The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-15
The Whele Country Hostile to the Invader!
RndsHesvy Work Cut ont for wolseIey.

IsMAuIA, August 23.-An the Egyp-
tians here are convinced that Arab Bey
made a fatal error in believing nj. De Les
sep's assurances that the British Admiral
was bound to respect the neutrality of the
Suez Canal, and from what is now known
there is no reason to doubt that the
Frenchman was only playing well-stud-
led part. His great object was to keep
the canal free, which could only be done
by the presence of the British fleet and as
the Vice-Admiral at Port Said was not
prepared to enter the passage until the
larger ships then at Alexandra joined his
squadron, a compact was evidently en-
tered into between the British commander
and NJ. De Lesseps by which the latter de-
ceived Arab and the Admiral gained time
to collect his forces. Arab Bey had al
ways been on friendly terms with the pro
jector of the Suez canal, and in course of
conversation had repeatedly told him that
if he thought the fleet would attempt to
enter this waterway he would certainly
blow it up, and week before the neutral
ity of the canal was violated by the Eng
lish he came TO Ismaiiia and told M. De
Lesseps that at a council of war it had been
decided TO destroy the Port Said and Suez
entrances to the canal, upon which Lesseps
assured him that this was not necessary,
as he had authority from the French gov
eminent to assure him that they had dis
timely informed the British government
thatsthey would forcibly oppose their en-
tering the canal, and pointing to a tele
gram then lying on his table said that it
was from the French Foreign office advis-
ing him that England had positively de-
elaFed to the French government that she
had no intention of taking possession of
the canal He further told him that all
the great powers were agreed upon this
point, and for that reason had sent their
ships to Port Said. / know this informa-
ton to be correct, as Hairi Bey, the
egyptian gentleman who
acted as Interpreter between
them, has repeated the whole conversation
TO me- Arab allowed himself to be per
suaded by Lesseps and on his return to
Zagazig assured his staff that the canal
was safe. A few days after this, however,
it was entered by thirty-two men-of- war
and transports, when M. de Lesseps issued
his bombastic protests for motives of per
senal safety, as the inhabitants do not hide
the fact that their feelings towards him are
far from frieRdly, and shall not be as
tonished If something should happen which
would stop his projected departure for
France. There is no doubt whatever that
had Arab suspected treachery he would
have blocked the canal and have thus pre-.
vented not only the landing of troops here
but also the landing of the Indian con-
tingent, which would have been forced to
remain at Huez, where it would have been
quite useless to Sir Garnet Wolseley. 1t
would also have interfered with the pasa-
age of the Indian mails between London
and Bombay, which would have been
forced to go round by the Cape of Good
Hope, as all the combined forces the
British have here now could be of no as
sistance TO the mails, the country between
Suez and Alexandria being in the hands of
the Egyptians.
THE ENGLISH HOLD THE CANAL.
The situation now has entirely changed,
as the English command the canal threaten
Arabs Communications and stop his only
source of obtaining anything from the
outer world, besides which he has been
Obliged to divide his forces and thus
weaken his position outside of Alexandria.
Arab, however, has sill many advantages
over the invading forces which If properly
used may give the latter immense trouble
and may make their march upon Cairo
the work of months instead of days as they
evidently anticipate. Having lived the
greater portion of my life in this country,
] am in position to know the advantages
and disadvantages of the belligerents bet