Morning journal and courier., 1882-09-07
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. PIREbUCS AT WORK. A Big Blaze Started in
 Alexandria. A PLOT AMONG THE NATIVES. TEaeir scheme Rolled Hsy aRae
 British. WolssIsy's Troops Moving Forward. "A Decisive Rattle Expected
 on Monday.
EGYPT.

Alexandria in FIames-A Native Plot to
 Burn the Ctty-The Scheme Frustrated
 -Ehe Strength of Arnbpa Forces
 VEoIseley's Comm nd Rowing Forward
 "A Battle Expected ora Monday.
 ALEXANDRIA, Sept. CA largo fire broke out in the heart of the city last night, awakening the citizens and causing great consternation. The garrison was summ oned to the scene and after much exertion sue. ceeaed in extinguishing tho flames, when it was ascertained that the natives had entered into plot to destroy the city. An Egyptian, who is suspected of compicity in the at tempt has been arrested and will be summa- rily dealt with. During the excitement it was reported that Arabi's troops were on the outskirts of the city and that general mas- sacre was imminent This happily proved untrue and order is now restored.
 IsMA1L1A, Sept. Ct is now repor ted that and in good condition. He has likewise large forces at Shoubra, Ghiza and Moukat- tan, where he is constructing formidable earthworks. Arabi has 6,OOO men at Cairo and several thousand encamped outside the city close to the pyramids. Da- mietta is garrisoned by g regiment of black troops and large number of the same troops are within reach in case of ne- cessity. From Damietta to Mansurah, dis tance of 25 miles, the enemy are known to be in large numbers and display much actiyi- ty Fears are entertained that the enemy contemplate an attack upon the canal, and General Wolseley's advance has been delayed on this account. It is known that Arabi has on his staff one Italian and four Germans, all able officers.
 LONDON, Sept. 6.-The absence of reliable information as to the strength and where abouts of Arabi's forses is the principal ob- stacle to General Wolseley's advance upon the enemy. Upsn his arrival in Egypt Gen. eral Wolseley found to his surprise that there existed strange lack of knowledge regarding the enemy's strength and positions, and at once applied himself to the task of remedy ing what he considered an unpardonable blunder on the part of Admiral Seymour and General Alison. All efforts in this di rection have failed. The puzzle remains un solved, and General Wolseley now acknowl- edges his own inability to fathom the mys tery. The attempt to gain information | through native sources was soon abandoned. General Wolseley is convinced that not the | slightest reliance can be placed on their stories. The only alternative was the em ployment of spies from the British ranks, ! but the impossibility of 8 successful disguise | and the certainty of instant detection by the natives led to the abandonment of this plan after few days trial. Arabi on the other hand manages to keep himself we'll ad vised of the movements of the Brit 1 ish troops, and every movement is promptly met. The few deserters ] who have come into the British lines are nothing but poor specimens of humanity, l who, 1t Is asserted, have been driven from Arabi's camp, most of them st the point o1 | the bay onet, as unfit for military duty phy l sically. The Confidence of Arabis soldiers l in their commander is known to be very great, and this feeling is shared by the large
 number of residents at Cairo, who, instead l of leaving the city, have in many ways as
 sured him of sympathy. Private advice!
 state that in Egypt there is not the slightest | credit given for the alleged desertion iron
 Arabi's ranks or any alleged betrayal of Ara
 bis plans. The prisoners taken by the Brit | ish in intervals between engagements ant 1 natives taken within British lines, it il
 claimed, have invariably been Egyptians wht
 have been driven away by Arabi because o1
 their untrustworthiness and want of sym
 pathy with his cause. All claims they arr
 asserted to have made there to give the Brit
 ish reliable information regarding Arabi'
 plans and resources are derided by Arabi'
 followers, who claim that no soldier of Arab
 has ever deserted or attempted to betra.
 him, or gwen any advice which it would no
 be to Arabi's interest to have the British
 follow.
 LONDON, Sept. CA Turkish force of SO
 men left Study Bay for Port Said to-day.
 General Wolseley proposes direct Turk
 ish expedition to Kantara to operate the en
 trenched camp of the enemy at Schilleh.
 l lsMA1LIA, Sept The progress of troop
 and stores from Ismailia to the front is rap
 idly progressing. It is probable that Genera
 Wolseley will attack the enemy's position ol l lS taH hat Arah ia poa n
 negotiations for peace directly with Turkey
 The rumor is not credited here.