The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-19
GEN. GoRDoN's PERIL.
Difficulties Which the Relief Expedition VIII
Have to Encounter.


New York Times
Speaking, yesterday, of the English prepara-
tions for the relief of Chinese Gordon, Gen
Charles P. Stone, who was in Egypt until year
ago, where he served inn the Khedives army
said: II have been so long away from Egypt that
/ do not feel qualified to give an opinion as to
the force and condition Of the armed opposition
to the proposed march. With the geography of
the country am familiar. see from dispatches
that Wady- -Halfa at the second cataract of the
Nile, is to be the basis of operations. That is
the proper place. think, also that the route
chosen-up the Nie-is the wise one It is
longer than by way of Berber from Suakim. on
the Red sea, but a force crossing from Suakim
would need to be provided with a great
many camels as watercarriers The route
is also well adapted for frequent am
buscade The Nile route, on the other
hand, affords water transportation for supplies
and better marching country for troops As
to the time for the expedition it is fortunate on
account of the river which is high in Septem-
Der, but the climate. until the end of October is
very bad, especially for Europeans The at
mosphere is hot and damp and induces sickness
Men break down under it in little while, grow
ing gradually weaker. The sickness takes the
form of fever, the mildest kind being not unlike
our worst type in the South of fever and aguesl
The violent form is known as pernicious.' It is
chill, and kills quickly
What obstacle win the expedition be likely to-
encounterp
seThe climate will be the most serious from
the starting point to Dongola, about six days
march. do not think the advance will be
checked by armed opposition until the troops
get south of Dongola. They may reach Debbe
without obstruction. That is little way be-
yond Dongola and the river veers to the east
toward Berber, and then due south to Shendg
and Khartoum. There Is route to KhartOurn
from Debbe diagonally across the Bahandah
desert The march from Dongola or Debbe to
Khartouln if unobstructed, would take about
seven days. Thus at the best afortnight must
be consumed from the starting point to the.
destination
"Do you suppose, considering the dangers
from the climate, that the march can be CON
THAT viii depend. Of course on the condition
of the troops It is likely that there will be
large sick list by the time they reach Debbe, de-
spite all precautions against it
what ordinarily, are those precautions?"
"An abundance of quinine and of the other
specifics used to treat malaria. The troops will
be dosed as matter of routine, and such as are
very careful Of themselves may get through
without other discomfort than usually attends
the use of the drug Itfollows that the enemy
will be met, if at all when the troops shall have
advanced far enough to suffer from the climate
DO you think the distance saved by crossing
the desert from Debbe to Khartoum would COM
transportation from water to landYn
81 cannot answer that, for all would depend on
the nature of the opposition. The way is much
shorter by land, and the desert is not entirely
BARE as there are scrub growths on it. The
Mahdis forces, however, could be easily concen-
trated there, the Kordofan tribe coming from
the southwest the Hadendowa from the north
east, and the Bishareens from the southeast.
The Numbers that he could muster are to be
computed only by the men in the tribe for every
man is a soldier. believe that about all the
Bedouins have signined their allegiance to him,
and he could put 10000 men, suppose, in the
field The force of 000 or 2, 500 that the English
are to send would be no match for him in that
country He could oppose the advance by river
as well. perhaps as by land, in which case simple
convenience may be consulted in the march be-
yond Debbe.a
would leaving the river at Debbe help the
sanitary condition of the troopsP
mo the climate all through that section is
very unhealthy, especially for Europeans, as
have said. Even Khartoum, which is not bad
place in asanitary sense, in winter, is in summer
a pest house.
do you think, then the success of the eXpedi-
ton doubtfulP
"No think that, if we'll managed, its chances
of success will be good. mean that if it's sole
purpose is to go to Khartoum and bring back
Gordon, it will probably succeed. If it has an
ulteror purpose; if it means to push further into
the country and try to rescue men stationed at
points remote from Khartoum; or if it is to sway
from the simple mission OF going to Gordon
and returning with him. its success will
be very doubtful. The force Of the Mahdi would
have immense advantages over an invading
force Those people, however, are susceptible
to money advances. No one knows what they
may have been paid to keep hands off SO far
But they are not to be trusted beyond certain
limits. After the battle of Tel-el-K Kebr, as the
British officers passed through the streets Of
Cairo the natives lined the walks, smiling and
bowing with every mark Of congratulation and
Difference. The officers raised their hats, think
ing that the people were doing them honor,
when really they weresaying outof their smiling
mouths: God curse your father and your
fathers father. and your mother and your
mothers mother, and your mothers mothers
motAer.' So it doesn't do to assume from the
smiles and apparent goodwill Of the natives
that what they seem to promise is worth much.
The expedition, to be successful must 60
straight about the business Of rescuing Gordon
and, having reached him, bring him back at
once
QUEEN VICTORIA,S ESTATE