The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-12


manship.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE is the greatest
interest felt in army and navy circles here in
warlike news from Alexandria, as the contest
will be very instructive in determining the
fighting value of the modern iron clads and
of modern heavy ordnance. The duel between
the British fleet and the forts will afford the
first real opportunity of studying the practical
working in war of many accepted theories of
marine architecture, ordnance, torpedo defence
and Notifications. The defensive strength of
the heavy armor of the British ships and the
destructive powers of the great eighty-ton guns
will be watched with special interest. If the
engagement is fought out on its merits it will
be of the greatest Importance IN its bearing on
the science of war.
News is eagerly awaited by our government
about movements of the British fleet in front
of Alexandria. Nothing has as yet been
heard, except brief official dispatch, which
has beeA received at the Navy Department,
confirming the announcement of the lombard
ment
George Bacheller, long time connected
with the International Court, in Egypt, was
recently here and talked freely of Egyptian
affairs. He sided with Arab Bey against the
Khedive, and considered that he represented
the progressive element to very much greater
extent that the Khedive does
Naval officers who have heard that four of
the Egyptian forts were destroyed after the
first days firing are surprised at the remarka-
BILE success of British craftsmanship They
had anticipated that the heavy, modern guns
mounted on the Egyptian forts would have
done much damage to the iron clads, which
were drawn up in battle line SO near the forts.
Minister Roustan, upon being applied to this
morning for information, said that he had no
later official information than the press has.
In fact his latest information came thr ough
the press sources AS to the general situation,
he said that in view of his official position and
the complicated condition of diplomatic affairs
he naturally must decline to speak.
LATER.
The big guns seem to have done the business.
From information received here it is thought
that the Notifications of Arab Bey are al
ready in ruins.
At the British Legation the favorable result
of the mornings bombardment is naturally
received with qualification. The Legation has
had no official report of the engagement. The
resistance of Arab Bey is regarded at the Ls-
cation as a foolhardy and fanatical act, espe-
cially in view of the absence of torpedoes,
which might have embarrassed the man@uvres
of the British feet. The future movements
of Arab are OF course unknown. His infu-
ence may be overthrown by the chastisement,
or he may be able to retire to the interior aid
carry on a guerilla warfare.
The American Fleet at Alexandria.
WASHINGTON, July u-Relating to a dis
patch sent to the London Telegraph from AL
eXanQrla, winch stated Lna6 Admiral NlCHOi-
son, in command of our feet in European wa
ters, had warned the Arabs working on the
forts that if they fire at him he will return the
fire, officers and the Navy Department say that
such declaration on Admiral Nicholson's
part would be absurd, and they have no idea
he ever said anything of the kind. The de-
partment has received no such information
from him. AS a neutral it would be Admiral
Nicholson'S duty to get out of the way of an
engagement, and if he did as the dispatch
stated he would do, he would render himself
liable to court martial.
General Notes.
PARIS July 1.-THE Turkish minister has
officially informed M. de Freyciuet that Tur-
key will not send troops to Egypt
LONDON, July ia dispatch from Port
Said states that the British Consul there, by
order of Admiral Seymour, has stepped ships
from entering the Suez Canal.
PARIS, July 1.-THE agent of the Suez Ca
nal telegraphs to M. de Lesseps, that he had
written the naval commanders protesting
against the action of the British Consul at
Port Said, in preventing vessels entering the
canal, as violation of its neutrality, and de-
elaring that the company will hold the British
government responsible. The whole staff OF
the canal remain at their posts.
LONDON, July ia private telegram from
Port Said states that the French Consul there
has ordered the embarkation of French sub
jects. The occupation of Port Said is expected
to take place to-day.