New-York tribune., 1884-02-27
RUMORS FROM TIE SOUDlM.

Events In the SOuudn are moving 81 l"PlouJ
that a revulsion of public sentiment in England
may be witnessed within week. The British
army has arrived at Suaklm in readiness 10
march at once TO the relief of TOkar. But the
garrison has not deemed it prudent to wait Tor
the rescuers. There are contradictory rumors
but undoubtedly it has surrendered to the
rebels on terms honorable to itself, and, unless
Osman Digma has violated his pledges, it has
escaped the fate of the brave soldiers at Sinkat
The fall of Tokar leaves General Graham's
column without an objective point 1t Is an ex-
pedition without motive or mission. hassaa,
where there is another Egyptian garrison, lies
in the interior long distance away, and cannot
be approached unless the victorious bands OF
insurgents on the seabOard are first defeated.
Neither can a column be sent across the deserts
TO Berber and KhartOum, so long as the COM
munications in the rear are at the mercy OF this
hostile force. Unless General Graham can
content himself with garrisoning SuaIim, there
is nothing for him to do but to take the often
sve and attack the enemy in the open
feld-as, indeed, the latest dispatches
indicate that he is about to do. But
why should an English army make war upon the
Soudanese What will it profit, if the Egyptian
reverses at TrinEitat, Sinkat and Iokar are re-
trieved by British regulars Why should
compaign be opened IN the pestilential Soudan
one of the worst fighting grounds for Eu-
ropeans on the face of the earth ? These are
questions which practical Englishmen will not
be slow to ask themselves. Already the Tory
and Radical press is dcprecating an advance
from Sual1im as hazardous and unnecessary.
1t will not be surprising if a revulsinn of feel
ng in England quickly follows the recent
demonstrations in favor of military interyen-
tion in the SOudan.
1t is to be hoped that General Graham will
not be forced to march from Trinkitat, as the
Home authorities of the War Department seem
to have determined. He has not much field
artillery, and he has to meet a foe who Is well
provided with the Krupp guns taken from
Baker Pacba and manned by the artillerymen
surrendering at Tokar The Nubian troops
who mutinied are 20 90 as camel drivers; and 1t
is clear that the English general should not tenn
pOrize with mutineers nor allow them to be in
position to betray the army. Osman Digma
is admitted to be a sbilful and willy general,
who has utilized with uncommon intelligence
the advantages given him by Egyptian cow
ardice or disaifectiOn. He will know how to
avail himself of the treachery OF these camel
drivers. If an expedition were necessary, time
should be allowed to obtain Hindu camel
drivers from the Quartermaster's Department
of the British army in India. But it is not clear
that any expedition is necessary, since it is
known that the prospect of a British advance to
relieve Tokar did not encourage the garrison
TO resist; and the march of General Graham
may likewise be the signal for the surrender of
Kassala The British expedition to unpreju-
diced eyes seems wantOn hazardlng of Eu-
rOpean army for no real military purpose, in
the hope of regaining prestige by the retaking
of Tokar. But the way to regain prestige can
not be to send out into the desert force of
$500 Englishmen who will be wilted with the
heat and almost at the mercy of several thou
sand Nubiau camel drivers, armed, mutinous
and frenzied by superstition.
The news from every quarter of the Nile
country continues to be most alarming. From
KhartOum vague and contradictory reports are
received of the advance of the False Prophet
and the speedy abandonment of the capital.
General Gordon is apparently preparing for a
march northward; and if the reports of the
revolt of the Arabs between KoroscO and Ber-
Der are fully confirmed, this retrograde move
ment will become impracticable. The situa
ton is growing more serious every day