The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-04
THE WAR IN THE sOUDAN.
Bakers Delay Due to Observation-Disclosures
Loss of Sinkat.

Loss of SinlNat.
LONDON, Feb. 2-Advices from Cairo to-
day Indicate that the alarm for the fate of the
garrisons of Tokar and Sinkat is greatly intensi-
fed The delay of Baker Pashas advance has,
without doubt sealed the fate of Sinkat, where
Tewfk Bey with four hundred soldiers, and
thousand women and children. has been besieged
for some weeks past. A messenger reached
Suakim from Tewfik, on Saturday who an
nounced that unless relief reached Skinkat by
Saturday, Tewhk would make one rally more,
and in case he was defeated, would then sur
render.
1t is reported that the delay of Baker Pasha to
advance is due to the disaffection of the black
troops, owing to the removal of their leader,
Zabehr Pasha. The English officers with Baker
Pasha at Trinkitat report that the Egyptian
troops are utterly Intellectual in drill and the
of rifles while the native officers are cowardly
and unwilling to march, on the ground that de-
feat is certain. Baker will await the arrival of
friendly Shieks, and do all in his power to re-
leve ToBar by the use of diplomacy and bribery
before forcing his troops to march inland. Mill
tary critics calculate that in Baker Pasha is
compelled to cut his way through to Tokar the
chances are three to one in favor of the complete
| annihilation of all his forces.
| The advices from Massouwah regarding the
Abyssinians are conflicting The report that
Ras Aloula, the commander of the Abyssinian
| forces had withdrawn his troops and left the
road between Massouwah and Kossala open is
now contradicted. 1t is rumored that the
| Abyssinians are seizng territory beyond their
! frontier Parties of raiders have appeared in
! the vicinity of Kossala, but they were unable to
make any attack as they were armed only with
| lances.
| The fears for General Gordon's safety have
! been greatly relieved by the report that he
takes guard with him from Assouan to Berber,
| where a small force will meet him from Khar-
! toum The fact that General Gordon has been
obliged to send a complaint to Cairo that the
of the Sultan of Darfour, who was sent with
him to assist in the work of pacihcation, is an
habit1ial drunkard, and is totally incompetent
for the place, has raised the suspicion that the
Egyptian authorities are trying to hamper Gen
eral Gordon in his arduous undertaking.
1t is also considered doubtful whether the
Egyptian officials giving Baker genuine sup
| port These and similar troubles are tending in
evitably to the permanency of British protec
torate over Egypt Even an annexation by
! England is now advocated by the German of
fetal papers. while Baron Rothschild and other
fnancers who are interested in the security of
Egyptian finances are urging public assurance
of the continuance OF the protectOrate.
The advance of Baker Pasha to the relief of
Tokar has been postponed until Sunday. The
| original intention telegraphed by Colonel
Sartorius. was to start on Friday.
General Gordon arrived at karosek, and has
| entered the desert Baker Pasha made another
| reconnaissance from Trinkitat with q strong
force The enemy fled south, and were pur-
sued by cavalry. Several hundred rebels were
killed