The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-08-29
SOLID SENSE ABOUT EGYPT AND THE
ENGLISH.
From the Missour Republican.


Gen. Wolsely is reported to have said
before his departure from England that he
expected to finish the war by the 18th of
September next. As Gen. Wolseley is
credited with the possession of a large
amount of good sense, the probability is
that he said nothing of the sort; preferring
to let the events speak for themselves
rather than stake his reputation upon a
prediction which any one of a hundred
possible accidents or unforeseen contin-
gencies might falsify. But he is certainly
moving with a promptness and energy
which could hardly be surpassed if he had
taken the contract to wind up the whole
business in three weeks. Arriving at Alex
andria on Tuesday, the 18th, he reviewed
the British forces and examined the enc
my's position next day; on Thursday ar
ranged his plans, on Friday circulated the
rumor of an intended attack upon the
Abouklr forts, and On Saturday night oc
cupied Port Said, Kantara and Islnailla
and was master of the SueZ canal. Aside
from the advantages which the con-
troll of the canal must give him, his posi-
ton commands &rabi's rear at Kafr ell
Dwar, cutting off the line of retreat upon
Cairo, and opening the path to that i'm
portant city. How Arab will get out of
his present uncomfortable predicament re-
mains to be seen. With a lake on his
right. another on his left, the garrisons of
Ramleh and Alexandria in front, and
Wolseley liable at any moment to come up
behind, he is apparently in what is called
"a bad box'-which may become the cof-
fin of his cause. But surprising he man
ages to slip out and away, he can scarcely
hope to offer organized resistance to the
invaders very long. The odds are already
tremendously against him. Saying moth
ing of the fieet-2, 900 marines. of which
took part in the movement upon Port Said
lit is estimated that there are 40 600
British troops in Egypt or on the way.
The Egyptian army previous to the out
break of hostilities, was reckoned at about
10000 men, divided as follows Eighteen
regiments of infantry, three bat
talions each,- with four battalions of rifles; |
four regiments of cavalry and IA guns.
Whatever additions have been made since
must be in the shape of volunteers, who
are not to be depended upon except for
long distance ego when-y please" fight
ing; and even the regulars are regarded as
among the very poorest soldiers in the
world-far inferior to the South African
Beers, and not much more than match
for the Zulus or Modocs. Such has been
their record hitherto but they may do |
better now, when patriotism and religion |
combine TO inspire them In quantity and |
quality of war material, animate and mani |
mate, the English are so superior to the |
Egyptians that no comparison can be
drawn; and Gen. Wolseley should have no |
in marching where he pleases. |
Ii Arab makes stand at Kafr ell Dwar or |
elsewhere, he ought to be-easily whipped |
In pitched battle; nd if he retire ats into |
The interior, he can safely be allowed to |
remain undisturbed, but closely watched, |
lntil the fall of the Nile and /
he approach of winter rem
ier.active operatipns less inc0nvenient than
n August and September. In short the
complete wiping out of the Egyptian army, |
~ defeat, surrender or disintegration, is a
mere question of time. The time may, and
will be, extended beyond the 18th
,roximo; but by that date we should see
he unmistakable beginning of the inevita-
BE end.
Discussing the campaign, the New York
Times says:
The bombardment Of Alexandria, the
anding of troops there and elsewhere IN
Egypt, the forcible seizure of the Suez ]