Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-09-09
QUE FoREIcN LETLER.


ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT, Aug. "a,
1882.-A deserter from Arabi's
camp was caught yesterday. He
was in plain clothes and says he
threw his uniform away. His story
is that he left camp because dissat-
isfied with the state of things there.
He asserts that there were large
numbers of wounded in the bonn
bardment and the reconnaissance of
the 5th. There was, he added, a
scarcity of doctors in the enemy's
camp, which is in bad sanitary
condition. His description of the
wounded crawling about in the
schorching sun, is sad picture of
misery. Many of the Egyptians
are reported to be fighting under
compulsion, while it is said that
some of the wounded were shot by
their comrades in the excitement.
The man also stated that provisions
are plentiful in Arabi's camp, and
trains run regularly to Cairo. AL
though he is suspected of being
spy, there is reason to believe that
the statement of this protesting de-
serter is true.
A mounted infantry picket has
discovered some stores of looted
property from Alexandria to RAM
leh. The culprit was at once ar
rested, and will be tried and pun
ished.
The wounded Arab who tried to
break through our lines is rapidly
sinking. He thanks the soldiers of
the hospital for their kind treat
ment of him.
AS yet the Commissariat finds no
difficulty in supplying the troops.
Bread, meat, vegetables and other
stores are purchased from local
dealers at reasonable rates. The
daily consumption of meat in Alex
andria is 5000 pounds. A good
many cattle have arrived from
Odessa.
There are twenty-five iron-clads
and trOop-ships anchored here at
present. Iced Australian mutton
was served out among the rations
to-day, and the experiment was
well appreciated.
A sudden change came over the
scene here to-day. The regiments
had mostly settled down comtorta-
bly,, expecting an easy time Of it
pending the arrival of the forces
now on the way, when a sudden
notice, issued this morning, changed
the whole aspect of affairs.
The streets and roads are once
more flooded with traffic. The
guards, ensconced on the sea
beach at Ramleh, hurriedly packed
up, and will bivouac tonight with
out tents. having been ordered to go
on ship early tomorrow morning.
Important events are about to take
place, and the men to be engaged
will be embarked by Saturday
morning. They will repair to Abb
oukir Bay, whittier the iron-clads
precede them, and anchor off the
forts on Sunday morning. The at
tack from the sea will then be made |
by the fleet, and the first safe opor-
tunity for landing the troops will be
seized. AS soon as this landing has
been effected, General Wolseley |
will commence his attack on Arabi's |
position.
1t is conjectured that the forts
will give a good deal of trouble,
but there is this eventuality to be |
that Arab may evacu-
ate his position on seeing two forces
prepared to cooperate on land, one
of which can assail his right flank.
The country between Ramleh and
the enemy's first position will be
rather difficult to get over. The
canal banks will afford considera-
BILE cover for the enemy in the first
advance, and the uneven bed of
Lake Aboukir, though nearly dry,
will be trying to both horses and
men. Arabi's first earthworks look
Their height is about
'6 feet with scarped embrasures and
iitches' They are reported to be
we'll mounted with guns of heavy
,alibre and of good make.