New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-10
INJECTION N EcYPT

Inaction invariably emboldens the Oppos-
ing camp. General Wolscley, having got
ahead of his supplies and military stores,
halted for fortnight, unprcpared for active
operations in the field. The demOra!izcd
enemy speedily tool, heart. Oricntas have
only One explanation TO Offer for inactOn III
war. To their minds it implies cowardice.
If General Wolseley, after advancing
twenty-five miles, suddenly goes into camp
and frtters away a fortnight the Egyptians
infer that he must be frightened by the
resistance which has been offered. Their
own courage reviv.s. The entrenchmcntS
which they have leisure to construct give
them new sense OF security. Their conil-
dence increases as day after day passes with
ont a renewal OF the British advance, while
their own forces are concentrated from Cairo
and the mouths of the Nile, and heavy guns
are mounted in the entertainments They
plan first night attack and subsequently
reconnoitre the advanced positions III force.
The last attack like the first is successfully
repulsed by the invading army, but each
discloses a rcsolute spirit strangely at
variance with the timorOusness and democrat
ization prevailing heretofore within Arab :
lines.
The details of the campaign in Egypt pub
lished in the London journals serve to e1-
plain the fortnight of delay and inaction
which followed the first advance. When
the army landed at Ismailia an immediate
movement WAS not contemplated. Under
ordinary circumstances the troops would
have encamped ON the shore OF Lake Timoah
and waited until toera3le system OF trans
port could be Organized. y prompt ad-
vance upon Cairo would have been prac-
ticable if the base OF supplies had bcen.in
their possession for several weeks. The
supplies, stores, guns and ammunition had
not been landed, and the army was not pre-
pared for active operations. a forward
movement was unavoidable because the
enemy we've tampering with the water supply.
In country where the glare OF the sun
is almost umbcaIahlc between the hours OF
eleven and tour o'clock and where the heat
reflected from the desert sand Is so Intense
that the Stirrups literally bum a cavalry
mans boots, water is absolutely necessary
The first column received marching orders
when it had only one days ratiOns and
reinforcements were dispatched to support
1t when only few biscuits could be served
to each man. This haste WAS unavoidable.
for the enemy was striving TO cut oil the water
supply Of the entire isthmus. When the
first skirmshcs were fought and the Sweet
Water Canal was adequately protected as
far as the Kassasin lock. the army naturally
halted until the transport scIvicc could he
permanently organized.
1t is here that the British staff has exposed
itself to criticism. The Egyptian crisis
found the army prepared for campaign.
There was "A force of seasoned men ready for
active service. Regiments were not consOl-
idated depleted ranks were not filled up
with raw recruits; the War Office was not
taken by surprise and found wanting. Men,
supplies and material were shipped to the
Mediterranean as rapidly as the circum-
stances required. But when the base of
operations was suddenly changed and an
immediate advance of twenty-five miles
became necessary, the transport service broke
down. The troops were forced 10 live on
air rs well as march through heavy sand
III swelleriug heat. They fought their first
battles on empty stOmachs, ana when they
had. secured IA strong position they were
compelled to wait fortnight or more before
they were prepared to resume their march.
There was an abundance of stores OF all
kinds at Ismaiia, but they could not be
moved. There was an inadequate supply Of
native labor and the ships could not be un
loaded. There were carts 10y the hundred
but the wheels stuck fast in the heasy sand.
Ten strong horses were seen dragging a
single truck. 1t was impossible to move the
stores across the desert with the Arab labor
and drauSht animals at the disposal of the
CommissaIy General. The soldiers were pressed
into service in fatigue parties and the sailors
were employed III shipping supplies by
steam launches on the Sweet Water Canal.
These, however, were temporary cxpedients,
as the railway would be available for
transport rs soon rs the track could be re-
paired and the rolling stock supplied. The
scarcity Of labor retarded the repairs. and