The Portland daily press., 1882-08-07
EGYPTS WAR.
Arabi's Position Attacked by
British Troops.
THE ENGAGEMENT OF SERIOUS
NATURE.
RumOr That Arab was Killed.


the enemy by the reconnaissance party at Ma
| halla junction, Saturday. is as follows:
Our force consisted of 2C0 men of the naval
brigade, with one 40-ponnder and two 9-pound-
| er guns, under Capt. Fisher; LEGO marines un-
der Col. TuSon; half battalion of the 3Sth
and 45th regiments, and all of the Goth regi-
ment. We had a skirmish with the enemy,
who were 2, 600 strong, with guns and rock
cts, from half-past five until half-past seven in
the evening. Total casualties to the naval bri-
gade and marines are two killed and thirty-two
wounded.
The following is Gen. Alison's report:
Persistent native reports existing during the
past few days that Arab Pasha was returning
| from Kafr ell Dwar upon Damanhour, deter
| mined ON reconnaissance to ascertain clearly
| whether Arab Pasha still held his original po-
| sition strongly. The left column commenced
| an advance at 4.45 p. M, from the advance
| pickets of the Ramleh lines, moving by both
| banks OF the Mahmoudich canal, and soon
| came into action with the enemy, swho were
| strongly posted in group of palm trees en- the
| eastern side, and in strong defenslble houses
| and gardens on the other side. These posi-
| tionS were carried.
At this time Lieut.. Vyse of the Goth and one
| soldier were killed. The enemy then took a
second position half a mile in the rear upon
| the east bank of the canal among the high
| crops, houses and behind the irregular banks
| of the canal. From this position also the
l.enemy were driven with great loss. accom-
| panied the right column myself and soon as
| the enemy observed us they began firing with
| artillery. L pushed on as rapidly as possible
| till | reached the point where the railroad APP
| proaches nearest to Mahmoudich canal and
| opened musketry fire upon the enemy lining
the banks of the canal. Two nine Founders
were dragged onto the embankment and came
| into action against the enemy's guns, the 40
| FOUNDER firing over our heads against point
where the enemy's forces were beginning to
appear.
/ now threw forward two companies to
carry the house near the canal and followed
| up by throwing four companies still more to
| my left upon the banks of and across the
| canal thus attaining the pc yition L wished and
| forming diagonal line across both the canal
| and railway. The enemy retired slowly before
| u.s. Five Of their Founders and nine CEN
| toinetre guns were speedily got under by our
| artillery.
| The object of my reconnaissance was attained
| and 1 determined to withdraw. This move
ment YVES carried out with the most perfect
| regularity and precision. The troops fell back
| by alternate companies with regularity of
| field day and every attempt by the enemy to
| advance was crushed by the beautiful precision
| of the 40 FOUNDER and the steady firing OF the
| Founders The losses to the enemy appear
| to have been very great, and they were SO
| dispirted that contrary to the usual practice OF
| Asiatics they made no attempt to follow up
| our withdrawal. As onr reconnaissance was
/ success our move was all could wish
regret to state our loss was somewhat heavy.
Lieut.. Vyse was one of the most promising
| officers ever met Our total loss was four
| killed and 30 wounded.
/ Intelligence is re sived from Constantinople
| that at the sitting of the conference yesterday
| Dufferin, British ambassador, accepted the
principal of collective protection OF the Suez
| Canal. Marquis. DeNoalles, French ambassa-
| dor was forced to reserve his opinion owing to
| the political crisis in Paris. Other delegates,
including the Turkish representative, accepted
| collective protection, with a modification that
f1<Af
| the canal. Dufferin again insisted upon the
| proclamation of Arab Pasha as rebel. he
| pointed out that rumors had spread in Egypt
that the Sultan protected Arab Pasha, and
| would send ops to drive out the English.
| He further called attention to the fact that the
| Porte had not yet given written statement
| of it's adhesion to the terms of the Identical
| note. He said England might regard the delay
| es an actual refusal, and act accordingly. The
| Turkish delegates promised a written reply at
the next meeting of the conference.
| ALEXANDRIA, Aug. Sat 5 o'clock this af-
ternoon the British troops, with a number OF
| field guns served by sailors, attacked the ad-
| vance guard of Arab Pasha, near Rameh,
| between the Mahmoodeeyeh canal and the
| Cairo railway, firing upon the enemy's position
from three Sides The engagement which is OF
| serious nature, still continues Arab Pasha
| sent IA men with white flag to the British
camp this morning. The party was received
| by Maj. Pringe, but the interview YVES with
| out result.
| LONDON. Aug. 5.-The Times, in its leading
| article this morning says: "The Porte has the
| effrontery to declare that proclamation
| against Arab Pasha will be contigent on his
attitude after the landing of Turkish troops to
| Egypt. 1t is impossible, therefore, for Eng
| land to accept or permit the landing of Turk
ish troops in Egypt. The claim of the Porte to
draw on the Egyptian revenues is preposter-
| GUS.
The Times has the following despatch from
| Alexandria, dated August 8: The armored
| train went to the Meks fort Thursday The
| forty-pounder breech-losder made beautiful
practice on the Mariould earthworks at 6,Cc0
| yards. The shells were seen to burst right in
| Arabi's earth works. Arabi's ostentatious
| threats TO enter Alexandria are believed to be
| intended to mask his retreat
The correspondent of the Daily News tele-
| graphs from Alexandria as follows: In the re-
| connoissance on Thursday breastwork was
| found finished at point on the sMahmooeeyeh
| Cana, already occupied by the British picket.
| 1t is clear that Arab Pasha means to remain
| on the defensive His real resistance will be-
| gin at the lines of Kafre ell Dwar. We could
| have skirmishes every day if Gen. Alison al
| lowed the British to amuSe themselves. He
| has forbidden mere "battliDg' of Arabs who
| appear within range. The health of the troops
| is excellent, only one and half per cent being
| sick.
Affairs at Port Said are quiet. On Tuesday
| a quarter of million pounds for service debt
| was cOlleCJeQ III btl6 pFOfluC0S III OUculouCO W
an order of Arab Pasha. A Bedouin Sheik
states that Arab has about 20,Co0 Bedouins
| who will be sent to various parts of the coast.
The Sheik says also that Arab is in communi-
cation with the false prophet of Soudan, and
that when beaten he Will not retire TO CAIRO
| but to Wah Ee Dakhel.
| AIDA, who has Just arrived from Cairo,
states that there is q council of war every even-
ing at the Ministry of War in Cairo. All the sub
ministers, except the sub-minister of Finance
| s4l,,s NJ CHI hau
| been opened.
The British are preparing reservoirs at Suez
to ensure a plentiful supply of water.
1t is stated the Khedive authorized the En-
glish admiral at Port Said to take what steps
he thinks necessary in regard to the canal and
conferred upon him the title of Governor OF
| the Isthmus
MADRID, Aug. 5.-General satisfaction is felt
at the report that all the powers except Turk
ey and England admit the claims of Spain to
be consulted in regard to the protection of the
| Suez canal. Newspapers crlticise the action OF
England in asking for time to reply.
ALEXANDRIA, Aug. 5.-11 80 p. m.-Recon-
noissance this AFTERNOON drove III all the ene-
| my's advance post, and their guns were silenc-
ed. The object was to draw out the enemy's
force which was accomplished. Several were
killed and several prisoners were taken.
LONDON, Aug. 60 p. ma special de-
| spatch to the sObserver says that no Indian
troops, but only marines and sailors from the
British ships in the roads, were disembarked
at Suez An immediate stampede of Egyptian
troops and the Arab population took place
From the decks of the steamers crowds of ma
tives could be seen hurrying across the desert
The trains were crowded evsn to the rcofs OF
the carriages. The facility with which the
occupation was effected affords proof that il
a couple of thousand of men mad been landed
in Alexandria Immediately after the lombard
ment, nine-tenths of the life and property sac
rifned would have been saved. 1t is reported
at Ismalia that Arab Pasha has ordered 4,Cc1
troops to approach the canal.
LONDON. Aug. 6.-Reuter has the following
ALEXANDRIA, Aug. 6.
The place of yesterdays engagement is
named Esbet Kurshid. Gen. Alison estimates
the enemy's loss between 200 and 3C0. One
officer of a Mustaphezin regiment and IA men
were taken prisoners They state the enemy's
force consisted of a battalion of the I'd infantry
and q regiment, 1 200 strong, and 500 of Mus
taphezin regiment, who participated in the
June massacre. The prisoners were offered
the privilege of returning to the enemys camp
but they all refused, saying there was great dis
content in Arab Pasha's camp. The prisoner;
reckon the rebel force at Kafr ell Dwar at 16,
600 men.
The News has the following:
ALEXANDRIA, Aug 6-One OF the two at
| tacking trains Yesterday had empty trucks in