Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-12

Yesterday morning by the DIieisH A00'
under Admiral Seymour opening IRE
upon the forts at Alexandria 1t IS need
less to reiterate at length the circum-
stances which have led to this event, as
they must be familiar to all our readers.
Arab Bey. Minister of War to the
Khedive, becoming jealous of the infu-
ence of foreign powers IN his
country. endeavored to establish
National party, the basis principles
of which were that Egyptians
should rule Egypt, and that Khedive
should be placed in power who would
not be at the beck and nod of England
and France, and who would not be will
ing to levy heavy taxes upon the people
for the benefit of the subjects Of these
countries who owned Egyptian bonds.
This was, in brief, the cause of Arabs
rebellion against KhediVe Tewfk, and
he being undoubtedly man of nerve
and considerable strength Of character,
has succeeded in securing the army on
mis- side. and is virtually the ruler, while
the Khedive is to all intCnts and pur-
poses but a prisoner in his hands.
To protect the claims of her subjects
and her property in the Suez canal 10
restore the Khedive and TO re establish
order in the country. a conference OF
the powers has been called IN CONSTANT
nople. Egypt being under the suzerainty
! of the Sultan. In the meantime, while
This conference was engaged in its de-
alterations, England-who, for pruden-
tial reasons, had been left by France to
alone suppress tbs rebellion-demanded
that the forts at Alexandria should be
disarmed, and that the Egyptians should
discontinue the work of fortifying and
mounting guns. This Arab Bey prom
ised. but failed to keep his word, where
upon he was notified by Admiral Sey-
mour on Sunday last that unless he sur
rendered the Notifications within twelve
hours. the bombardment would begin
within further period of twenty-four
hours. The Egyptian leader, however,
was defiant, and, as we have seen, the
British Admiral has made good his
threat.
If Arab Pasha thought for a moment
that Admiral Seymour was playing 8
game of bluff, he has been sadly deceiv
ed. One days bombardment by eight
of England's ironclads has laid half of
the defenses of Alexandria in ruins.
Another days firing will probably dis
pose of the rest of the forts. What then?
Will the British Admiral land a force of
marines and attempt to occupy the city2
Such step, if the forces of Arab should
resist, would be periIous. The streets
are narrow, and the buildings are such
as to afford opportunity for defense
| in the Oriental fashion of fighting from
house to house.
1t is probable, therefore, that the Ad-
miral will content himself for the present
with destroying the forts and wait for
the British cOntingents that are being
made ready to enter either end of the
! Suez canal-the one from England, the
| ether from India.
The canal, from the nature of the soil
through which it is cut, is in no great
danger of destruction. The greatest
peril is lest Arab may cut the fresh
water canal leading from Cairo, from
which the water supply for those at
Tackled to and using the waterway is
obtained. 1t is in this view that con-
densers and other apparatus for supply
ing fresh water have been gotten ready
N England.
Meanwhile, if Arab has the hold on
Egyptians that he is said to possess, he
must prepare to resist the British land
forces, for they will come not merely to
protect the canal, but to restore order
either by the restoration of the khedive
| or the elevation of some other dOcile
ruler. Whether the British forces will
be supported by the troops of other
powers remains to be seen, and depends
upon the judgment of the Constantine
pie conference. 1t is possible that some
of the powers will send contingents to
assist the British troops in restoring
order, but the powers having conceded
Eugland's right to demolish the forts,
practically have yielded her right to
quiet the country unaided. In fact,
they would not care to take any part in
the conflict were it not for future con-
tingencies.
How long the work England has set
herself will require cannot be guessed
at. The army may lose faith in Arab
and yield speedily. He may retire to
the interior and enter upon a warfare in
| which the climate and soil of the cOun-
try would prove formidable factors.
But be the time required long or short,
he must be crushed out and the
country fully quieted ere England
can rest satisfied that her holders OF
Egyptian securities will get back all OF
part of their investments. 1t will prob
ably be when the rebellion is subdued
that the influence of the other powers
will be exerted. England has claims on
Egypt which, if not adjusted,
would operate as a virtual mort
gage of the country to hel
aud justify its annexation to her vas
empire. How far the powers may admit
or dispute such claims, they have yet tt
show. Many possibilities, including {
tremendous conflict between the powers
might be predicted, but he would be
bold prophet who would attempt to fore
tell the sequence of coming events.
The situation has taken on another
phase by the action of the British Consu
at Port Said in prohibiting the furthe
passage of vessels through the canal. Il
letter this is a violation of the guarantee
of the neutrality of that highway and jus
, titles the French Consul's protest. But a
| tho French sCuadrOn has COne tn nrOtec