The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-09-27 00:00:00

I'HE NILE EXPEDITION

The following telegrams have been received through
Reuter's Agency:
CAIRO, Sept. 23.
Lord Wolseley and staff, without awaiting further
arrivals of troops, will proceed up the Nile on Satur-
day next.
The Ist Battalion -Royal Highlanders (Black
Watch) started this afternoon to proceed by the Nile
route to the front.
WADY HALPA, Sept. 21.
Major Kitchener telegraphs from El Debbah, that
everything is quiet there. At Merawe and Berber
the people were much frightened by the news of an
expedition being sent against these places by General
Gordon or Lord Wolseley. Some of the inhabitants
are leaving.
WADY HALPA, Sept. 23.
General Earle and Colonel Stewart and staff have
arrived here. Colonel Stewart will proceed on horse-
back from Sarras to Dongola, where he will take up
his command.

A small store boat struck 'upon a rock at Samneh.
A messenger from General Gordon has arrived at
Ambukol. Hs states that many of the besiegers have
withdrawn from Khartoum, and that supplies are
coining in well from the south.
General Gordon has sent four steamers to relieve
the garrison of Sennaar, and on their return be
will despatch a force to Berber to meet the British
Expedition.
HALIFAX, Sept. 23.
Two of the Canadian voyageurs engaged for service
with the Nile Expedition, who sailed in the steamer
Ocean King, deserted on their arrival at Sydney,
Cape Breton, where the vessel put in to coal. Two
others who attempted to follow their example were
secured.

Owing to the expeditionary force being pushed fox--
ward earlier than originally contemplated, it is highly
probable that the Camel Corps will not arrive in Upper
Egypt in time for the earlier work of the campaign,
but no delay will take place on this account, as the
mounted infantry now en route to Dongola are in a
very efficient condition. It is generally anticipated
at the War Office that little serious opposition will be
offered to the progress of the expeditionary force, and
that its work will be brought to a conclusion sooner
than anticipated. In view of the latest news from
Khartoum the question has been seriously raised as to
the necessity for the despatch of any more reinforce-
ments, considering that there are now nearly 14,000
British troops of all arms in Egypt, but it has been con-
sidered advisable to strictly follow the directions con-
tained in Lord Wolseley's telegrams. It is also
pointed out that the reinforcements can, if necessary,
be stopped at Malta and there await further orders.
This step, however, is not, according to latest arrange-
ments, in contemplation. A similar step, however,
was taken during the 1882 campaign, reinforcements
then on their way being detained at Malta on receipt
of the news of the victory of Tel-el-Kebir. On this
point, however, no decisive steps in contravention of
original arrangements will be taken, unless by express
desire of the commander-in-chief of the expedition.
In view of contingencies the Shropshire Light
Infantry and Sussex Regiment, at Malta, will be still
held in readiness to strengthen the garrisons in Lower
Egypt during the absence of the expedition, consider-
able uncertainty still prevailing as to the actual
amount of opposition likely to be encountered by our
troops in the Soudan.