Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-07-14
WAR IN EGYPT.


ton then became general After twenty
minutes cannonade two OF the forts ceased
firing.
At the beginning Of the bombardment in
tense excitement was visible in the city, and
crowds of people were seen vending their
way toward the palace.
After the firing had commenced the streets
were deserted, the people having fled or
sought refuge in cellars.
After the attack on the forts and batteries
had been kept up two hours, the return fire
began to slacken TO about ten rounds per
hour. Dense smoke hung over the city,
along the line of the shore batteries and
among the ships. Though it was difficult
TO see what damage had been done, it was
evident that the Egyptians had suffered
very heavily Fort Marsa el Kanat had
been blown up, the top OF the tower of Fort
Pharos was carried away, and many guns
were dismounted on that and other forts.
Men were called for on board the In
vincible at p. M. to go ashore and spike
the guns of Fort Mex. Although the work
was dangerous, as troops might have been
lying behind the fort, there were plenty Of
volunteers. Twelve men were chosen and
placed in charge of three officers. The land
ing party were obliged toswim through the
surf They landed unopposed, and, after
bursting the guns with gun-cotton, returned
without any casualty.
But trifing damage was done to the YES
sells of the fleet. The Inflexible was hit five
times. One shot passed entirely through
her. There was but small loss of life on
the vessels, only five men being killed, al
though about twenty-seyen were wounded.
The Invincble had four men wounded.
The Penelope was struck five times, and
had one gun disabled. The Monarch was
not hit, owing to her moving about.
The destruction of the Egyptian forts and
batteries at Alexandria by the English feet
on Tuesday was so thorough that there was
no necessity for returning to the work on
Wednesday. A few shots were fired in the
morning at a fort which, in its exterior, still
showed some capacity for resistance, but
there was no response, and the signal was
given by the British admiral TO cease work
ing the guns. In the meantime a flag of
truce was raised on the Egyptian arsenal,
where the minister of war had his headquar-
tiers, and the British commander responded
to this appeal for cessation of hostilities
by sending a gunboat to communicate with
Egyptian authorities. The British vessels
remained in battle array all day, but the
white flag floating over Arab Pasha's head
quarters prevented a renewal of the con-
test. Admiral Seymour demanded the sur
render of the the forts as the condition of
peace. This demand was refused by the
Egyptian authorities, but further negotia-
tons were invited. At the fastest advices
there had been no renewal of hostilities.
The situation of Egyptian affairs is very
peculiar one. The British feet is lombard
ing an Egyptian city, for the avowed pur-
pose of maintaining the constituted author
tiles of Egypt In the exercise of their lawful
power; but British powder is being burnt
really to protect the British creditors of
N5yP+ T1e Ovat-si III Tgyptian public
affairs is in the hands of a usurper, but pub
lie sentiment so strongly sustains the usurp-
er that, now that hostilitiesl have actually
commenced, the lawful ruler, the Khedive,
will, probably, either be driven TO counte-
nance resistance TO the British or else he
will be supplanted with man in sympathy
with the popular will.
The former Khedive, Ismai Pasha, father
of the present ruler, was so prohigate, ava
ricious and INSCRIPTIONS that under his
administration the French and English cred
itors saw no prospect of ever obtaining prin-
cipal or interest of their investments. Is
mail used his power for selfish purposes ex-
clusively. He concentrated the wealth of
the country into his own hands, and wasted
the revenues of the government. In 1873, at
the Intervention of the English and French
governments, Ismail was constrained to sur.
render his private estates, and consent to the
appointment of representatives of England
and France, who were to control and direct
the Egyptian finances In the interest of the
creditors, but keeping in view the welfare of
the people of Egypt. In 1879, Ismail, the
profligate and corrupt Khedive, was deposed
and his son Tewfk substituted. Meantime
the reforms instituted and carried out under
the joint direction OF England and France
had caused much dissatisfaction amongst
the Egyptian masses, Notwithstanding the
vast Improvement in their general condi-
ton. The people were not educated up to
such progress as the more advanced and en-
lghtened nations of Europe enjoyed Public
expenditures were cut down to the mini
mum, and many who had thrved by the
former extravaganza and wastefulness be-
came chronic meters OF public discomfort.
They were reinforced by men who had been
dismissed from the army in order to curtail
lis proportions and thus save money.
These elements were encouraged and even
piled with money by agents of Ismai Pasha,
who. resen,ful because Of hs displacement,
was bent upon making lhischief From his
retreat at Naples he sednlously sowcd the
seeds of discord at homd Through his
agents and friends he tainted the people
Of Egypt with submitting to foreign domi-
nation. For nearly year past the schem-
ing of lsmail and his confcderates has been
bearing palpable fruit in the rapid course of
important events tending to crisis in Egyp-
tian affairs. Last September the public dis
content found an open and bold leader in
the person of Arab Bey, colonel of the
Egyptian army, who demanded and OBJ.
tanned from the Khedive certain concessions
proiessedly in the interest of the people,
but, in truth, in the interest of himself and
his co'conspirators. Arab is as bold and
courageous as he is intelligent. He is a
master in intrigue and a thorough politi.
clan. He has detied the authorities, and has
gradually but surely increased his power
and influence. He is now the master mind