The sun., 1882-08-20
Operations Resumed in Egypt.

Operations Resumed in Egypt.
Before these lines nro read the first i'm
portant movement undertaken by the Brit
ish troops in Egypt since the occupation Of
Alexandria will have been carried out. The
direction Of that movement is not known, for
the transports sailed under sealed orders,
and Sir GARNET WoLsELEY would not de-
serve the post he occupies II he did not
endeavor to disguise his real object from
the treacherous officials who surround the
Khcdive. 1t is true that yesterday after
noon heavy firing was heard In the
direction Of Aboukir, and this fact, so
far us it goes, would confirm the an
nouncement that an attack upon the
forts at that place was intended But n
bombardment Of the Aboukir works by n por
tion of the ironcad fleet may-like the ST.
multaneous advance ordered from Ramleh-
be intended merely to occupy and detain the
forces under ARAB in their present position
while the bulk Of the British army under
Gen. WoLsELEY lands at Ismailia and pro-
ceeds either to march on Cairo or to fall on
the Egyptian leader from the rear.
1t is not to be supposed that the present
movement was projected without minute and
trustworthy information regarding the size
and the efficiency of the force at ARAB1s dis
posal. There are doubtless quite as many
traitors in the camp of the rebels as among
the pretended adherents OF the Khedive, and
professional spies have probably found it as
lucrative to serve the English as ARAB,
whose pecuniary resources must by this
time be pretty well depleted 1t is probable
therefore, that Sir GARNET WoLsELEY
knows exactly how many men and
how many guns he will have to en-
counter at the worst. That he thinks the
force now under his command quite strong
enough to deal with them is evident from the
promptitude with which upon his arrival he
took measures for an attack. He knew, how
ever, that every day would witness the ar
rival OF additional reGnforcements at Alex
andria and Suez, and that if he waited but
one week he would have ten thousand more
men to work with than he has now That he,
nevertheless, determined to begin operations
at once, indicates u belief that the Egyptian
army is very much weaker than ARABI
would have the rabble Of Alexandria
suppose. According to so-called official
estimates which have lately it seems, been
current in that city, the rebels are credited
with $4,000 regulars, 5000 militia, and $4,000
armed Bedouins. The numbers look rather
formidable, but the chances are that Sir
GARNET will find the majority of them men
In buckram. II ARABI has 10000 men who
can exhibit anything like the steadiness
under fire shown bv European troops, he has
made the most of his materials and oppor-
tunities.
We may be sure that the British will be-
have with their usual gallantry and firmness,
for there is not man in the ranks who does
not understand that England is risking in
this Egyptian campaign her empire in India
The expedition is undertaken for the avowed
purpose of assuring the safety Of her princi-
pal highway to her Indian possess
sions; and, should it prove failure,
the collapse Of her military prestige
would almost certainly be followed by
disaffection and revolt among her Mussul-
man subjects. II she Is not competent TO
deal with Egypt. whose army has been a
laughing stock since its performances in the
Balkan peninsula, in Abyssinia and the
Soudan, then it would be disgraceful for the
forty million Mohammedans in India to SUBJ
init longer to her rule. As we have said
every British soldier realizes that, a war in
Egypt once begun, speedy and oVerWhelm-
ing victory is Indispensable.
The fact that this movement has been
made without waiting for the conclusion Of
IL convention with Turkey has good as well
as bad side. OF course the English COM
Inander will lose the moral influence which,
tn some extent, the presence Of Ottoman
Commissioners would have given him. But
We imagine that Gen. WoLsELEY would not
ulwillingly sacrifice any gain resulting from
a mere overt support by the Sultan to obtain
his present immunity from betrayal Too
much suspicion attaches to the past relations
OF ADpUL-HAMID to ARABI Pasha to render
the cooperation Of the Porte an unmixed
benefit. Besides, the Sultan has already
ben compelled by the conference to disavow
ARABI's proceedings and to acquiesce in Eng
lands intervention; and that sufflces to tie
his hands.