Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-04
FOREIGN NEWS.
GORDON CAPTURED.
The General a Prisoner in the False
Prophets Camp.

PARIS, Nov y
A despatch from Cairo to the Paris Morn
ing News says: The Mshdi, in the beginning
of September, hearing of the advance of the
British forces, made a supreme effort to re-
duce Khartoum, which place at the end of
September was surrounded by $50 900 rebels.
The supplies failing the garrison began to
waiver. liquidation of officers complained
bitterly TO General Gordon thst they had been
deceived by promise of British assistance
and they accused him of siding in the decep-
ton. The depudation also demanded that
retreat be made TO Dongola. and threatened
that if this action were not taken they would
join the Mahdi. General Gordon thereupon
consented to the plan proposed. Meanwhile
panic arose and 5000 soldiers and civilians
derserted in a body. Two thousand men
remained faithful and embarked with General
Gordon. The rebels were advised of what
had occurred and harrsssed the retreat to
Shendy, where masses of rebels provided
with artillery disabled the fotilla. Only
Colonel Stewards vessel succeeded in passing
Berber, and shortly afterward il was wrecked.
The remainder of the fiotilla was obliged TO
return southwark. and on reaching Shendy
the entire force was captured. About the
seventeenth of October General Gordon
was sent under a strong escort TO the
Mahdfs camp, where he is now a close
prisoner.
LONDON. Nov. .
The foreign office discredls the despatch
TO the Paris Morning News announcing the
capture of General Gordon.
The Times considers the news reported
from Cairo to Paris in this morning News to
the effect that khartoum has fallen into the
hands of rebels, and that General Gordon has
been taken prisoner as extremely doubtful.
This view, II thinks is especially reasonable
in the absence of advices on the subject from
Gen. Lord Wolseley The Times traces the
report to Bospheme, an Egyptian dubious or
French organ, which may have given a
Europeanized version of Arab rumors, which
have recently gained some currency in Cairo
Earl Granville, secretary of State for foreign
affairs, assured the Press Association today,
that the government had received no confirm
alton of the news Up to noon today, moth
ing had been received at the government
offices in regard thereto despatch today,
from Douglas to Reuters Telegraph Co..
makes no mention of the reported fall of
khartoum. 1t says, however, that the Mabdi
at last accounts was collecting his forces
around khartoum, and had surrounded Gen
eral Gordon.
In the House of Lords, this afternoon.
Lord Granville said Fhe government had no
iN"ooh W bSiCfS ISpoT's VI lue IAN Ol
khartoum and the capture of General Gordon
was true. The Marquis of Salisbury, refer
ring to the instructions given by the govern
ment to General Gordon, said, that it appear
ed TO be the intention of the government to
abandon all the Egyptian garrisons in
Soudan Lord Granville defended the gov.
ernment.
LONDON, Nov. 3.
The Times, Alexandria, correspondent
states that after careful inquiry he learns
that the report of the fall of Khartoum orig
mated from the following source. give it
for what its worth French merchant,
| formerly French consul at Khartoum learned
from messengers, vino lately arrived from
khartoum, that Gen. Gordon was III want of
provisions and had forced sortie, he
reached Berber. Only Col. Stewart was able
to push further north and Gen. Gordon
started to return to Khartoum and when near
Shendy, he learned that Khartoum had been
handed over to the rebels Gen. Gordon
found himself unable to retire or advance
and was killed there.