in the amount payable for annuities under the

Barracks Act. Progress in the mannfacti

of the magazine rifle is reported to be satiofactory, and it is stated that tho trade companies will have delivered about 205,000 of these weapons by tho end of this year.

THE ITALIAN'S KETATN KASSALA FOii THE PRESENT. Rome, April 29. General Baldissera has been directed to retain Kassala until tho autumn, when tho final decision as to occupation will bo given.