Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-08-24
at is probably far from true that

II Is prOOaDly lar rom true that
Egypt's army is fired by any such pat
riotism as suggested by the khedive.
All reports concur that the thousands
that have been forced to join Arab
have no heart in the cause and will
probably desert his standard at the first
opportunity. To those who have brains
enough to consider the situation their
cause must obviously be hopeless in
the end. To-day [ saw a man who
had been impressed by Arab, but had
succeeded in making MS escape from
Rosetta to the English fleet off the
Delta of the Nile. He spoke English
very well. He was seized and put in
the ranks and assured that if he re-
fused to promptly obey orders the
wrath Of Allan and the death of
infamy should be his portion
They took his money, some $500,
put on him the uniform Of a private
and placed him on guard. At last he
made out to escape from the fortress.
He said the Egyptians had levied upon
all the sheep and cattle, and those not
required for immediate use were being
taken up the country; that all the
horses had been seized by Arab Pasha;
that the men were we'll armed, but
their number he had no means of
knowing; that good discipline was be-
ing observed; that the forage had all
been seized; that taxation was being
levied and the payments of the assessed
enforced by the soldiers; that the re-
ligious standard had been raised; the
army was receiving assurances that
Turkey would support them with
money and men, and that it was plain
ly to be seen that the English were
afraid to move. Arab is not likely to
give battle in any manner that may
bring him under the range of the
heavy guns of the ships. So we deem
it likely that he will await our ap-
proach, meanwhile strengthening his
own position AS he may, and recruit
ing his army.
REVIEW OF THE WEEK.
The most important event of the !
past week in connection with the war
IN Egypt has been the arrival in Alex |
andria OF Gen. Sir Garnet Wolseley to |
assume command of the British |
forces. As it was evident that decitive |
operations were postponed until he
should arrive, the inference naturally |
resulted that his advent would be fol-
lowed by important military manpuv-
res. The occurances Of the past few
days have proven the correctness of
view, and all eyes are turned toward
Alexandria watching with interest the
movements of the English forces. Gen.
Wolseley is keeping his own counsel,
and his exact intentions are not known.
Mr.. Jennings cables
from London that in professional circles
there the opinion prevails that the
troops re-embarked at Alexandria are
destined for Ismailia. In the same
quarter it is surmised that unless there
should be good reason for believing
that direct blow at Arab would re-
suit in the desertion of his forces,
NO GENERAL MOVEMENT
will be made until the arrival at Suez
of the Indian contingent, when, stimuli
taneOusly with an attack on Arabi's
lines in front of Alexandria, an ad-
vance will be made by the forces at Is
MALTA and Suez toward Cairo, with the
object of cutting off MS retreat and oc-
cupying that city, so as TO save it from
the fate Of Alexandria. There are all
sorts of rumOrs in the news centers of
Europe concerning Gen. Wolseleys in
tentlOns, but the foregoing theory ap
pears to be the one most generally ac-
cepted and borne out by the Gen
erals movements up to the present
time. 1t is, therefore, not to be ex-
pected that there will be news of any
startling nature from the seat of war
for some days yet, unless occasioned
by appearances Of weakness on the
part of Arabi's forces. While there is
40 doubt that Arab is opposed by
large, well-equipped ard finely discip-
lined army, against which it is difficult
to see how he can hope to successfully
cope, the reports which come from
rebel sources do not justify the belief
that he will surrender without strug-
gle. But in England, where British
proWess is too likely to be overestima-
ted, and the force and stamina of the
enemy as much underrated, there are
great many people who regard the
operations IN Egypt as mere parade
or dem Onstration, The complacency of
those people, howe yer, is likely to be
very much shaken, if any confidence
whatever can be placed in the reports
from rebel sources. In this cable letter
of yesterday, MIR. Jennings reiterates
what was set forth in this paper a week
ago-that, no matter when, or by what
means, Arab is subdued, the great |
question will arise when the powers
meet in conference to decide upon the |
future government of Egypt.
TURKEYS ATTITUDE
During the week the real feeling of
Turkey has developed. 1t has come to
light, as was suspected, that the feeling
in Turkey has been antagonistic to
England from the beginning, and that
the Sultan made no stand against Eng
land. for the very simple reason that
he was pOwerless to do so. 1t is now
conceded that Turkey declines to enter
into convention with England, and
it is reported that the porte will for
mally protest against England's inter
vention, being enabled to put on this
bold front by secret treaty with |
Russia. This latter statement is un-
confirmed, however, and is officially |
denied at st. Petersburg. Sill. Russia |
wants control of the Bosphorus, and it |
is considered reasonable 10 suppose |
that by making certain concessions to |
Russia Turkey has succeeded in getting |
a promise of her cooperation in Egypt |
ian affairs.