National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-06-17
The Fall OF Hcrbcr.

Bcrber has most probably fallen The
story of tho fugitive who claimed to DO the
only survivor of tho malo inhabitants is
credited in England. 1t is probable that tho
capture of the place was not attended with
wholesale massacre of the inhabitants as
described by this frightened messenger
brit, if it has actually been captured,
there is not much reason for believing
that any Of the Egyptian soldiers have
been spared. The Arabs pay no regard
to the amenities practlced by civilized nations
when at war with each other. They eight to
kill-give no quarter and expect none The
massacre of the BORDER garrison would be
entirely in accord with their savage character
and traditional customs.
Mr.. Gladstone has been charged by tho
opposition in tho house of commons with
docoiving the country with regard to the
condition Of affairs in the soudan. When
the question was asked in the house six days,
ago whether there was any truth in the dis
patch from Cairo Of June announcing the
fall of Berber, Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice,
under foreign secretary, answered that 1t was
not true, and that tho government had in
formation from the khedive that tho siogo of
Berber had actually been raised, and that the
besieging force had dispersed If Berber was
captured on June 1 tho government must
have known it on Juno IL, and the reply Of
the under foreign secretary was false.
The tory members charge that the motive
for prevarication was the fear that the dis
closure Of the whole truth might jeopardize
tho negotiations with France which were
then in progress. Mr.. Gladstone is expected
to explain the whole matter in tho house on
Monday next, when the Anglo-French
agreement concerning the occupation of
Egypt will be discussed. The government is
confronted with a most difficult problem, and
if Mr.. Gladstone gets through without u
dissolution of the ministry and an appeal to
the country he will be exceedingly fortu-
nate. Neither England nor France cares
| anything for tho Soudan except as it may be
maui W NOhbiAbubO w bhO AAEg pllAh LONpuhNoi
but in the present insurrectionary condition
of the provinces tho collection Of taxes Is
rather proearious business.
How to reach Khartoum and rescue Gen.
Gordon and the Egyptian garrison is still the
question Of the hour. The cable informs us
from time to time that an expedition is being
fitted out, but there is painful absence of
details. As yet it is not known what route
will be TAKEN and it is probable that the gov
eminent is still undecided whether to attempt
to send an expedition up the Nile from Cairo
or to march an army across the desert from
Suakin on the Red sea to Berber on the Nile.
Should Admiral Hewetts negotiations with
King John prove favorable, it may be de-
cided to make flank movement by way of
Abyssinia. Tho Nile route involves a march
of over five hundred miles around the cata-
racts. This is twice the distance that would
Dor (Which is above the cataracts), but by
keeping within reach of the Nile the troops
would not suffer SO much for water as If they
should attempt TO cross tho desert.
The distance from Suakin to Berber, by
the most practicable route, is 2l6 miles
1t takes steamboat from Ave to seven days
to work its way up from Berber to Khar-
toum; the route is much shorter by land, and
the camel caravans mako the trip in abou
twelve days. Even lift were possible to marcl
an English army across the desert, it would bt
very difficult matter to get enough of boat
to transport the troops to Khartoum. TAX
it all in all, the Egyptian question is a most
perplexng one, and it will not be surprising
if the Gladstone ministry goes to pieces befor
it is solved. Should England decide to holt
the soudan, or rather help Egypt to hold it
the first thing to be attended to will DO tn
construction of not less than 500 miles o
railway. Surveys have already been mad
for line connecting the nAvigable waters o
the Upper Nile with the Lower Nile
but as commercial project the propose
railroad was abandoned. 1t may now hay
to be built as a military necessity.