Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-08-25
THE WAR IN EGYPT.
Gen. WOIseIey Moving in n Decisive
Manner which Promises an early end
to the Contest.

Gen. WoIseIey Moving in n Decisive
Manner which Promises an early end
TO the Contest.
General Sir Garnet Wolseley promises to
maintain in Egypt the reputation as a swift
and vigorous campaigner which he won in
the war with Burmah, in the Crimea, in the
suppression Of the Indian mutiny and in the
Ashantee war. 1t was only Tuesday evening
of last week that he reached Alexandria, still
weak from n recent attack of Cyprus fever;
but after several days spent in reconnaissance,
planning, and consultation with his officers,
Saturday found him with his preparations
completed and his troops in motion against
the enemy. His plans were kept so secret
that although surrounded with horde of cor
respondents, eager for every item Of intelli-
gence, the purpose of his movements and the
point at which no meant to strike were con-
oealed even from his own Generals. Satur-
day all the ironclads but two left Alexandria
and steamed eastward-having on board, with
the transports, an expeditionary force of about
COCO men, with 2000 marines held as a re-
serve. The next thing that was heard was
heavy firing in the direction of Aboukir and
the Mahmoodeyeh Canal. But whether this
movement was serious, or whether it was
meant only as n feint to allure Arab into con-
centrating his forces there and weakening his
lines near Ramleh-whero Lieut.. Gen. Sir
Edward Hamey at the head of 1000 men, is
ready to avail himself of any opening for at
tack that offers-was a disputed question up
to the moment of departure from Alexandria.
Sundays dispatches showed that Gen.
Wolseley had in view more distant and
far more important prize than Aboukir. At
an early hour Sunday morning he occupied
Port Said, the head of the Suez canal at the
Mediterranean end, in force with five men-of-
war and seventeen transports loaded with
troops. On Sunday morning, also, lsmailia
was occupied by British force, and the
Egyptians were driven from Nepieh. BY this
quick strategy Gen. Wolseley has got entire
possession of the Suez Oanal-for the contin-
gent from India, landing at Suez, will CO.
operate with the forces at Ismsilia and at
Port Said Ismailia and Suez are both con-
nected by railway with Cairo-the distance
from Suez TO Cairo being but seventy six
miles 1t begins to look as though Gen.
Wolseley were planning to sever ArabIs COM
municatons with his capital, and perhaps to
move against the latter. With Gen. Hamley
in his front at Alexandria and Ramleh, and
with Gen. Wolseley in his rear on the road
which connects Alexandria with Cairo, the
| position of Arab would be one of great diff
ficulty.
The Suez canal having been made the line
of Gen. Wolseley's operations, the reader will
|
matters relating thereto The canal is. about
one hundred miles long, and has Port Said
for its northern and Suez for its southern port.
| The width of the canal is from two to three
| hundred feet, and the cutting is mostly through
sand, the banks being very low except at III
| Gensi, Serapeum and Chalouf Ismailia lies
at the entrance of Lake Timsah, and is forty.
two miles south from Port Said. The head
quarters of the canal company, the shops,
offices, dredges, etc, are there, and the town
has only European residents. There is fine
natural harbor at Suez, and the town with its
twelve thousand inhabitants lies two and q
half miles from the canal entrance.
All the shops at Port Said were opened OF
Monday afternoon, and the Arabs began tC
fraternize with the Europeans. The outpost'
at Ramleh made a demonstration in the at
ternoon, and some artillery shots were ex
changed. Tho English met with no loss Or
Tuesday Arab began to erect fresh earth
works at Ramleh, and to strengthen his posi-
ton. During Monday night and Tuesday the
landing Of troops from the transports proceed
ed actively. Gen. Wolseley visited NJ. d,
Lesseps on Tuesday and explained the actor
of the British in regard to the Suez canal
He said everything would be over in a few
days, but that the English must use the cana
for the present. NJ. de Lesseps expressed
himself as fully satisfied with General Wolse
ley's explanation, and said he regretted tina
there had been any Misunderstanding on tn
subject.
Tuesday afternoon the Seventy -second Reg
iment engaged the enemy at Serapeum AM
repulsed them. Two of the British were killet
and five wounded. The enemy lost 100 mel
and four guns.
The British forces now hold the Suez cana
throughout its entire length and they hav,
an abundance of good water.
The Nile is rising rapidly, and will 500
overflow its banks. The inundation of Low
points has begun. An overflow will operat
in Arabis favor.
British troops at Ismailia intend to advanc
into the interior of Egypt at once by way q
the fresh water canal