The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-30 00:00:00

THE EXPEDITION TO KIL&RTOUN.

The Daily Telegraph, in an article commenting on
the appointment of General Lord Wolseley to the
temporary command of the forces in Egypt, says
length the Government have adopted a step
which indicates that they are alive to tl3?, gravity of
the Egyptian situation, and,laken in connection with
Lord Northbrook's appointmsnt, is an earnest that
they are verging upon a definite policy. When we
announce that General Lord Weiseley starts at once
for Egypt to assume temporary' command ci the
military forces in the Nile valle7, the public will
readily comprehend the significance' of such a weielty
selection. Lord Wolseley has toiled and fought in
the service of his country all over tie globe during
the last thirty eventful years, and his name is not
only identified with success, but with the vigorous and
prudent action which precedes and produces it. Ho
is distinguished alike for skilful "preparations," upon
which everything depends, and those "operations "
which usually, though not always, follow on the heels
of thoughtful and judicious arrangements. He has
learnt how war should be made on varied fields and
under divers conditions—on the bleak heights of the
Crimea, under the fiery suns of India and China, in
the swamps of Western Africa, and on the sands of
Egypt. The special experience, however, which has
led to his selection for fresh service on the Nile is
that which he obtained in the North-west of America
when directing and leading the Red River Expedition
of 1870. That piece of work was mainly dependent
for its accomplishment upon the adoption of well-
devised means to a definite end; and although the
stream which waters the far-off lands of the
Dominion is not exactly like the Nile,
yet the essential character of the labours
now demanded is in a great degree similar to thoss so
admirably performed fourteen years ago. Moreover,
Lord Wolseley is, from his position, perfectly cogni-
sant of the preparatory steps now in progress, and
has, in fact, taken a considerable part in devising
them, which constitutes an additional reason for his
appointment. No fault whatever is found with the
military authorities in Egypt. On the contrary,
they are distinctly and truly credited with zeal and
energy in acting on the instructions sent to them
from headquarters. The main point, however,
is that no office:, in the service possesses exactly the
same wide and personal experience of the kind of busi-
ness on hand as the Quartermaster-General; and the
public will not only be glad that he has been entrusted
with the chief responsibility, but will accept it as some
proof that the Government does not intend to linger
and dubitate any longer over a problem which should
have been solved months ago. We take no account
whatever of any hypothetical language which may
be, and is still, used in regard to the movement
up the Nile. By some adequate means or other, the
word of England must be kept towards her gallant
son who has so long stood fast as a bulwark on the I
upper Nile, and warded off the encroaching flood of I
fanaticism. There may be still doubts, where doubts '
have hitherto prevailed, respecting the need for
measures of rescue ; but the penalties of neglect
would be so serious that the Government is not likely
to encounter them further than, it has done.