The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-07-30
4 Bad ENLTIATITE.

4 BAD LNI1TA TIVE.
Every week brings into clearer light the
monstrous blunder of the Gladstone Cabinet
in prematurely beginning the war in Egypt |
Every days delay now enables Arab Pasha
to get the country more firmly into hishands.
He has had time to prepare Notifications Just
as strong, if not stronger, than those at
Alexandria, while, as they will be out of
reach of the guns of the English fleet, they
must be assailed without the advantages of
a cooperating naval force. II was SO obviously
the policy of the English to keep Arab in a
position where he and his party could be
crushed by single welldirected blow, that
we can only wonder at the stupidity of a
government that could not see that the safest
amusement that could be furnished him
would he building Notifications that were
within reach of naval broadsides, and mount
ing cannon that must fall into the hands of
his assailants if they only had the wisdom to
wait until they were ready before attacking
him. BY rapid Decentralization and march
point, the force in Alexandria could have
been cut off from its line of retreat and
captured. So far as can be CLEANED from
the kilograms, the English generals in
Egypt have no thought except to attack in
front the fortified position of the Moslem
chief. While the Egyptian troops are
probably much inferior to the Turkish,
almost any troops behind good earthworks,
If assaulted in front, might repeat to the
English the lesson taught the Russians at
Plevna, and which had before been so sadly
taught our own Army of the Potomac at
Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor. Charges
upon earthworks that might possibly have
succeeded when the range of fire was that
of the smooth-bOre musket have become
hopeless unless the defending force simply
runs away in the most cowardly manner.
Probably Sir Garnet Wolseley will have some
better plan than that of direct assault
upon tortihcations, even if they are only de
Tended by Egyptians. But even at this
distance it is easy to see that the military
problem is one of great difficulty. The
Delta of the Nile is bounded by deserts
which will make thanking marches ex-
tremely difficult. The narrow strip of cul-
tivable land is cut up by canals and will
soon be over1owed. The British force at
Alexandria has already been brought face to
face with the possibility of a water famine
The scarcity has not yet proved serious, and
ii is probable that they may soon find too
much water much more serious obstacle to
onward movement than too little. Readers
OF history know the difficulty invading
armies have had in submerged Holland.
We may soon have occasion to see how the
insular English will act when undertaking
the amphibious warfare that has to be car
ried on in country under water. How
ever, If their next offensive movement i'm.
proves the military position of their adversary
as much as the bombardment of Alexandria
did, it is not unlikely that they will have
time to wait for the coming inundation tC
subside before they will be ready to max,
the third move in the game.
Besides the obvious strategic faults of tn,
premature bombardment, the horrible mas
sacre which followed it, unchecked by til
landing OF troops, which could easily hav
been effected had courage reigned in tn
English councils, and the burning of
beautiful and wealthy city, are consequence
which the dullest intelligence could hav
toreseen, and which convict the Englisl
government Of stupid and criminal inhu
manity. While the London press has no
limited at considerations that are SO obviou
even at this distance, it is already setting M
the preposterous claim that Egypt must pa
the losses of the cOnfagration. Thus tn
London Times says:
one result is certain come out OF this awful dis
aster. long series Of claims Will be made again,
Egypt for the loss of property Even before their dc
partuTe, In all the hurry Of their exodus all Europea
owners Of either house furniture made statemer
OF what he owned and lodged II at his Consuat,
Many even who had not Insured before went so far
10 insure their goods and chattels because the
thought the companies would indemnify them frol
loss at the hands OF mob, but because they woul
have an additional proof Of what they held to be u
value Of their property. Poor Egypt has melar
choly future before her In many ways.
This is truly the voice of nation @
shop keepers" Having gone TO war heed
lessly and carelessly in the lancied interes
Of horde of money-lenders, they propose I
make the unfortunate fellahs, who were b,
fore unable to pay the public debt undt
which their country groaned, now pay in add
tion for the ordinary ravages and accidents
war! Would the United States pay for pr,
perty of foreigners burned in Richmond /
April, 1867 Assuredly not When Aral
is suppressed Egypt will not be responsible
for any destruction caused by his adherent
Even if the powers, who will finally settl
an such questions, should decide in a maj
ner SO contrary to all sound legal principle
the devastated land would he totally unab
10 pay these losses.