The new North-west., 1883-12-14
TINE WAR IN AFRICA.

As the situation develops affairs connected
with Egypt and Nubia are such that they ap'
pear likely TO become the theatre Of an In
teresting, extensive and protracted war; and
rs such some primary facts concerning the
revolt may be advantageous to our readers
In giving better understanding OF current
dispatches.
Since civilization began but little has been
ascertained concerning Africa. The vast
continent, containing Il, ,567 900 square miles
almost twice as large - North America-
has remained tho sphynx Of the continents,
the mystery of the earth. Along It's shores,
and for few hundred miles inland, there
have been explorations and settlements
through some Of Its deserts Caravans have
prosecuted . precarious commerce; yet with
the work Of Speke and Livingston and
Stanley, and o score Of other explorers, 1t Is
still the abode Of savage tribes unknown to
the intelligent nations. Notwithstanding
this, there stretches across It's center belt
of commercial tribes, shut of from the north
by the Sahara and from the south by the un-
explored realms of the Congo. This strip
Of country along the 10th degree Of latitude
north, extending east and west $500 miles,
and north and south 500 miles, Is known as
"the Soudan," and is supposed to contain
some 100000 or IL, ,OO0, 900 inhabitants. On
the east II comes In contact with Abyssinia,
Nubia and Egypt, which skirt the Red Sea
and the Suez Canal. The people, who are
TO that exten: civilized, are Mohammedans,
and although divided up into little govern
ments over which kings, governors and
sheiks rule, are united as Africans ane be-
levers In the Koran.
France and England have special and COM
plicated interests In northern Africa-tbe
former In Tripoli, the latter in Egypt, Nubia
and Abyssinia. Indirectly all commercial
nations are interested In the Suez Canal
passing through Egypt, but more particular
ly England, which by Its alliance with Tur-
key and financial interests involved, has
assumed the guardianship Of that govern.
ments dependencies south Of the Mediter-
ranean.
Egypt has long felt the yoke of depend
ency, and 1t Is only fair to say, aside from
the irksomeness Of being merely q tax-gath-
ering field for British officials to wrench
usury for the extravagant debts incurred by
q spendthrift Khedive, the Egyptians have,
like other people, aspirations for independ.
ence and self governme ent. The war Of last
year, resulting from q premature revolt Of
Arsbi Psshs against British domination, was
an ebullition of resentment In which he
doubtless had great deal of solid and hon.
est support from his countrymen; and al
though it Is unusual, and to some extent
TO sympathize with Q semi.barba.
rian's condition, against a people Of the
highest intelligence, 1t Is not yet manifest to
us but that Arab was an unfortunate Boil
var-an ill-fsted Washington. In using the
word "premature," IL Is In the belief that he
relied on FL Mahdi, the False Prophet, who
Is now In the field, to assist In the revolt and
bring the interior tribes to his standard, and
that the prompt bombsrdment Of Alexandria
by Admiral Seymour frustrated the purpose.
Whether this be correct or not, 1t is certain
their lines of action are parallel, and that
FL Mahdi Ii waging campaign that would
have distracted the attention of England and
directed TO Khartoum at least part Of the at
tentIon then devoted to Alexandria. The
Mahdi Is waging his war under religious
and invoking what becomes the
and most irreconcilable le Of conflicts.
He Is denounced as false prophet and an
impostor by the schools and the government,
but II is known he is not more strongly
mathematical than was Mohammed, who
battled to victory and carried conviction on
bis sword. More than this, England has no
confidence In the Turkish denunciation of
El Mahdi, and declines operations that je.
pend on Mohammedan support. Any day
be Is liable to be hailed as the promised
prophet Of the Faithful, and when he Is, "the
logs Of Christians" would fall victims to
confidence.
Latest authentic advices confirm the nj.
most total destruction of Hicks army, and
! succeeding encounter In which as decisive,
although not 30 bloody, victory was won
by FL Mahdi. In the flush of victory 1t Is
reported his ill-disciplined army is in dis
Iension over difference of the chiefs Is to
whether the next advance shall be on Khar-
oum or Dongola; but II he is accepted n an
inspired leader, such discussion would not
,xist. II thoroughly organized, disciplined
md well supplied army requires weeks or
months altar . heavy battle to reorganize
md advance, Ii It surprising to learn that
El Mahdi, with poor arms and undisciplined
roops (perhaps without ammunition or sup
,lies), halts q few days before attacking .
heavily garrisoned city?
We believe England, II she accepts the
iefense Of the Soudan frontier, has before