The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-09-09
Foreign News.
EGYPT.


The course OF events from the 18th ult. to 9th
when the Mail Steamer left San Francisco was as
follows
On the 10th, Sir Garnet Wolseley with the
consent of the Khediye issued a proclamation to
the Egyptian people stating that the sole object OF
the British in their present operations is to re-
store the authority of the Khedive in Egypt.
On the 18Th, fighting commenced on the Nah
moudich Canal. At The same time the Aboukir
forts were shelled by the feet but without any
decisive result. This was done as the feet moved
down to Port Said. and was probably only in
tended to divert attention from the real object of
the monument which was to seize that place and
occupy the Suez Canal. The occupation of Port
Said was successfully accomplished on the follow
ing day The Egyptian troops were cleared out
OF one OF their strong positions oy shell, and
afterwards made no resistance to the landing oil
c sailors and marines from the feet, who were
IS full possession OF the place before the trans
ports arrived with the troops. The whole line of
the canal was subsequently seized and for two or
three DAYS until this operation had been success
fully completed traffic through the canal was in
terrupted. Baron De Lesseps protested vehe-
mently against this proceeding, but subsequently
received a caution from the French Government to
moderate his language. AT a later date he had
an interview with Admiral Seymour and assured
him that he bad no hostile feeling towards Eng
land. lie however makes no secret of his belief
ia and sympathy Tor Arab, and it has been as
certained that he dInef with the i%nsurgent chief
J three days before the occupation OF the canal by
the British.
The object of SIR Garnet Wolseley in seizins
the canal appears 10 he two told. lie deemed it
necessary to drivr the rebels from Port Said and
the neighhurh'n'. aud lac also wshed to change
the base of biz pIeratiOns from Alexandria to Is
mailia.
During the week ending Goth, there was some
fighting about ten miles in advance from Ismsilia.
Sir Garnet W"lseley has always been noted tor
dash, and his apparent intention to push on to-
wards Cairo with the force at hs command has
been sharply criticised by military men in Eng
land. Ii was expected that there would be a
general engagement during last week, but ArabIs
policy appears to be to avoid such a thing until
he has drawn his enemy far away. from the sup
port of the feet.
The following is the substance of General
WOlseley's own account Of the two latest en-
g~agements. Or that of the Oath August be
says - advanced, forming before daybreak,
with tie Household Cavalry, two horse artillery
guns, thirty mounted infantry, 1000 men from
the York and Lancaster regiments and marines.
After some skirmishing We took possession of
a dam which the enemy had constructed across
the canal between the village OF MAGYAR and
Mahuta. | soon found that the enemy were
being largely REINFORCED from Tel-el-Kebir. We
could see trains of them arriving. The precision
of the enemy s artillery fire was very good. but
fortunately they fired common shells nearly all
dav, and when they did fire s~chrapnei their fuse
wire was badly adjusted. Our casualties have
been slight. | shall attack the enemy's position
at HOlenke, and hope to take possession OF the
quay they constructed there this morning Of
that of 25th he says go Pushed on again this
morning at daybreak. The enemy had a strongly
intrenched position at Mauala, and from the
bold way in which they attacked US yesterday |
hoped they would stond their ground to- day.
They Withdrew their guns, however, last night.
They had twelve in action yesterday. The forces
at my disposal this morning was the First divi-
sion and all the English cavalry, with sixteen
guns. My intention was to pivot on my left at a
dam we took yesterday, and swing round my
right to take the enemy's position and drive
them into the fresh water canal. | sent the
cavalry completely round their position to occupy
the railway in their rear, and, if possible. cap
ture their engines and rolling stock. This opera
ton was very well carried out. The rear of the
enemy had a large camp at the Mesthameh rail
way station, which we took, routing the enemy
with considerable loss, taking FIVE Krupp guns
seventy-fve railway carriages laden with provi'
sions and a large quantity Of ammunition anc
rifles. Although | did not intend advancing
beyond Alahala for some da vs., such has been the
success of the cavalry to-day that l intend to
morrow to occupy the Kassain lock of the frest
water canal. This secures a passage across
the desert lying between Ismailia and the cult
waited land of the Delta"
NEW York, August 27th.-A Star cable spe
cial from IsmaIlia says: Only the Irish Fusileer
anu three DdlleTlco u dEttiIcTJ Icundin az u
! roint. The remainder of the British forces il
) at the front, pushing on beyond Moscima towaTS
Tel-el-Keblr. The Indian cavalry are proving
great success in the advance. The horses hav'
regained their land legs, and appear Injured t.
the sands. Next to the Indian squadron tn
Highland brigade seems to be in the best trim
for advance. The advance is necessarily slow
The country is rough and broken and desolate il
appearance, and the air is filled with fine sand
which proves annoying to troops. The sand i
so loose that the wheels of the guns sink deep
and horses have to be doubled in order to dra.
the pieces across the country. The line OF ad
vance is from the fresh water canal. Clusters q
huts, called towns, are scattt ed along the waite
way, and the natives are in hearty sympathy will
Arab Pasha.
Deserters from Arabi's forces state that tn,
rebel commander proposes to make a determined
stand beyond Tel ell Kebir, and not a great die
lance from Zagazig. The latter point will prob
ably be chosen as the scene of battle. Its natura
notifications are strong, and it is easy of access
from the west alone. Arabi's opportunity fo
holding the British in check at Zagazig, ever
though be does not give battle nor make any de
termined defence. is far superior to any position
of prominence between Ismailia and Cairo. |
he does not give battle at Zagazig he will retire
to Heliopolis and intrench to defend Cairo. Tbt
military authorities are inclined to the belief tina
Arab can mass no less than 40 900 men between
Tel-el-Kebir and Zagazig. The effective force o
the British does not exceed 35 ,O09.