St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-04
THE FALL OF BERBER.
Without Waiting for Relief Gordon
Opens BOmbardment Upon Ber-
ber and Recaptures 1t.
Acting ON His Own Account or
From Instructions.

LONDON, Oct 3-Sir Evelyn Barring has sent
dispatch to the government stating that Cor
don, after having bombarded Berber for some
time, has effected an entry into the place and re-
captured it. The rebels and hostile inhabitants
fled when the bombardment ceased.
LONDON, Oct 3.-The fall of Berber will
enable Col. Kitchener to reach Gordon from
Dongols and ascertain his wishes regarding the
Nile expedition and as to the necessity OF an
expedition going to Khartoum. The conference
may result in the abandonment of the Nile
expedition.
Mudir sends dispatch stating that reliable
messenger brought word to him that he saw
Gordon with four steamers arrive at Shendy,
and finding the place deserted Gordon nailed
to a tree proclamation offering to pardon the
people.
After attaching his proclamation to tree,
Gordon started for Berber. On the day after
his arrival, the general placed two steamers IN
the middle of the river and opened a lombard
ment upon the town. The bombardIaent lasted
until late this afternoon. Gordon afterward pro-
ceeded in the direction of Djalzeen. 1t is ru-
mored that Mohammed Elk Hur, who was the
Mahdi's Ameer at Berber, was killed during the
bombardment. Other reports state ne escaped
and had the treasure Of the city removed to
Kerpi. Subsequently Gordon thoroughly chas-
tised the inhabitants of Djalzeen.
LONDON, Oct 3.-The Times, in its editorial
columns sees slight hope for the success of
Young's mediation in Chinese matters.
1t says his ready sympathy with Ii
Hung Chang, showed he had more kindness than
diplomatic talent. If the settlement of pending
difficulties were dependent on Young's first ef-
forts, France would need war credit in excess
| of the ten million francs. France has demanded
| maximum indemnity, butwil take less. II the
question of indemnity were the only involved
we might anticipate an early armlstlce or last
ing peace but il is evident that II Ii Hung Chang
really used the defiant words reported China Is
thoroughly aroused by the treatment she has re-
/ ceived at the hands of the French. Aware OF
| the difficult position of France at home. Ferry
| does not want long war. He would find 1t diff
| cult to get the chambers to vote the money re-
| quired His danger is that China viii not agree
| to patch up an informal peace.
| PARIS, Oct. 3.-The Journal Des DebGts pub
| fishes an article on the French navy, charging
that it is inefficient and stating its doubts as to
| its ability to sustain war with China.
| SHANGHAI, Oct. 3.-The viceroy of Tub Kier
| has sent Is, 600 men to reinforce the Chinese
| troops now holding Kelung and Tamsni.
! PARIS Oct. 3.-The ministry deny that the
: French government asked the United States tC
/ ask as mediator in the Chinese affair. 1t Il
| semi-oficially announced that America may have
offered to act as mediator between France ant
China, but France has not asked her to act il
that capacity.
4 WASHINGTON, OCL. S.-luQutTy utphtt
ment of state to-day failed to elicit either con
I irmation or denial of the dispatch which th'
London Times cabed to America, stating tina
| United States Minister John Russell Youn!
had arrived at Tein Tsien, and
acting under instructions from Wash
ington had informed Ii Hung Chang tina
the French government had requested mediation
from the government of the United States. l
| was learned, however, that Mr.. Young recent.
visited the American consulates in China ant
that within few days he has been at Tien Tsien
] which is only about seventy miles distant from
Pekin. While there he had cn audience with
Hung Chang, but was notinstructed to conve,
J any request on the part of France for mediation
Nr Young, prior to this visit, had had severa
conferences with the yiceroy to aso irtain whethe
China was disposed to Jake an .feps toward
settlement of the controversy with France Hi
recent visit was for the same purpose. Neithe
France nor China, however, has made any re
quest for mediation. Both countries, it seems
favor such mode of settling their dispute, bu
neither is willing to take initiatory steps.