AFFAIRS IN THE SOUDAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3260, 9 March 1885, Page 2

AFFAIRS IN THE SOUDAN.

FALL OF KHARTOUM. The War Office issued the following at 12.30 p.m., on February sth :— A telegram from Lord Wolseley announces that the fall of Khartoum took place on January 26th. He says Colonel Wilson arrived at Khartoum on January 28th, and was greatly surprised to find the enemy m possession of the place. He immediately started on his return down the river, and despatches received from Korti state that the natives report the Mahdi has 60,000 men m the vicinity of Khartoum, and that lie had introduced a number of emissaries into the city. These emissaries mingled with the native troops under General Gordon, and by bribes and threats worked up their religious feeling, induced them to mutiny, und seven thousand of the garrison deserted to the rebeh, leaving General Gordon only 2500 faithful soldiers. With this small force he attempted to hold the city against tho Mahdi's great army, but after severe fighting, m which a large number of tho rebels 'were killed, he was compelled to surrender. When Sir Charles Wilson reached Khartoum, he found the Mahdi's forces occupied both town and citadel. He tried to land, and ascertain the fate of General Gordon, but this he found impossible, as the enemy's guns were turned upon him m full force. He was, therefore, compelled to turn his back -upon the fallen city and return to Gubat, without finding out whether General Gordon was dead or not. Lord Wolseley telegraphs that he does not consider the British position at Gubat m any immediate danger. The first news of the fall of Khartoum received by him 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, and reached their destination, which is probably owing to the fact that the news o£ Khartoum's fall was not known m the district. Intelligence of the disaster, however, has since spread far and wide, and some tribes that have hitherto professed friendship for England havo declared for the Mahdi. Colonel Wilson had three steamers, two of which were wrecked m the Nile exactly half way between Kliartoum and Metemneh, and the third steamer, carrying Colonel Mortley and party, came oh and brought the newa to the British camp near Metemneh. The Arabs still hold Metemneh, and the garrison there received the news of the fall 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 branches of the river. The rebels had four Krupp guns on the river banks at Haifa to bombard the steamers. When the British force reached Onderman numbers of the rebels continued the fusillade, and things looked worse when it was discovered the enemy were m possession of the Island of Tutti Juse, outside the city. The English still pushed ahead, but were dismayed to find the garrison had commenced firing upon them. No flags were flying from the public buildings, and the town appeared m the undisputed possession of the enemy, and the palaces seemed gutted. Finding it was impossible to land a force owing to the overwhelming numbers of the j rebels, the British were obliged to retire. Rumors concerning the fate of General Gordon are many and varied, but all are agreed that tho Mahdi captured Khartoum by treachery. The most reliable reports point to one Foraz Paaha as the traitor. It is said he being left m charge of the ramparts, opened the gates on January 25th, and, admitted the enemy. Some rumors state the Mahdi, together with a few . libertines, are cooped up ia a church. Othera say that General Gordon was seen weariug the Mahdi's uniform. The majority are agreed, however, that General Gordon is killed. A despatch from Cairo, dated February sth, says the news had reached there that 2000 men were massacred at Khartoum. The military opinion at Cairo is that the whole force of the British army should be directed towards the capture of Berber, while 15,000 of reinforcements from England or India should land at Souakim to seoure their retreat, to enable them to chastise tho rebels. The excitement m London on the receipt of the news of the capture of Khartoum was tremendous. The War Office was beseiged with army officers

tendering their services for active duty, and t'jl.gnuiis were received from officers throughout the country, asking assignment to rescue the expedition should the Government conclude to take such action. The papers were furious m their attacks on the Ministry, and declared the sole responsibility for the disaster rest-3 with them, as they refused to allow a relief expedition to start m lime. The Council at the War Office m the evening decided to despatch 3000 troops to Souakim inunciliiitelr, and orders have been sent to Portsmouth to begin fitting out troopships. General Stephenson telegraphs that 5000 will bo needed to clear the road to Berber, ns 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 m Upper and Lower Egypt be maintained, and reinforcements bo drawn from Egypt and India. General Wolseley has renewed his demand for an expedition to Souakim of 3000 men, under General Greaves. General Wolseley had commenced his advance from Korti for the relief of the troops near Metemneh, and had sent orders to General Earle to listen his advance against Berber m order to assist m the relief of Metemneh. The object m point of all General Wolseley's movements is Metemneh. Further particulars of despatches from London, Feb. 7th, say General Wolseley telegraphs that 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 General Gordon had become a Mussulman, and that all the English officers had better follow his example. The Mahdi had no wish to fight the English, but unless they embraced the true faith he would not leave one m the Soudan. Colonel Mortley, who was m charge of the only one of Colonel Wilson's three Bteamers which succeeded m reaching Gubat from Khartoum, the others having been wrecked, has furnished a detailed report. He said the rebels thronged the streets of the captured city, and he saw flags flying out, and many signs of rejoicing. No particular excitemeat was created among the different tribes ■under Osman Digna's control at the news of the fall of the city. Tbey were convinced long ago that the Mahdi could have entered the city m force at any time. He wished General Wolseley was given supreme control of tbe campaign. By a Cabinet Council on February 6th, an order was telegraphed that General Wolseley was to ascertain, if possiblo, before taking decisive action, whether General Gordon was dead or alive, and if he was still alive, he was instructed to endeavor to terminate the campaign without further fighting. The General asked for specifio orders as to what he should do if General Gordon were found dead. After a very prolonged and animated discussion, the Cabinet replied that the campaign should be prosecuted until the rebellion was suppressed. This decision of giving Lord Wolseley carte blanche caused great satisfaction. ' Ten thousand British troops at the stations m the Mediterranean are available for service m the Soudan. These include eight regiments of the line, thirteen batteries of Artillery, and five companies of Engineers. The Middlesex Kegiment at Dover, and sixty members of the Commissary Department at Aldershot were ordered on the sth to prepare for active service. The War Office report no troops can be spared from Ireland. A Cairo telegram of Feb. Bth reports that a Council of War has been held, at which General Stephenson, who was present, advised a- retreat of the troops from Metemneh and Korti and the concentration of a central force towards Berber, and after the capture of Berber to await the expedition coming to Suakim before making an advance on Khartoum. This would involve a delay till the Autumn, as the hot weather which begins m March will make it impossible for English forces to stand the inarches. General Wolseley has adopted General Stephenson's advice to send a strong force to Suakim. It is reported that the Indian troops will garrison Suakim, whilst a force of 6000 British will advance upon Berber. The expedition will be composed of drafts from Indian regiments and acclimatised British troops now m Egypt, who will be replaced by drafts from England and the Mediterranean. Government has decided to maintain the full strength of the garrisons m Egypt, and the Indian Government states it is ready to embark from Bombay a force of Ghoorka Infantry and six companies of Lancers. London despatches of the 9th say the opinion prevails m the War Office that General Gordon is still alive, and engaged m defending himself m some inaccessible part of the city. The Grenadier Guards have been ordered to hold themselves m readiness for foreign service. Great anxiety prevails at Chatham, Woolwich and Aldershot. The Guards were to leave about Saturday, Feb. 15th. Nine battalions of troops are ordered from England, Malta, Gibraltar and India, and are sent at Lord Wolseley'B request. This force, after reaching Suakim, will operate between that place and Berber to secure possession of a route between these points, and thenoffeot 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, 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade, a battalion of Scots Fusiliers, a battalion of the Coldstream Guards, and a squadron of the sth Lancers. General Wolseley declines permission to non-combatants to remain at the front, and has stopped all newspaper correspondents, who have returned from Gubat to Korti. News from General Earle, dated February 7th, says that on the Thursday preceding the Camel Corps had a skirmish inland with hostile Arabs, and captured a number of Remington rifles, camels and cattle. Earl Rosebery is making patriotic speeches. He said to the Liberals at Epsom that the Soudan catastrophe had been sent to test the spirit and patriotism of the country, and it behoved Englishmen to present an undaunted front to the enemy. A Gazette of the 9th stated the Cabinet had decided that the defeat of El Mahdi was necessary to vindicate England. The Khedive of Egypt believes that if England does not take im--mediate steps to crush him his influence may Beriously threaten the stability of the British Government m the Soudan. In a despatch of the 10th General Wolseley asks that the advance from Suakim be made within a month. He sees no necessity for waiting imtil tbe Autumn. General Wolseley, with the British forces, started from Korti on the evening of the 10th to croBS the desert to Gubat, and only a portion of his regiment remained at Korti. General Earle's advance on Berber commenced on the 10th also. A correspondent telegraphed on February 12th particulars of a fight near Dulka Island, on the Nile, m which General Earle and Lieut.Colonel Eyre were killed. The Arabs had fortified a pass and built a small fort on the left bank of the river, and when the General's forces reached the pass they were subjected to a, galling fire from field guns which the enemy had placed m a commanding position. General Earle had no artillery, and ordered the troops to charge. It was more of a scramble than a charge, but 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 a little fort on the river bank, and as the British column advanced it was met by a steady and well-directed fire from behind the fort, and many men of the attacking party were killed. General Earle again ordered his men to charge, put himself at the head of the column, and was killed during the charge. The fort was ultimately captured but at a terrible cost, as m addition to Genera Earle and Lieut. -Colonel Eyre, three officers and eight men were killed, and 35 men were wounded. General Brackenbury succeeded General Earle. On the death of General Gordon, the London Daily News appeared m deep mourning.