Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-19
AbyASinsa and Egypt.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE SITUATION
THERE.

THERE.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Inc Egyptian government having failed to stop
the FL Mahdi tidal wave Of success In the Soudan,
and fearing tenfod more for the loss OF the khedve
crown than for his so-called army, and both Eng
land and Turkey having practically abandoned his
h1ShneSS In the hour OF need, the khediye now in
his dire strait, and eastern diplomacy send an
envoy in the person OF one Baker Pasha, an ENGLISH
man, TO treat with the king of Abyssinla for the
purpose OF allowing the demoraliZed Egyptian ilrce
now threatened by the Prophet with annihilatton
to pass intact through his country he the king to
furnish convoy for their protection to the coast
AoySSn1a TO receive MaSsOwah in payment This
OF course was refused by King John {BishD or the
chief designated by him, as. unfortunately for the
too We'll versed with Egyptian honor and promises
10 listen Tor a moment TO the ambassador from
Cairo until Massowah and other coast lines were
transferred to Abyssinia in proper form, and
before an Egyptian soldier entered his domain.
In my opinion aud | speak from practical expe-
ricnce, King John is the best ally Egypt could nos
s.biy have. under the circumstances. and the only
sale retreat for their cOWardly army and those who
they convoy is through Ahyssnian territory. Mas
SoWih Is OF but little Importance to Egypt. but OF
great import to AbysSinia. The people on this
coast region being saltwater drinkers, and as but
cured here. 1T would be impossible to station a
sufficient number OF troops at This point for any
length OF time. unless vessels kept at the port
IUI lie express purpose OF COndenSing water Tie
harbof IS quite a good one and would be excellent
SMUT III as IL is from the west, south and east by a
mountain chain, were 1t not for the coral no, tom
ana consequently the danger OF ships drarotnm
storms are not OF very frequent occurrence but
when they do visit these Attitudes are very severe
as the writer rec0ilectS very wildly having eype-
rienccd one Of these tornadoaS in MAY 1876 when
the Whole place was inundated. tents swept away
ana All the shipping in the harbor ad,tit ashore
I.ili. MaSSOWah and Suakim were wreStcd from
ADD! ,Sii.ld by MahOmed Ali This cut off Abyssinia
entirely from the sea coast, and deprived her OF all
benefits accruing from commerce and intercourse
John
ten his Old enemy, Or rather that OF his country and
creed, ana ON more than one occasion has found
himself better general and his nude followers far
better soldiers, than those sent by Egypt to COM
pei him 10 submit to their demands
He Is FULLY masterof the situation from MassJwah
10 'aEllli, and being natural born SOLDIER is not
apt to miss the opportunity of once more raising
ms standard over all the territory stolen from his
country by 1urkey-bcsldeS ar1ning his men from
the llnineise quantity OF arms &C., which are sup
posed TO be stored al kaSsala.
III has been treaty stipulation for years between
turkey and the ruler OF Abyssinia that the Turks
should remain undSturbed so long as they paid
over TO the king one half OF the customs collected
ABOUT 1866 Turkey transferred MasSOwah to Egypt,
Since winch time tins treaty has been more or less
ignored. Like her English example. Egypt has
,feu 10 enrich herself at the expense Of others. and
set her
l am simply writing this statement to show the
general reader how utterly impossible it Is for
Egypt to securely hold one square inch OF Abyssin-
IAN territory unless sanctioned by King John. Both
ARM which they sent for that purpose in 1873
were defeated aud maSSacred without gaining a
Single point. except the one that two AbySSlnian
m,fIctmtn could stampede a squadron OF Egyptian
cavalry, and few OF their women, armed with
scratching sticks alone, could defeat a brigade of
regular infantry.
And yet these people-childrcn I'm everything but
Sln-hiVe been left. by England, France and Tur-
Key, TO their tate in the Soudan, which means not
only massacre to them. but to every Christian
WITHIN reach OF the Prophets arm, or that of any
Othef fanltical leader who chooses to DEFY the
Egyptian tag.
Fl Mai,di has but set an example; he is only an
iiaig'hhcant spark In the great fire OF MOSemiSm,
ani H. prclance. he is snolldcrcd it IS only water
thrown upon the lanatlcal Goals, which In due time
VII! plfst lorth With renewed vigor and ferocity,
ana spread devastation in every direction.
". f. PORTER