The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-08-06
THE BZUNDER IN EGYPT.

THE BLUNDER IN EGYPT
Since our articles on the subject were
written, files of the London Times have come
to hand confirming in every particular the
view we have taken of the strategic error
committed by the English in the premature |
bombardment of Alexandria. A London
Times correspondent, writing from AleXan-
dlia, says:
Even Englishmen, who usually candid and
liberal iu their opinions cannot fall to admit that
we hayo committed cgrogous blunder In etecting
bombaidment without troops to land. II was Ike
wifuy tying up one OF your hands before attacking
your adversary with the other. do not say that all
that has happened could have been forcscen, but
appeal to my own kilograms to show that ample warn
ing was given Of the necessity OF landing troops to
avoid atrocities which rival surpass those OF the
Commune. 1t may, however, bo said that no gov
ernment takel Information from newspaper cor
respondents and this very probable reply compels me
to state circumstance which would otherwise have
kept concealed to show that It was not only newspa-
per correspondents who gave the advice which ven-
tured to give. For many months Major Tulooh has
been here, collecting the necessary Information Tor
the government as TO tho condition OF the country
| frequently recommended TO SEQ him, but
| Judged rightly that such Information as he
I therefore abstained from asking questions
that would have shown want OF discretion.
never even made his acquaintance. But about
the Sth Of this month l was awoke at b In the
morning by n gentleman who introduced himsof as
Major Tulloch, and who showed me,a telegram from
the government saying that the Times Of the 3d had
published scheme for landing in Egypt similar to
that which he had ocommsnded and warning him
not to communicate with press correspondents. Major
Tuoch expressed annoyance that he should he sus-
peeted OF communicating his ideas to tho press lie
asked me whether minded showing him what had
tolcgraphed, and at once took him to the once and
caused the original telegram to be shown to him
After reading 1t, he said: ''Why that Is almost the
very plan recommended weeks ago to the govern
ment. How did you hit the samoY'' told
him; and | do not mention the fact To show any
wonderful prcscience on my part for similar Ideas
have occurred to every tyTO who has looked at plan
Of Alexandria with view to military action. hut
repeat 1t In order to show that the government them
selves received from their own trusted agent rocom-
mendations of course OF action which would have
saved all Alexandria why have they failed to adopt
1t? 1t is said that now we are to have troops Can
the government show any reason which justlhes
armed force to-day, and which had not equal force
week ago? Truly may now say that 4" force is no
remedy Force cannot restore to Alexandria the
property destroyed, tho lives SACRIFICED the families
ruined But force might have been preventative; and
not having been used II is going to he given us as
remedy. month must pass before We can even be
restored to the position In which might have been
had TO- coo troops been on coasts oil the 10th in-
stant. Can wonder that the abuse which Engsmen
have had to endure for month from the natives
should now ovcrwhelm us from foreigners.
There is no difficulty in seeing that with
Arab and his force prisoners in their hands
the diplomatic difficulties of England would
be greatly simplihed. The Porte is now
eilectually playing its usual game of du-
plicity, and seems to be encouraging Arab S
pretensions. Russia is waiting for her re-
venge for the check she received at the Ber-
lin Congress, when Lord BeacOnsield's cour-
age and address snatched from her the fruits
of her victory over Turkey. When England IS
whole available force is occupied in pursuing
Arab up the interminable Valley of the
Nile will not Russia have the opportunity
for which she is waiting, and will she moi
welcome a foreign war in the hope that il
will prove an effective diversion of popular
sentiment from the dangerous ferment caused
by the Nihilist propaganda England only
safeguard from position of extreme diff
Guilty would then be in the friendship o
Germany for France has her hands partly
tied by her efforts at aggrandizement il
Africa, and is besides already jealous of Eng
lands preponderating influence in Egypt
Germany seems to be supporting England
and to be becoming unfriendly to Russia,
feeling which the latter power cordially re
eiprocates. But may not Bismarck see tha
the more England becomes entangled il
Egypt the more impotent does she becom
to control events in Europe He is evi
IDENTIFY encouraging Austria's desire TO eX
tend her sway over the Southern Slavs, an
thus become a rival of Russia in Europea
Turkey. Does this mean that when til
general war breaks out Germany will tr
to seize the German provinces of Russia
is not unlikely that this is the first object i
view in the tar-reaching scheme of Germa
aggrandizement, and the time seems DRAWN
near when its realization will be possible.