OFFICIAL EXPLANATION OF THE SOUDAN EXPEDITION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 20

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION OF THE SOUDAN EXPEDITION.

THE LATEST MAP SHOWING THE KHALIFA'S COUNTRY AND THE THREE KEYS THERETO. THE DERVISH ARMAMENT AND IMPROVED MANNER OF FIGHTING.

Specially Compiled fc

the New Zealand Mail

London', March 20

A correspondent telegraphed last week to the Times that ho had reason to believe the Egyptian troops wero at once to advance up tho Nile to occupy Dongola. The desirability of a demonstration in force beyond Wady Haifa had been felt for some time in Cairo, and tho Italian defeat at Adowa precipitated matters. The news is officially confirmed, as will be seen by our Parliamentary reports, and is tho subject of much comment at Homo and abroad.

Tho abandonment of the Soud in was only decided on, in 1 SSL with full recognition of tho fact that if; meant ruin to Egypt unless Egypt remained nearer than any European Power to Khartoum. Nov, Kassaia is one of the keys to Khartoum, and the possible abandonment or loss of Kassaia by Italy (who only holds it by leave of this country) might mean its occupation not by the Mahdists but by the Abyssinians, with France and Russia at their back. The Power that holds Kassaia holds Khartoum whenever it pleases.

Tin: force. L >rd Wulscley attended a Cabinet Coun eil -in March 10.

The Dongola expedition will consist of HMO or 10,00!) troops from Wady Haifa. (Jne of tho Egyptian battalions forming part of tho expeditionary force left Cairo on Monday. The entire force is expected to be collected at Wady Haifa by the Ist of April. Egyptian infantry, cavalry and

tended a serious advance on tho part of (he Dervishes, the immediate object of which was, or might be, Kassaia, but; the ultimate danger reselling from which could not fail to react upon Egypt itself. Considerable anxiety was felt at this serious news, especially a; the Italian force., were known to bo in dillicnltios upon the western shores of the Red Sea. Then came the unfortunate event at Adowa, and there was no one in this country who did not hear tho news of the Italian reverse with feelings of sympathy and regret, (At this there wore lend cries of " No, no " from members sitting below the gangway on the Opposition side.) The right lion gentleman proceeded to say that the unanimity of that feeling in this country could not be broken by a few dissentient voices ill tho House, and, in point of fact, our people deeply regretted the misfortune which bid befallen a nation of gallant soldiers who were our staunch allies, and sincerely hoped that the Italian troops would vindicate the honour of their flag. The disaster at Adowa was attended with some danger to Egypt, for the Italians wore not only engaged in conflicts with tho Abyssinian troops, but they had an advanced force in occupation of tho fort at Kassaia, which was threatened, if not beleaguered, by about 10,000 Dervishes. It. was obvious, indeed, that there were at the present moment influences at work and forces unchained in Africa which, if Hushed by victory, might

The white space on this ma.,, shows tho large territory which is under the mflaonco o the Khalifa, the successor of the Mahdi. It includes the richest provinces o tho* Upper Nile Tho seat of the Khalifa's power is at Omdurinau, opposite Kb irtoum. It w,u Horn this point that the Dervishes recently began their march toward Kassaia. Another large fore,' is also moving from Uorbar. The British are now at Wady lalia. on he should they push on to Dongola the whole Soudan will be roused against the oioiffi c . Davfur, the extreme western-province under the control ol the khalifa, is no tow oahv as the place from which the Mahdi came.

artillery are being rapidly pushed forward to tho frontier. Three battalions of reserves have been called oat, and will be stationed between Wady Haifa and Ahasheh, the present objective point of the expedition. The Ist Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment, now in Cairo, is under orders to join the expedition, but will not at present advance beyond Wady Haifa.

It is expected that Brigadier-General Kitchener will command tho expedition, with Colonels liundlo and Hunter as divisional commanders. Many applications continue to be received at the War Office from liritish officers anxious to be employed with tho Egyptian Army in the Sudan advance, and those who have been selected are, expected to leave for Egypt to-day. In tho selection preference has been given to those who have already seen service in that country. < J F FICIA l A XX 0 U SC E M K Xl'. .March 17. in tho liaise of Commons Mr Curzon yesterday, in answer to a question, explained the facts and objects of the advance of additional troops in tho Valley of the Nile. For some week's past tho Government had received rumours of large contemplated advances by the Dervish forces. Those advances were iu the direction of Murad "Wells and upon Kokrob, -which was midway between Berber and Suakim, and the Government also heard that Osman Digna was advancing with considerable forces in the direction of Kassaia. The news reached the Government at the end of February, and all this information, in the opinion of the Government in Egypt and at Homo, por-

constitute a very serious danger not merely to Italy or to Egypt or to the liritish position in Egypt, but to the cause of Europe, which was tho cause of civilisation in that part of the world. The Government had been in constant communication with tho Egyptian Government, and it was the Opinion of the military authorities, both here and there, that immediate action was required to bo taken. It was accordingly decided that it would be both for tho present and for tho permanent interests of Egypt that an advance should be made up the valley of the Nile. That advance had been ordered to the post of Akasheh, which was on the river at about one-third of the distance between Wady Haifa and Doxigula. The British advance might ultimately extend to Dongola : but, of courso,it was not usual to publish our plans _ of campaign. At any rate, the future action of the Government must be regulated by considerations, not merely military and strategical, but also political and financial, which'he could not possibly enter into in answer to a question in the House. I he Government firmly hoped that the step upon which thoy had decided would have a twofold advantage-first, that it would act as a diversion forthe help and relief ol the Italians in their sore distress at Kassaia; and, secondly, that it would save Egypt from a menace which, if left to grow, might before long swell to most formidable dimensions. STRENGTH OF TIIK MAHDISTS. March 2(3. The Army Intelligence Department possesses only the most vague information regarding tho strength of tho Mahdists. Military"exports distrust the estimates

made by Slatin Pasha. These consider 1 that a report made by the Russian traveller Eliseief, recently elected a member of tho Russian Geographical Society, is more reliable than that of Slatin Pasha, lie says that the Khalifa's force numbers 10,000 men, including 10,000 cavalry and camelry. They possess 100,000 rifles, of which 20,000 aro Remingtons really fit for service. Tho artillery is poor. There are 20 guns at Dongola and five Krupp and 10 siege guns at Omdurinau. THE FIGHTING EFFICIENCY OF THE SOUDANESE. A correspondent of the Army and Navy Gazette states that the dervishes aro now able to deliver a deadly rifle fire. They will combine European tactics with the formidable ousets of cavalry and spearmen in the old style. The correspondent declares that the liritish tactics of forming squares and awaiting the shock of battle will not do now in fighting the dervishes, and if they are followed will result in rout and ruin. The consensus of military opinion is that if a re-conquest of the Soudan is intended, a picked force of British and Indian troops, 20,000 strong, will be necessary. ACTIVITY OF THE KHEDIVE. A despatch to the Globe from Cairo says that the Khedive and Lord Cromer, the liritish diplomatic agent, are working together in perfect harmony as regards everything connected with the Dongola expedition. Tho Khedive delivers vigorous and patriotic speeches to all departing troops. OPINION'S OF POLITICIANS : MR h AIHHJCJIERE. During the discussion on Mr Cur/.on's announcement, Mr Labonchero obtained leave to move the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance —viz., tho stops being taken by the Government to direct a movement of Egyptian troops in the direction of Dongola. After explaining at considerable length what was our position with regard to the Soudan, the lion gentleman asserted that he was a warm friend of Italy in Italy, but not of Italy in Africa. His sympathies were with the men to whom Africa belonged and who wen; struggling against a foreign invasion, and he was heartily glad that the Italians had been vanquished. The war was forced upon Italy by Signor Crispi in order to divert attention from the internal affairs of the country, and it bad always been protested against by all true Italian patriots and Radicals. The result of the proposed advance would bo practically to anchor lis iu Egypt for the next hundred years. In his opinion, our real object in going there was to place ourselves in such a position that we should be unable to fulfil the pledges we ha\e given to Europe, and especially to France. MR HAL FOUR, Mr Balfour suggested that the larger issues should be debated next Friday on the Vole on Account, ami went on to corless that the differences of opinion betwei n him and Mr Bahouchere wero most profound and far-reaching. The lion member rejoiced at the defeat of the Italians, but that was not the view of a, single man ou the Ministerial side of the House, nor was it tho view of the vast majority of tho gentlemen sitting on the other side. He doubted whether the world had ever seen a more cruel or a worse rule than that now exjj ercised over the tribes in the Soudan, and he could conceive no change more beneficial than the transference of their allegiance to a Government acting under English influences. It was not a loss, but. a gain lo civilisation that Egyptian influence should be extended southwards, and that some relief should be given, if possible, to the sorely pressed forces of Italy now lighting for their lives.

Tho map we publish on this page wilt enable our readers to follow tho campaign which began .a few weeks ago, and the information we have compiled from various sources gives them _ tho immediate object of the operations. The three keys to the Khalifa's country are Dongola, Berber and Kassaia. Dongola is the capital of a large fertile trao'; of country from which Khartoum gels a large proportion of its provisions. Berber, near the junction of the Nile and tho Atbara, commands the river way to Khartoum, and stands at; the head of the caravan road to Suakim on the Red Sea. Kassaia is on an upper tributary of the Atbara called the March, and commands the trade route to Massow.ah. Opinions among the military differ as to whether the advance ought to have Suakim for tho base and be directed on Berber, or Wady Haifa on tho Nile. But the authorities have selected the latter, and there is nothing more to be said on the subject. The ostensible object of the expedition is to move a step forward into the Soudan, but Lord Salisbury lias admitted that tho conquest of tho whole Soudan is to bo attempted. That explains why the Italians, whom tho news of the Egyptian advance has greatly rejoiced, are holding Kassaia. As the lighting quality of the Dervishes is said (according to one account) to bo much improved by discipline and armament, we may look for stirring limes. Since the start tho expedition has advanced a few miles south of Akashoh; several Arab tribe? have joined, and aro patrolling tho country on the East Bank ; tho Dervishes have reinforced Dongola; Osman Digna has attacked Suakim, and been repulsed; the Khalifa lias sent a strong force to Berber, callod in bis expedition from Kassaia, and has levied a war tax. A few days ago it was announced that Sir lied vers Duller would in the autumn, when tha serious work will begin, take command in the Soudan. .