The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-01-05 00:00:00

SPREAD OF THE INSURRECTION IN

THE SOTJDAN.

The Daily News Special Correspondent with General
Baker's force writes under date Souakim, Dec. 27 :

Letters intercepted on their way from the Mandi's
lieutenants to the Egyptian garrisons, and submitted
to General Baker, show that the Mandi'e object is to
descend upon Egypt proper. His agents are now
known to be employed everywhere. The movement
has spread along the coast as far as Cosseir in the same
latitude as Assouan. There is danger therefore that the
rebellion may spread among the Bedouins to Keneh
and Esneh, and thence northwards.
Baker Pacha is not the only high and responsible
authority who is firmly convinced that this is a most
formidable religio-political movement, and he is
anxious that its true nature rhould be understood in
Europe.
The situation has suddenly been rendered more
critical by the Abyssinian demonstration on the
Kassala Road. The Abyssinians might be pacified by
the cession of Boos and two other frontier districts
in the vicinity of Massowah. The gunboat Ranger
proceeds tomorrow to Massowah on a mission con.
nected with this question. The Sphinx also sails for
the same port on Saturday.
Meanwhile Baker Pada is communicating with the
Arab Chiefs in Eastern Soudan, some of whom have
come to see him within the last three days. Nothing
more can possibly be done in the present condition of
the troops. An immediate advance would mean a
disaster.
Letters have been received from Tewfik Bey, who,
with a thousand women and children, besides 400
soldiers, is still besieged in Sincat. Tewfik Bey says
he can hold out until the 23rd of January. With the
prcmpt action of England there will be barely time to
save the brave garrison and its helpless inmates from
a terrible fate,

Baker Pasha learns that at least 20,000 rebels are
between Souakim and Sincat, and estimates that
100,000 would oppose a march on Berber. Though
the enemy's scouts are in the neighbourhood, there is
no large body within ten miles.

On Christmas Day Baker Pasha reviewed the fore
for the first time. Two thousard six hundred men
paraded. The total force here is upwards of 3,300
men, of whom, however, 600 are so•calied old soldiers
who have never had any training, have scarcely even
uniforms, and are hopelessly inefficient and unim-
provable. As regards marching and simple tactics,such
as forming square, the troops showed remarkable
improvement, but no more can be said, and generally
the Egyptian officers are even less trustworthy than
the men. The only soldiers worthy of the name are
the Turks and Albanians, numbering about one-seventh
of the effective force.

In a general order issued yesterday Baker Pacha
was announced as Governor• General of Eastern
Soudan.

The Correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, in a tele-
gram dated Sonakim, Dec. 31, 'says :

Major Giles, with 200 cavalry, has visited the battle-
field where the Soudanese fought so valiantly and were
killed. The bodies lie about in all directions, one
having fifteen wounds in the breast. Vultures, it
need not be said, were there in flocks. The enemy ap-
peared, but remained 1,000 yards distant, and after
exchanging a few shots the horsemen rode back to
Souskim. No damage was done.

A Times E telegram, dated Khartoum, Dec. 29
says :

A lay sister of the Austrian convent at El Obeid who
speaks French and Italian, arrived here to•day, after
a journey of twenty days. She confirms the accounts
of the complete destruction of the army of Hicks
Pasha, except that Alolf, the servant of the late Major
Ton Seckenderff, is now a prisoner at El Obeid. The
Mandi is mustering a great army, and intends to ad.
vance on Khartoum.