The sun., 1882-08-27
The Military Situation in Egypt.

Egypt, and tho signs nre that, II ARADI
Pasha fights at all, the decisive battle will
take place at Tel-cl-Kebir or near the rail-
way junction at zagazig. The result of
Thursdays engagement wliore the English
had apparently to contend against great
odde, indicates that tho efficiency OF tho
Egyptian troops has recently bcon ex-
aggeratcd. But, however feeble ma. be the
armed resistance opposed to him, the Eng
lish commander seems to think that the
physical conditions of q campaign III Egypt
nt this season render prompt action upon his
part q prime requisite of success.
If the Egyptian infantry really possessed
good fighting qualities, or II the Bedouin
horscmen whom ARABI is alleged to control
were worthy Of their traditional reputation,
tho small English force pushed forward On
Thursday would have found itself in very
awkward situation. When Sir GARNET
WoLsELEY, at the head Of no moro than 1000
men, reached the dam with which the enemy
had cut Off tho fresh water canal at point
some seven miles west OF Ismailia, he saw
himself confronted by greatly superior
force OF Egyptians, which he computes at
not less than 10000 men, Ho had moreover,
but two field pieces and two Gatling guns,
whereas the enemy had twelve cannon,
which seem to have been worked with more
than ordinary skill. Yet, although the
Egyptians rested on strongly intrenched
position, and had, as we have seen, a marked
advantage in respect Of artillery, their infan-
try and cavalry appear to have shrunk from
coming to close quarters, and allowed the
English column to retain the position origi-
nally taken until reGnforcements could be
brought up from Ismailia. During the night
OF Thursday the Egyptians fell back from
their intrenchments at Mahatta on q fortified
camp at the Mahsameh railway station, some
distance in the rear. From this point, on
the morning Of Friday, they were dis
lodged by an assault of the British
cavalry and horse artillery, who succeeded
In capturing five Krupp guns and seventy
five railway carriages laden with provisions,
together with large quantity Of ammuni-
tion and rifles. The loss Of the Egyptians In
thursdays engagement is said to have
reached 400, whereas, according to the Of
hcial report, the English had but five killed
and twelve wounded. The performance of
the British cavalry on Friday morning was
the more creditable because the horses, be-
ing just landed, were unfit for heavy work,
and because they must have been good
deal fatigued by the long march they had
made during the preceding night.
The evident reluctance OF the Egyptian in
fantry and cavalry to await attack has en-
couraged the English commander to push
forward with more rapidity than he had at
first contemplated, and the announcement
has been made that he would on Saturday
occupy the Kassasin lock OF the fresh water
canal, point some miles westward Of the
railway station captured by the British
dragons on Friday. Here it seems to be the
intention OF Sir GARNET WoLsELEY to con-
centrate the whole Of the troops landed from
the transports In the Suez Canal, prepara-
tory to movement in force against the for
titled camp at Tel-el-Kebir, which was organ
lied by ARABI Pasha with view OF covering
the all-important strategic point Of Zagazig.
1t is believed at Alexandria that the Egyp-
tan leader has withdrawn 5000 OF his best
troops from Kafr-elDwar with the intention
OF strengthening the force at Tel-el- Kebir.
From his point OF view, however, it doubt
less seems indispensable to leave sufficient
number Of soldiers in front of Alexandria to
virtually blockade that city on the land side;
for, should he abandon his works in that
quarter, the English force at Alexandria, now
considerably strengthened would be able to
move rapidly southwark on the railway
running to Cairo, and, thus cooperating
with the army moving from Ismailia,
catch the enemy in a vise 1t is
improbable, therefore, that much more
than one-half Of the Egyptian leves
can be massed at Tel-elKebir to meet the
main attack directed by Sir GARNET WoLsE-
LEY. If it be true that large number OF
heavy guns have been mounted at the last
named point, 1t is possible that ARABI will be
able to inhict considerable damage on his
assailants, for it is admitted on all hands
that his artillery is well served by the Euro
pean renegades in his pay. Unless how
ever, his infantry display more relish for
close fighting than they have hitherto exhib-
tted there is no likelihood that the British
will encounter Plevnn on their march to
Cairo.
There are two grounds on which the Eng
lsh commander is urged TO cvince unusual
promptitude in his military operations. One
is the rising of the Nile, which has already
begun, and which, by the cutting of dykes,
can easily DO made to overflow all that por-
canals. AS to this source Of danger, it Gp-
pears that the Nile is rising very slowly, and
the signs are that the present year is likely
to DO Il year Of drought Even with IL mini
mum OF volume in tho river however, it
would be easy to inundate large tracts OF
country; but We think tho injury that might
be done to tho invaders has been greatly
overratcd. Those who recall tho part
played by tho Nile in the defence
OF Egypt In past times forget how COM
pletely the conditions of warfare have been
changed by the application Of steam to navi-
CATION. Even II we suppose that the greater
part OF the Delta could be submerged, it is
plain that Sir GARNET WoLsELEY could
easily transport his army in bargcs, towed
partly by the steam launches belonging to
the English war vessels, and partly by the
tugboats, hundreds Of which arc employed
on Tho Suez Canal. Besides, a glance at a
topogRp phltal map will demonstrate that the
English have nothing TO fear from an inun-
UutiOn In tlpir march frnn, Ig,no Hin N Ioua-