The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-07-20
THE WAR IN EGYPT.
Bo,nba d,,,ent of Alexandria.


The bombardment of Alexandria WAS begun
at 7:i5o'clock on tho morning Of Tuesday,
July II, by the iron-clads Sultan, superb and
Alexandra, OF the British feet The batteries
replied at once, their shot at first falling short
Of the ships. The Infexible, Temeraire, pene-
lope, Inyincible and Monarch soon joined in
the battle. Two OF the forts ceased firing after
twenty minutes. The gnnboats Bittern, Con-
dor, Beacon, Dccoy and Cygnet attacked and
quickly sicnced the Narabout batteries at the
entrance to the harDor. The Invincible then
landed party OF marines at Fort Mex, who
blew mp the heavy guns with dynamite. At the
moment Of opening the siege dense crowds Of
people could be seen making their way toward
the palace, and the streets were soon deserted
Tho Geneva red cross was visible over tho
hospital, and the Dutch and Greek 1ags could
be secn waving above their consulates. At
o'clock the magazine at Fort Ada, close to
the palace, was exploded. At noon four
forts had been blown up, when the firing
practically ceased. Tho English fleet had
five men killed and twenty-seven wounded.
Several of the earthworks behind which guns
were mounted proved to be mere sand-heaps.
The Turkish Ambassador at London was tele-
graphed By the Porte to lose not . moment in
urging Lord Granville to order cessation Of
firing. In the British House Of Lords, Gram
vile said tho bombardment was directed against
military despotism, and Was not On act Of war
against the allied powers.
The New York Tribunes special cablegram
says Of the bombardment THE lombard
ment marks an epoch in the history Of warfare,
for never has such storm Of shot and shell
been hurled against any defenses, either on
land or sea. The Alexandra was the first ship
to open fire. and, the shots being returned. in .
~
The broadside iron-ciads alone remained at
anchor. The remainder Of the fleet steamed to
and fro in the roadstead. The Arabs stood to
the guns Of the other forts with sturdy de-
termination until near midday but their fire
was very ill-directed. Most Of the shots fell
short or went over the ships, and the few that
struck did little damage.
1.-THE result Of the engagement has not by
any means fulfilled the expectations Of artlle-
rsts, aud there is much surprise that the shells
fired from the eighty-ton guns Of the Inflexible
had SO little effect on the earth-works. In con-
sidering that, it ought to be borne in mind
that this ship directed her fire from q point
two miles distant from the batteries. The
heaviest guns of the other vessels are four
Of twenty-five tons on the Monarch, two VI
twenty-tiv tons on the Alexandra, and the
rest are armed with eighteen and twelve tons.
The heaviest guns mounted on the Egyptian
forts are eighteen and twelve tons, Of the old
VOOINlCA YdttCIIs UuJ ntul very bcISsSSdDlS
weapons OF tho larger kind, throwing 400
pound shells. calculated to pierce twelyc-inch
armor. The days operations extended over .
line Of four miles in length"
The bombardment was resumed early on tho
morning Of the l2th. The Infexible and Tenn
eraire opened fire on Moncrieffe fort, which,
during the night, had been repaired.
The batteries were evidently much damaged
by the first three shots, as they made no re-
sgonse. A steamer was soon seen approaching
the fleet with dag OF truce, and . similar en-
blem was hoisted at the arsenal, when the bonn
bardment was suspended.
When the gunboat Dittern proceeded to the
harbor to learn the object OF the flag Of truce.
Toulba Pasha sent word that he wished to conn
muicais with Admiral Seymour. and
was informed that as preliminary
condition the forts must be surren-
dered. Several large tires broke out
in the city. The Turkish Ambassador at Lon
don was informed by Earl Granville that En-
gland acted III the name of Europe. The Lon
don Daily Telegraph correspondent. .telegraphs
regarding the second days bompardment:
81 took an open boat and went close along
eide land. found all the batteries facing the
ssa destroyed and the guns dsmounted. An
Arab informed me that many hundred persons
had been killed between Adjemi and Alexan-
hs ,ar as assry5oay n Ss mds & o.
Arabs informed me the noise Of burst
ing shells was like thunder, and
they declared hundreds OF people were killed in
distant streets. They stated that the obstinacy
Of the defense was owing to the fact that the
batteries were manned by negro Mohammed-
ans. They estimate the loss Of life among sol
dicrs and townsfok at 1000.
Naval officers witnessing the combat ex-
pressed the opinion that, with the exception Of
the Tem.raire and tue gunboats, the English
ships have not distinguished themselves very
greatly az artilleris.s, many shells Of the Mon.
short Nearly half the missiles seemed
to fall in the water. Tie guns
likewise were served very slowly, giving the
Egyptians time to recover from their surprise
and regain courage. Foreign officers think
lighter guns more quickly served would have
ended the action sooner. They. give the palm
to Lord Charles Beresford, on the Condor, who
under heavy fro maneuyered admirably, in
flcting heavy loss.