Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-07-14

scription of the preparations for lettins
loose the dogs Of war:
OK BOARD THE INvlNCIBLE. ALExAx
DRIA BAY, July 10.-On the Invincibls
everything is ready for action. The
water-tight compartments are closed
the topmast is struck, and sand bsg>
are piled on the upper battery deck tc
protect the men working the Gatling
guns and the ritiemen posted there.
We shall probably engage the forts
at close quarters. Oar medium and
small arms men will be able 10 dc
much to keep down the fire of the
enemy's guns. They are doubtless
taking our range at present, but will
be deceived If they think we shall
| fight from our present moorings We
tomorrow morning get under weigh
and keep moving during the action,
rendering it difficult for inexperienced
gunnerS to keep up an effective fire.
As | write, at , O'Clock, the Ameri-
can squadron IS steaming past. Sever
al salutes are being exchanged; our
bands are playing Hail Columbia, y
theirs 'God Save the Queen" Their
| departure leaves the British fleet alone
face to face with the Egyptian batter
| les, except where, far inside the har-
Dor, the Germsn and Austrian steam
ers lie. still hesitating whether to obey
the admirals warning.
No message of surrender has come
! off shore. The signal has been loisted
for the fleet TO clear for action. Inside
TIE harbor, beginning from Fort Pharos
| lie the Temeraire, Alexandra, Superb,
Sultan and Inhexible. Here. on board
the Infiexible, all is ready for action.
Numerous wind sails for ventilatio& be
tween the decks during the action form
a strange look as they tower far above
| the somber turrets. We shall see the
hottest fight A large contingent will
disembark from the flagship, if requir-
ed, to complete the diSmantlement Of
the forts. Mai. Tulloch, the military
attache, will accompany the shore
brigade. He has, in frequent reconnois-
sances, obtained complete information
up TO the forts III each. Gatling and
Nerdenfelt guns will cover their move
meats. Lying behind the iron -clads
are the Bittern, Decoy, Cygnet, and
Conder gunboats, all outside Of the
range of the fire Of the batteries. Be
hind these again is 4 great fleet Of
steamers lying there to await the re-
suit.
The Austrian and German war
steamers appear to be at last getting
ready to move outside.
AT IL o'clock the Invincible, Mon
arch and Penelope moved out ana an
chored outside the harbor. The scene
| was impressive in high degree. Slow
| ly all the foreign ships moved from
their berths, and steamed out of the
| harbor. The merchant steamers pre-
sented no regular order, but the war
| ships of the various nations steamed
out in squadrons, saluting as they
| passed the Admirars flag. The bands
played national airs. Scarcely breath
of wind was blowing. The various en-
signs draped against the masts, the
| bright eastern sky overhead, the deep
| blue sea, the white clothed crews clus-
tering on the rigging, and the knowl-
edge of the change that would soon
take place, rendered the stately pro,
cesslon Of war ships extremely impress
| sive. The merchant steamers were all
crowded with refugees, those who had
held on to the last in hope that mat
ters would not come to an extremity.
At l o'clock steam launch towing
a large boat full of Egyptian officials is
seen approaching the flagship. 1t con-
! tanned Raghib Pasha and the other
members Of the past and present min
istry. They were received by the ad-
miral and the Hon. Mr.. Lamban. flag
| lieutenant, and guard of marines, the
band playing and general salute be-
| ing fired, as they came as 4 deputation
from the rulers of Egypt. 1t at once
appeared that they had not received
| the admiraPs letter, and had come oil
to inquire the reason for the hostile
preparations. The interview was CON
Quoted with great courtesy on both
sides; but the Egyptian off cials looked
| blank indeed upon the admiral inform
ing them that he had sent in de-
mand that the forts comman lug
the halbor be Immediately dis
] mantled. The members of the
| deputations talked somewhat excited
| ly among themselves in Turkish, dis
| cussing apparently what Arab would
say to the demand. They inquired
who would be deputed to dismantle
the forts. While this conversation was
going on the admiral's letter, which
had followed them from the kheaive' Z
| yacht Mahroussa. was brought on
board, and handed 10 them They
| then returned on shore To consider the
| matter IN q council of ministers, and
will reply before five o'clock this even
ing.
Appearances on shore indicate a de-
| termination 10 fight Bodies Of troops
can be seen moving about. While the di-
| rector Of customs was coming on board
the San Jose he was stopped by a
| guard of soldiers, who took him and
| the cash chest which was be.
ing carried with him before Arab.
The latter demanded that the money
| should be handed to him. The direc-
tor of customs refused to do this.
whereupon Arab took possession, say
ing that it was time the director was
sent on board under escort.
Several persons had great difficulty
in getting away. Two English engineers
on the tug ChamT ion, were seized by
an Arab crew and we're being carried
off when the gun-boat Bittern started
in pursuit and rescued them. The last
two Englishmen on board were the
Cornish manager Of the water. works
and the secretary of the port.
The khedive has sent MS family away
to the country palace, but he remains
| at Alexandria himself.
| ALEXANDRIA, July I1-9.10 a. m
The attack on the forts has now been
kept up two hours. Smoke hangs over
the town along the line of the shore
batteries and among the ships, and ii
| is dificult to see what damage has
been done. 1t is certain, however. that
the enemy has suffered very heavily
Fort Marsa EixanSt has been blown
open by the fire from the other bat
| teries.
The forts are turning their fire.
The top Of the tower Of Fort Pharos
has been carried away and many guns
have been dismounted on that and
other forts.
The flag OF the Geneva red cross Is
firing over the hospital in the city
Dutch and Greek flags were hoisted
over their respective consulates at the
4 baoiprIro O oF fha h.0T1 f,o ri m erf