The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-03-14 00:00:00

THE NARRATIVE OF THE WAR.

LORD WOLSELEY'S ADDRESS TO THE
TROOPS.

At the close of last week despatches were received
from Merawi to the effect that Generi.,4l Brackenbury's
brigade reached there safely on Friday, with but a
few minor casualties. Except in one or two instances,
the rapids were shot by the whalus successfully, but
many craft afterwards came to grief in reaches of the
river where rocks were least expected. All the beats
too badly damaged to be quickly repaired were
scuttled by a contingent of men told off for the pur-
pose, to prevent their falling into the bands of the
rebels. The most serious casualty in coming down
the river was at the Taren Cataract, where one of
the whalers, in shooting through the big gate, struck
a rock and heeled over in an instant. Her
occupants were all thrown into the boiling flood.
The other boats lent all possible aid, but three men
of the Staffordshire Regiment were drowned. Every
precaution was taken in passing Shukook and Ker-
bekan in case the enemy should pluck up courage to
make an attack, but no attempt was made. Bodies
of rebels were seen all armed, but they had no heart
for fighting. As we approached they bolted, seeking
shelter behind the rocky hillocks. Their movements
were even more lively when our horsemen came near
them. The lesson of Kerbekan has evidently not
been lost. The rebels were thoroughly cowed. The
cavalry contingent met with no opposition, and saw
only a few isolated parties of rebels on the way.
The enemy showed no disposition to come near our
force.

The following general orders were issued on Friday
night to the soldiers and sailors of the expeditionary
force: The Queen, who has watched with the deepest in-
terest in the doings of her soldiers and sailors, has
desired me to express to you her admiration for your
courage and your self-devotion. To have commanded
such men is to me a source of the highest pride. No
greater honour can be in store for me than that to
which I look forward of leading you, please God!
into Khartoum before the year is out. Your noble
efforts to save General Gordon have been unsuccess-
ful, but through no fault of yours. Both on the river
and in the dessert you have borne hardships and pri-
vation without murmur; in action you have been
uniformly victorious; all that men could do to save
a comrade you have done; but Khartoum fell through
treachery two days before the advanced troops reached
it. A period of comparative inaction may now be ex-
pected. This army was not constituted with a view
to undertaking the siege of Khartoum, and for the
moment wa must content ourselves with preparations
for the autumn advance. You will, I know, face the
heat of summer and the necessary, though less ex-
citing, work which has now to be done with the same
courage and endurance you have shown hitherto. I
thank you heartily for all you have done in the past.
I can wish nothing better—l can ask nothing more
of you in the future than the same uncomplaining
devotion to duty which has characterised year con-
duct during the recent operations.
There was much excitement in London in conse-
quence of the following statement: The health of
Lord Wolseley is reported to be in an unsatisfactory
state. He seems to have had a fall from his camel,
which shook him a good deal, but the most serious
symptom is that his eyesight has become affected. To
those who are acquainted with the trying climate of
Egypt and the prevalence of diseases of the eye,
caused generally by the minute particles of sand
which are ever circulating in the air, the announce-
ment will not cause any surprise. Lord Wolseley
lost the sight of one eye at Sebastopol, at a time when
be and Gordon and Graham were serving as lieutenants,
and working almost together in the trenches before
that famous city. Whether Lord Wolseley will go
for a brief period to Cairo, or take a trip home before
the new operations commence, is an undecided matter
at present. The Press Association, however, is
authorised to state that, in answer to inquiries, infor-
mation has been received from Lord Wolseley to the
effect that his eyesight has not in any way been
affected, and that the state of his health is in every
respect satisfactory.
At Souakim a reconnaissance was made on Sunday
morning showed the enemy to be 10,000 strong in
different localities. ,

Tuesday's news from Souakim was very gratifying
as to the health of all the troops, who were ea6er for
a forward movement, and all confident of success.
The enemy, says the correspondent, are concentrating
at Handouk. Most probably a forward movement
will be made by the advanced guard next Monday to
form a camp five miles distant, the whole force pro-
ceeding there the following day. General Graham
left Cairo for Souakim on Monday morning. Special
accounts in the Daily News give full details of the
battle of Kirbekan on the 10th ult. After describing
the strong positions occupied by the enemy, it is stated
that they fought at bay with the courage of despera-
tion, having the vantage ground everywhere.
Against desperate odds our men, in spite of a
withering fire all around them, gained rock
after rock, and fastness after fastness, behind
which the well-directed fire of the Arabs dealt death
at every shot. A more gallant assault on a seemingly
impregnable stronghold cannot be found recorded in
military history. Another special correspondent of
the Daily News sent a letter with full details of the
rescue of Sir Charles Wilson and his party after thei-
return from Khartoum. Lord Wolseley inspected the
Naval Brigade on Monday, and afterwards addressed
them. The General praised the conduct of Lord
Charles Beretford and his men in the highest terms.
and then called out of the ranks the engineer who
repaired the injured boiler of the steamer which was
sent to rescue Sir Charles Wilson and his party on
their way down from Khartoum. Lord Wolseley
complimented the man warmly on his gallant conduct
and coolness under the fire of the enemy, and gave
him his own cigarette case as a personal memento.
The General afterwards heartily thanked Major
Denison and his Canadian boatmen for their plucky,
unflinching, and gallant behaviour in the whalers.

Later on *Tuesday a second edition a the Daily
Telegraph appeared with the following :from their
special correspondent: The Mandi is reported to have
gone to Abba Island, which is about 130 miles south
of Khartoum, on the White Nile, where he commenced
his career as a holy man. So great hasbeen the neglect
of cultivation owing to the absence of the male popu-
lation from their villages, that great discontent exists
among the Mandi's followers, and food is scarce. It
is stated that a rising agnst the Mandi's Emir at
Khartoum who; is his nephew, may be expected.
The Mandi himself lives in dread of assassination,
which is probably the reason of his retiring to Abbah
Island. The enemy who followed Brackenbury's
force were probably part of the Monassir tribes
who had fled from their country on the approach
of the" English. Colonel Stanley Clark and the Light
Camel Corps, and Colonel Barrow's Squadron of
Hussars arrived this morning. General Wood
remains at Howeyat Wells. Lord Wolseley inspected
and addressed the Naval Brigade, the Heavy Camel
Corps, and Gordon Highlanders, and warmly eulo-
gised their services performed under exceptional dila.
culties."

Further telegrams published on Wednesday con-
firm the above. A Reuter's message from Korti, also
dated March 9th, says: The officers of General
Brackenbury's column give interesting accounts of
their voyage down the cataracts. The course was
full of perils, as the rapids abounded in difficult
places, and the danger of wreck was constantly
present; but the risk was forgotten in the excitement
and interest occasioned by the exceptional circum-
stances of the voyage. The three hundred whalers
with their soldier crews, mostly in scarlet coafb,
swept down the river in a seemingly endless line
at the rate of seven miles an hour, sometimes
gliding easily with the current in comparatively
smooth water, and then swooping down a rapid
with a fall of several feet at terrific speed.
Those who from the banks watched the boats as
they rode steadily over the calm water and then
leaped down the falls, one after the other in rapid
succession, say that the scene reminded them of a
gigantic water steeple-chase. The steering of the
boats between the countless rocks and islands was
admirable. One serious mishap only occurred. A
whaler of the Staffordshire Regiment, with wounded,
as it neared the Gerendid Cataract, swung round by
some accident and came to the fall broadside on. The
boat capsized in a moment, and three of the men on
board were swept away before they could be rescued.
The rest were saved. Altogether the experiences of
the voyage appear to have made a vivid impression,
which will not easily be effaced, on those who took
part in its perils and excitements.