Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-08-11
THE EGYPTIAN WAR.
Occupation of the Suex Canal by the
British-9shtr News frsm the Front.

THE EGYPTIAN WAR
Occupation of the Suez Canal by the
BriIish-Gshtr News from the Fr0nt.
ALEXANDRIA, Aug. 9.-The EngGsh
| troops made reconnaissance in force
Saturday, against Arab, stacking the
advance guard near Rameh and firing
on the enemy's position from three
sides. The English account relates
| that 1.-The enemy were driven In from
all their advanced posts AID compelled
to bring into action all their troops
available in front of tleir priucipl
lines of entrenchme ents at X kafr-el-
Dwar-namely, four batalions of in
fantry, force of cavalr! and several
guns. The latter wers completely
silenctd by the accurate fire Of the
forty -pounder. The Egyptian infantry
held their ground with considerable
steadiness. The marines on the rail-
road, who were under the immediate
control of Gen. Alison, pushed the
enemy back upon their second line of
intrenchments toward karf- ell d war.
The marines, Supported by the South
StatfOrdshire regiment ant rifles, suf.
fered somewhat, but behaved with tbe
greatest GOODNESS and steadness under
a heavy fire. The object of the British
operations, which was TO compel the
enemy to display what forte and what
guns they had in front of the main
position, was completely athined. This
was ascertained by nightfall, when the
British were slowly and steadily with
drawn. No accurate account of the
killed and wounded is yet obtainahle.
Toe enemy's loss is unknown. A
large number OF the wounded fell into
the hands of the British. Many dead
were seen. A considerable number of
the enemy were made prisoners.
THE sUEZ CANAL
1t is reported at Ismalis that Arab
Pasha has ordered four THOUSAND
troops to approach the canal. The
Spanish frigate Carmen had arrived at
Port Said anu was about to enter the
canal. The British were preparing
reservoirs at Suez to insure plentiful
supply of water.
1t is stated that the khedive has
authorized the English admiral at
Port Said to take what steps he thinks
necessary in the canal, and has confer
red on him the title of Governor of
the Isthmus. The Suez canal com
pany passed special resolution de-
claring that as the khedve could not
authorize the making Of the Suez
canal without the sanction OF the SUI
tan, he las no power tointerfere with
it.
IN THE CAMPS
Face to face are the armies of the
Egyptians and the British, and an &C.
ton is impending. The Egyptians,
should they be defeated, have Cairo
and the Libyan desert . fly to. The
British, with Alexandria at their back
and an Alexandria, noreyer, which
is covered by the guns Of one of the
strongest fleets that everwent forth to
do battle with an antagonist-have a
tolerably secure place of retreat in the
event of any disaster kefalIing their
arms. The routine of the British sol
dier's life III the time of warfare is sim
liar to that of the American. In the
morning he must fall into the ranks at
bugle call and answer to his name.
Later he has to take his turn at guard
or picket duty. He may have to fall
into a patrolling party or take part in
reconnaissance; then when he has
nothing more to do, he may lounge
about among the tents smoking his
clay pipe or chatting with 8 comrade.
The scene differs strangely in the camp
of the Egyptians. There the majority
of the soldiers are dressed in a mongrel
European fashion, with the tarboosh
or fez as the most conspicuous national
characteristic of their uniform; but
there is minority whose picturesque
costumes are distinctly Oriental The
Bedouin, with his gaudily ily-colored ker-
chief wrapped about his head, leaving
ends that float upsn his shoulders, his
long, white, mantle-like garments. and
his sandalled feet; the Soudanese, with
white turbans, flowing raiment,
and baggy trousers; TIE Abyssinian
adventurer, who dresses as he pIeases,
much as his brother the Nubian does
all form a singular contrast with the
quietly uniformed soldiers of the ''reg-
ular" force, On the eve of battle these
soldiers show different scene in camp
from that which their antagonists pre-
sent. Sitting cross-legged in front OF
their tents, which are but pieces of
thin canvas stretched on cross sticks,
and are so low that their occupants
have to enter them by crawling, they
assemble in groups and pass around
the chibouque or narghileh, the bub-
bling sound of which as the smoke
pa sses through the water is almost the
only sound that is heard except the
neighing or the stamping of the horses
that are picketed by the heels behind
the camps irregular lines.
An efficer gallops along and warns
them to be ready, They rise hastily to
their feet, crawl into their tents for
their arms, and hustle up together
before they finally fall into line. But
they do it all with very little noise. 1t
is possible to find not a noisy but a
hilarious group; but this is generally
where a chosen few of the black-faced
and laughter loving faithful from the
Soudan have surrounded story-teller,
whose variations of the deeds of genii
or the merry tricks among mortals of
lesser supernatural worthless alternately
excite their decp-voiccd wonder or their
spontaneous, child like mirth. A British
! soldier seeing an Arab or Egyptian
camp, and noting the recumbent posi-
ton and stoical manner of the majority
of its occupants, might imagine that
such people as these had no energy for
fighting but he would be egregiously
mistaken A French traveller, who
recently closely observed the Egyptian
| army and all its incougr uous elements
of pure fel abeen-Copts, Berbers,
Nubians, western Christians, Turks.
Abyssinians, and Soudanese-came to
| this conclusion: They are admirably
trained, drilled and disciplined unSer
the supervision of an exceedingly able
staff of American and other foreign
officials, and the result is that "a finer
looking soldier than an Egyptian sol
der can be seen nowhere" Such is q
brief sketch of the troops that are now
waiting" Arabi's men are strongly
posted in the vicinity OF Ramleh; but
his strongest position is on the narrow
neck of land which stretches from the
Ahoukir lake to the northern verge of
Mareotis. With broad country be-
hind him, a railway, and plenty of
/ 1.