, 1876-01-08
THE EGYPTIAN EXPEDITION
TO ABYSSINIA.
From tile Times.)

oes have been made for some time past. The
latest and most important event is a defeat OF
the Egyptians, whose force seems to have
been almost entirely destroyed. A letter from
our Correspondent at Alexandria, which we
published on Monday, gives an account of this
reverse, and the preparations to avenge it.
A letter in our impression of to-day will make
the public better acquainted with the Potentate
who now rules in Abyssinia, and against whom
the KHEDlvE must now purpose a serious war.
AS the engagement which has ended so dIsas-
trOusly to the Egyptians is remarkable IN It's
circumstances as we'll as its possible cOnSe-
quences, we may briefly mention what has
occurred, using, among other sources of intorma'
ton, the account given by the Egyptian Gov
eminent. 1t would not interest our readers to
follow the petty disputes and mutual p%rovooa-
tons of the last few years, even If we were
capable of tracing them. It is enough to say
that the people in those parts OF the world
believe that the Egyptian Ruler deliberately
pursues a policy of aggression, and that he
~oontemplates, if not the conquest OF all Abys-
sinia, at least the reduction Of its most valuable
Provinces and the control Gifts communications
with the outer world. The British and
Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, which ought to
be we'll informed, went so far as to tell Lord
DERBY the other day that the KHEDIvE was
about to annex AbyssirIa to his dOminiOns.
The immediate cause OF this impression,
doubtless, was that the KHEDIvE had sent,
some two months ago, a force OF 1900 men,
armed with Remington rifles, to the AbysSlnlan
frontier. This force was commanded by a
Danish Officer in the Egyptian service, Colonel
ARENDRUP; it landed at MassOWah, and
proceeded to make its way inland. 1t may
be as we'll to say that there had been a good
deal Of petty fighting near the coast for some
time previously, the KHEDIvE claiming such
an extension of his frontier on the Red Sea as
would deprive Abyssinia of its communications
with the outer world, and the Abyssinians
resisting this claim as an aggression. The
army of ARENDRUP BEY was sent to punish
the Abyssiniaus and bring the disputes to an
end. Count ITCHY, an Austrian Volunteer,
led the van, while the Governor of MAssowAH
brought up the rear. The Egyptian force left
Massowah, and, according to the official &C
count, met with no resistance, for the main
Abyssinian army retired before it, abandoning
the Province Of Hamacin, which lies on the
coast. The Egyptians followed, and seem to
have marched ten days without finding an
enemy TO attack. So far as we can understand,
ARENDRUP BEY left a portion of his force
behind to protect the Egyptian frontier against
the enemy's marauders, and advanced with
tu0 F6Sts 6S INC GSyPtdhS ehl0leo III
inoe Of Hamacin the Abyssinian General,
OUGAG-DABRU, fell back upon Adua, capital
Of the Province of Tigre. ARENDRUP march
ed to Gondet, where he ~purposed to halt, hav-
ing ordered the commander of the advanced
guard, with whom was Count ZICHY, to 90
forward, and make q reconnaissance OF the
country. This was done, and the result was to
show that the Abyssinians were in force 10 the
neighbOurhoOd. Soon this was made more
evident by the advance Of an overwhelming
mass. Of course, we have only the Egyptian
account, and the beaten party is apt to eXag~
gerate the numbers of the enemy even IN
Western wars. Our Correspondent, writing
from Alexandria, says the Egyptians met the
whole Abyssinian army, consisting, as it IS sup
posed, of 10000, many Of them armed with
the Snider rife. The Abyssinians were led by
King John in person, who has as his right-hand
man an Englishman named KIRKHAM, a non
commissioned officer of the British Army, who
remained in the country when the Expedition
left il. The little force of Egyptians was
crushed by overwhelming numbers. Colonel
ARRNDRUP formed bis men into a square,
and they fought as long as their ammu-
milton lasted. Nearly all were shot down
or out to pieces. They fought from
early morning to afternoon. and only a few
were taken prisoners. Among the first killed
were ARRNDRuP himself and RAKRL By,
Governor of Massowah. RUsTRM Bay, who
succeeded to the command, received two balls,
and with his dying breath ordered his men to
i nhopoo Tha T1vn4;ans n1ana their loss at