New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-04
ITiR md PEfCE.
concerned

The British victory at Tcb has been rendered
decisive bv a rapid march to Tokar. The enc
my were demoralized by defeat and unable to
resist the occupation of the town. fore" Of
4. 900 men, the remnant Of the army of 10000
men which had displayed such desperate valor
on the battlefield, fed prccpitately as soon rs
the first shot was fired. The British, having
killed I,5OO Of the brave Soudanese, had the
mcagre sat siactiOn OF ro5Cuing seventy men
belonging to the Egyptian garrison, the re-
maiudcr having previously joined the rebels
and aided in serving their guns. The column
will return at once to Trihlitat and operate
against the rebel force cnCampcd near SGakim.
Another baltic will probably be fought, since
the horde which massacrcd the garrison of SIN
kat has not yet been punished. While it is pre-
mature to assume that Osman Digma's power is
completely broken, it is plain that the British
troops have done their work thoroughly. In a
military sense their conduct and achievements
deserve the highest praise. Tel-el- kebir was
well-planned, irresistible charge upon an army
Of cowardly felaheon destitute of soldicrly
qualities. Tcb was an advance upon a superior
force of fearless warriors, and the stcadincss
and resolute courage with which it was made
of British valOr.
While the English people have reason to be
proud Of the superb bearing of their soldiers,
they have little cause to congratulate them
selves upon this victory In its moral aspects tho
slaughter Of l 800 SOud9nese is wholly indefcn
sible. Why were these brave warriors killed
They had committed only one crime: they had
reyolted against Egyptian OPPRESSION and
that Of itself was Il righteous cause. The British
Ministry had condoued that crime by percmptor-
lily ordering the Egyptian officials to eyacuate
the country aud to allow the SOudahese to gov
crn themselves. Two months after the with
drawal Of tho Egyptian garisOns was pro-
claimed, an English army is lighting in the Sou
dan and Furnishing the rebels. Does England
want the Soudanq No; she will not have it on
any terms. She is not willing TO keep Lower
Egypt, although she has been gauisonlng 1t for
two years, and has asccrtaned that it cannot be
depended upon to govern itself. As for the
Soudan, it is an African India, which is not
worth what it will cost to conquer and hold it,.
Has England changed It's mind since January
Is it now willing to have the Egyptian Govern
ment retain the Soudan2 This cannot be; for
it has been learned that Egyptian soldiers will
not fight there, and that if the country is to be
reconqueIcd English soldiers must do the work.
and English taxpayers must pay The bills. H.
then. the ooudan is not to be regaiucd either for
England or for Egypt, why should there be any
fghting7 Is it in behalf of the poor Soudan-
eseP The poor Soudanesc will be satisfied if
the cowardly Egyptians and the brave English
soldiers will only 20 away and leave them to
look ont for themselves.
What makes the position of England not only
anomalous, but positively grotesque, is the fact
that, while General Graham with an army is
making war in one quarter Of tho SOudan, Cen
oral Gordon without an army has been Mt
Khartoum procaiming peace. What strange
sequel to the reception of the English peace
maker at the capital Of the Soudan is the
slaughter at Tob General Gordon announced
his determination to withdraw the Egyptian
soldiers and tho Bashi- Bazouks, and to leave
the tribes to rulo themselves without mGlesta-
ton. On the coast 0sman Digma was fighting
for the Same privilege which was accorded ut