The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-19
General Stones Views of the Expedition.


General Stones Views of the Expedition.
Interview in New York Tribune.
The views Of Charles p Stone, formerly chief
Of staff of the Khedive, with regard to the pro-
posed British expedition for the relief of Khar-
toum, and the rescue of General Gordon from
the perils that beset him. were freely expressed
to reporter. He said in response to inquiries
'If were fresh from Egypt l could speak
with more positiyeness, but after years alb
sence from that country, am not so familirr
with the condition of the tribes nor do / know
whether pccuniary means have been employed to
affect them, which is an important considera-
ton. There are only two routes open to the
British by which they can reach Khartoum-or
might say three. One is that from Suakim,
6y way of Berber; another is that from near
Suaklm, by way of kassala; and the third is by
way Of the Nile. moving directly up that river
from Wady -Halfa and following the Nile all the
way to khartoum or following the Nile to Deb
beh and thence proceeding across the Bahandah
desert to Khartoum. The route by way of
tell you why.
The Suakim- Berber route is practicable only
oy building railway between Suakim and Ber-
Der, unless there could be assembled at Suakim
an immense number OF camels for carrying
water. 1t, as the dispatches state 80 600 camels
are being assembled near Dongola and can be
assembled in time, there is no practical difficulty
in the route from Debbeh to Khartoum, but there
IS here strong military difficulty. 1t would be
march of several DAYS duration with verv
extended column, both fanks being exposed to
the enemy. If the object of the expedition is
simply the relief Of General Gordon, a small
force might, it seems to me, be pushed rapidly
through from Debbeh to Khartoum, relieve him
and bring him away. Such force could move
with great rapidity if well supplied with water
bearing camels. But if the object is the occu-
patton Of the Soudan, or the complete evacuation
OF the Soudan, then much larger force would
be required, and, of course, the rapidity of the
movement would be lessened.
1 think the Abvssinian route impracticable
because no faith whatever can be placed in the
Abyssinians. They are courageous and good
nghters IN their own mountains, but cannot be
trusted in anything They are good for making
cattle raids and saveseizing raids, for short dis
tances beyond their borders, during the season
when water is abundant in the country in which
they act, but they are utterly without organiza-
ton or discipline, and are worthless in any per-
sistent movement beyond their borders If the
recent dispatches are correct in stating that Ras
Alloula attempted to occupy Keren (the country
name is Sanheit), and was utterly routed, it is
evident that the route from Massowa to Kassala
and khartoum is impractcable. Keren, or San
heit, is the chief place of the province of Bogos
which, it has been stated in kilograms we have
received, has been given to the King of Abys-
snla In part payment for his promised services
=. No 0tSHuob oven occupy Tile country ceu6u TO
him on his own borders he can hardly aid
much in the proposed invasion. Each route
has its serious disadvantages The route
from Suakim to Berber lacks water, and passes
constantly through dangerous defiles and dry,
desert tracts. The route following the Nile has,
of course, abundance of water until Debbeh is
reached, and on what is called the Bahanda des-
ert there is some water good enough for camels
and horses; but this last route, ast have stated
exposes both fanks of the force and requires a
vast humber of camels to carry water. Had the
last year been used for constructing railway
from Suakim to Berber the relief of Khartoum
wouldhot now be a difficult problem.
Il have noticed in the recent dispatches that
dynamite is being sent out to Egypt to be used
u blasting the cataracts, as they are called
This, which seems so simple matter, should be
very seriously considered if the welfare of Egypt
is at all to be regarded. Any great change in
the cataracts of the Nile might seriously alter
the flow of that river, which is the life of lower
Egypt These cataracts act as natural regulat-
ors OF, the flow of water in the Nile Should
that flow be made more rapid by changes in the
cataracts, it seems to me that Egypt would be in
danger Of having both foods and droughts, to
which she is not now subjected"