The New York herald., 1876-10-25
EGYPT AND ABYSSINIA
The Horrors Of the DefileS Of
Goundel and Goura.
Il II E l. A S Il Nj A N.
A Parallel to the Custer
Tragedy.
LONDON, Oct. IL, 137a

relating to the expeditions which the khedivs
against his enemy, King John, OF Abyssina
The history OF these expeditions has hitherto remained
an uniathomable secret, the Egyptian authorities
having Suppressed" II owing to the dlsastsrs which
overlook their forces and, moreover, NJ time when
tho Khedive's finances were III such an apparently
desperate condition aud had excited much feeling in
England IL probably deemed advisable by tho
Khedive not 10 add 10 the panic by proolaimng too
loudly mis- misfortunes In war Hence the present rev.
elations in u measure the first authentic news of
that and terrible chapter OF Egyptian history
The correspondent says he happened to meet at
ton under Prince Hassan The officer interviewed
the subject and gave the following circumstantiAi
details OF the horrible events Of which has
been the theatre during the attempts or Egypt -
chasse the Abyssinans. To the question what srueh
there was In the different accounts which had bsen
given IN the European papers OF the war In A0yssinn
the officer replied These papers were wrong 10
transforming that terrible campaign into narrative o
imaginary gaycty. The truth too earnest TO provoke
laughter" Then giving tho interviewer his word Of
honor that all he would tell would be the exact truth,
he proceeded 10 give the ensuing narratIve:-
KxPKDIToN-ITs KxTERAINArfoM
There havo been known TWO expeditions; u 70 ths
third which has just been organized and Of which yous
correspondent at Alexandria speaka The first ofthess
expeditions-that which met with the most terrible
ate-was made in October 1873 II consisted OF s,o0e
men, cavalry and infantry, with artillery II was con-
oucteu by Colonel Arendrup. The history OF this nrst
expedition be tod In few lines The i0rce CON-
vancing on Adoua, without having taken the least
precaution 10 itself, merely follow ing the van.
guard commanded by Arakel Bey, was surprised In
the denle OF Gounde, overwhelmed by . force ten
times number, sxterminatcd without mercy from
the first TO tue ast-rom Arake Bey at the vanguard
10 Arendrup himself from the Gcneran-ChieS 20 the
humblest soldier.
TALE
The following dark incident detsches itself from this
monotonous horror Among the volunteers IN this
expedition there officer, Austrian gentle
man, Count Lchy IN tho vanguard who WAS woundod
alter NJ de Sarseck the French Consul General -
Massowah wishing to SEQ King John before gong
tAr~ hA and
horrible deic OF Goundel, where the massacrcd Egyp-
tian army had been abandoned Among tho dead
bodies ii. dc Sarscck discovered man who was stil
breathing. NJ. do Sarseck approached him and gave
him immediate assistance, and found that this sole
ef: as Dead had come 10 himself and had lived ior
fortnight in the midst OF ndescrpabe sunering, crawl.
ing from place 10 place, had supported himself on
herbs ana roots drinking the wafer remaining IN the
TASKS OF his dead companions.
SURVIVOR or THE MASSACRE
NJ. de Sarscck had him conveyed TO Al Abyssiniau
village and conhded HIM TO the caro- Of one OF the IN
habtants AMI then continued his journey, with the
intention OF taking up the unfortunate Count on his
return. During tho interview he had with KING John
he narrated this touching incident mentioned the VII
lagc to which he had transported the wounded man
and asked permission TO lake him with him to Egypt
which was forthwith accorded him. But when, two
days after, no camc again 10 the village, he learned
that soldiers, armed with order OF King
John, had taken possession OF Count Lichy and car
ried him oE since then he has never been heard Of
and the only surviving witness OF the deeds OF the de-
Hle OF Gounde has doubtless disappeared forever.
SECOND EXPEDITION.
months after second pedItt0n was organ
lied with the mission OF avenging the defeat and mas
OF the previous The second expedition con
sisted Of 600 men. believe, under the command Of
Prince Hassan. with Ratb Pacha ~ chief Of tho stan
including Lorng Pacha an American officer, and sew
eral others OF the same nationality This expedition
left Massowah on January TO- and toward the end 81
the month reached Goura, between Aassowan
and Adoua, without having encountered tho slightest
OBSTACLE An intrenched camp then established
10 let the soldiers without exposing them 10 sur
PRISE for It known that King John at me mead Of
the armed population OF AbyssniA, was moving about
hnrun n
wAh disperse his army In face of an invasion
OF the country, because none Of his provinces were
with his IroopA The Egyptian expedition, without
provisions, remained month in tho intrcnan9 camp
at Goura without seeing the enemy
RATTLE GOURA
On the 18th of February they informed by spieA
that KnK John and his army would have to pass be-
tween tho ntrenched camp and the dehie OF Caxachor
The Egyptian troops then placed under the command
OF Osman Pacha consisted Of three batteries and nins
battaons. The batteries armed with mountain pieces,
and seven battalons left the intrenched camp aud
up their position six kilometres ahead on the slope
Of hills forming valley, which, prolonging itself
The bod or dried up stream passes at the Dot
tom ofthis valley and extends across the pian cutting
bed and distributed themselves from the banks 70
about tho middle OF the beights Facing them Ut the
army which seemed 10 tnIend advancing TO force tue
dehlc occupied by the Egyptians osman Pacha estsD
lshed his batteries at the head Of his army facing thd
plain and the Abyssniana From time TO time ths
latter attempted 10 break them, and each time tney
were repused by the Egyptian artillery, ana already
the Khsdves troops were shousing victory when the
most horrible OF surprises changed thor shout oi
triumph into CRIES OF despair.
LAID KING JOHN.
While the mass OF tho Abyssinian army was pre-
tending wish the denIe, this was simply
ruse dr. onerre Behind them soldiers had entered ths
dried up bed OF the stream; crawling along ground.
they got round the hills which tho Egyptian troops
were massed These hills they assembled from me
opposite soe, and then, once arrived at the summit
by thousands, men and women soldiers on loot and on
horseback, from behind rocks, trees and no lows.
~ fsspfxn rp.ns fhn
the Egyptians. Dreadful confusion ensued The
Egyptians made attempt at resistance. Driven on
both sdes, they rushed into the dry channel; panic
seized them the art,llerymen abandoned their pieces
in the and added TO the confusion The bulk OF
with the soldiers OF the Nile. They fought hand 70
hand.
Hassan Pachn with heroic efforts, then succeeded IN
gathering around him some OF the officers, with 800 or
600 soldiers, who, together forming compact body,
fought their way through tho Abyss'nians at tho In
trenchcd camp. or the seven battalions and three
batteries this was all that survived Racnd Bey.
Gesr aeas0 ssy Eeyu.,an y "eers remained dead
wounded on tho neld Of battle. The fol.
lowing day, whllo the lntrenched camp. r.duced
IN number 70 1000, was ortying the enemy did NOS
appear Tho day after that they were seen in The dis
tsnco, but disappeared before the firing with which
day noon-hey made assault, but were rcpulsed.
A cannon ball passed close to King John; no was
thrown from his horse and the assault was inter
r6pted
KING JOHN BRouGnr TO rKRxA
On the fourth day the Egyptians succeeded In pro.
jcctng explosive balls into the Abyssnian camp THIS
caused great terror, and the day after messenger ar
rived from King John. at time, he said, ITO
put end toshis struggle He was ready TO make
honorable concessions and 70 come to humane ar
rangsmcnt" They required HIM 10 consent 70 rect-
ncaton Of their frontiers and TO return the prisoners
and arms; in facs to II he had been defeated
without waiting answer ne disappeared with his
army into the interior Of the country, leaving the
Egyptians absolute Of the three provinces Of
oconlonaonsi, GourA aud Hamasen, and sending back
the prisoners
Here ends the narrative OF the second expedition
LAST ExPEDlTIoSr
The Egyptians have been able to imagine or At Least
TO say, that ,hsy remained masters OF the situation
thus oupied without and the three prov.
inces but IL would King John has repeated what
he did In tho dsnles of Goundc and Goars and tnai
after having given tho Egyptians time 70 send new
expedition no again attacked them Win an I'M
mensc army and according 70 reports, srashed shsm
. third time