New-York tribune., 1884-10-02
GOPUON 1T kHfRTOE.M

The extracts from the diary OF The LOnd0n
9imcS's correspondent at KhariOum are sufficient
to show what Gordon has been doing during
his investment there, ana the picture outlined
i thoroughlv characteristic. We see HIM coolly
undertaking a task at which almost any other
man living would shuddcr: namely, the
defence of a place mdclensiblc according TO
military rules, with a force composed mainly
of snch hopeless poltrOOns that half dozen
Arabs armed with spears can rout two hundred
of them even when they are armed with brcech-
loading repeating rifles. Cut of from all sup
ports. not knowing when, or how, if at all, res
cue would come, this indomtable man has he'd
his own hrmly; supplcmcntnG the dchccnc" 3
Of his troops with a system of mines making
frequcnt sallies; dashing with his steamers
up and down the Nile; making raids upon the
enemys cattle; maintaining discipline by
sharp and swift executions for trcachery ana
cowardice; and thus beating ana Keeping OH
the investing force for months ana untll, as
now seems probable, the Mahdls hcutcnahts
would have become disheartcned and retired,
even if Lord Wolscley had not been on his
way to effect a rescue.
The uniQue and splendid character of Cor
don's feat at KhartOum is freely recognized by
his critics. but they say that for all this he Is
impracticable, that his proposition to put Ze-
bchr over the Soudan, and to surrender the
latter to Turkey, is irrational; and they dimly
intimate a suspicion that the General Il Drill
iont mailman. who is sure to make trouble for
the Government Yet he has not thus lar given
much evidence of insanity. His offer to effect
the evacuation of the Soudan unquestionaDiy
relieved his Government at n time OF severe
strain. His estimate of the possibilities proved
too songuine though it mi sht not have done so
had the Government given him even moral
backing when he most needed it. Yet despite
the failure of his larger scheme, it is now clear
that he has, by holding KhartOum all the sum-
mer. ettcctually checked the Mahdi, who but
for this obstacle, might have put himself IN
motion for a descent upon Upper Egypt. and
thus have compelled much more formidable
British expedition than that which LORD Woi
seley is conducting. AS to GOrdon's PROPOSE
tion about Zebehr, it is simply the result OF
what may be called an ultra practical view OF
the situation. England has declared that the
Soudan must be evacuated. That means that
it will be restored to present anarchy, future
tyranny, and the re-establIshment OF the slave
trade. Zebehr is a SLAYER and tyrant, but he
is the only Asiatic who can conquer ana hoid
the Soudan. With England out of the way, he
is certain to intrigue away the power OF any
EGYPTIAN or Turkish Governor who may DO
apponted, and to usurp the Government NM
self Go,,lon knows this. and iSting on lam
liar principle, he proposes to make zebehr as
useful and as little mischievous as possible,
BY engaging him on the side of-law and order.
His proposal to surrender the Sondan 10 tne
Porte is equally practical. lie knows that the
T,rLs yvouId at least govern it, and IN the
name of q single authority, whereas the Esyp-