The Osceola times., 1882-08-12
THE EGYPTIAN WAR.
What the Learned Men In w ashipgton
Have To Say.

Washington Special to Chicago Tribune
The situation in Egypt has attracted
much attention at the capital to-day, and
the press bulletins have been eagerly
scanned. Even greater interest has been
manifested at the War and Navy Depart-
ments, where the army and navy officers
are awaiting with interest the result of
the bombardment. A scientific and prac-
tical interest is fell in this contest, as it is
believed il will be very instructive in de-
termining the actual fighting value of the
latest pattern of ironclads armed with the
heaviest ordinance The British ships,
especially the Infexible, are provided
with new eighty-one-ton rifle guns. The
representative here to the largest manu-
factory in this country, as he read the an
nouncement that four forts had fallen.
said "No more convincing proof is nee
essary Of the great value Of heavy ordi-
nance. Fortifcations cannot stand against
them. The same British fleet off Alexan-
dria Bay there to-day could batter down
every fort that we have from Maine to the
Rio Grande and could sail directly under
our guns and fire with impunity. This is
the lesson of the Alexandria lombard
ment for this country, and the Govern
ment had better be doing something
about il, for Abe Hewitt said very truth
fully in the House the other day, il would
take three wears 10 build a single one of
these eighty-one-ton guns" This il
statement from one who desires legisla-
tion, but it is good deal of the same
spirit that the officers of the Ordinance
Corps and the naval officers generally
are watching the contest in Egypt. The
duel between the British fleet and the
Egpytian forts affords the first real oppor-
tunity for studying, in a practical way, the
workings of many theories a. To marine
architecture, ordnance and fortifcations
which have been developed since there
has been any considerable naval warfare.
Especially is this true as to the defensive
strength and aggressive power of the
hcay yarmored British ships. At the end
of the first days fighting the advocates of
heavy armor and heavy ordinance claim
that there theory has been confirmed,
and no fertilization can be built TO sue
cessfully Withstand the force of modern
proiectiles. The eighty-one-ton guns in
use on the Infexible throw a projectile
OF about LOO pounds with, of course, en-
ormous power
Simon Wolf, late Consul-General to
Egypt, speaking of Arab Bey, said
Arab Pasha is the head of the National
party, whose slogan is Egypt for the
Egyptians They desire that all the Off
ces shall be filed with native Egyptians;
that native Egyptians, while bearing the
burdens, shall enjoy the honors and re-
ceive the emoluments of state. In many
respects this is laudable policy. The
Khedive did not oppose to this, but holds,
and Justly holds, that the people must be
educated up TO such condition of affairs
Arab Pasha and the National party want
a Republic. The Khedive sees that they
are not fitted for such Government, and
will not be for q hundred years. Arab
Pasha is poet, philosopher, fanatic
-educated intellectual, with much force
and many gracs of character, but he
lacks physical courage, tits asserted.
"The Khedive is a highly educated man,
fully alive TO the highest requirements Of
modern civilization, has but one wife and
no concumbines, while his father, the
famous Ismail Pasha, had 600 or 700.
This fact illustrates his desire TO keep
abreast ofthe requirements ofmodern civ
ilization. He has been planting schools
al. through the country-schools which
teach the fellasheen the arts and sciences
taught in England, Germany, France and
this country. The khedive Is sincerely
devoted TO the interests of his country,
but he is powerlcss. The army is with
Arab Pasha There is one factor in this
Egyptian problem which promise of fu-
ture light. The Board of Missionaries of
the United Presbyterian Church Of this
country are doing great and good work
doing it quietly, unostentatiously, un-
selfishly, and thoroughly and well. They
are educating the Egyptians in the prin-
ciples of honor and morality. do not
mean they are doing any denominational
work, but the influence of the principles
they are disseminating is vast, beneficial
and widely spreading. The Egyptian fell
laheen are regarding this country with
respect and intelligent consideration.
The example of our institutions will, in
course of time, produce an effect that cam
not but be good" This statement of Mr..
Wolf is not without significance, as he is
a Hebrew in his faith
George Bachelor, for long time con-
nected with the International Court in
Egypt, was recently here and talked free
" of Egyptian affairs He sides with
Arab against the khedive, and consider
ed that he represented the progressive
element to a very much greater extent
than the Khedive does.
A gentleman who is familiar with the
geography Of Egypt, and who knows the
| fighting qualities of the Arabs, to-day, at
the Capitol, expressed the opinion that, if
the Egyptian war extended in the interior
| il would continue a considerable time.
He believed. however, that when Alexan-
dria was captured by the British the war
would close. The interior of Egypt is
especially well adapted to fighting when
occupied by troops having the sympathy
of the inhabitants, and it will be difficult
to dislodge Arabi's forces ifthey take pos
/ a,.g;n, of ;ptarior ,lacoc