The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-27
The Air Full of Alarming Rumors, and Fears
Entertained that Serious Disaster
Has Occurred in Egypt.
General Wolseley Makes a Feeble At
tempt to Reassure the War Office,
But Impairs the Confident Tone of His Dis
patch by Pushing Forward Into the
DeSert-0ther Cable News
WAITING FOR NEWS.
Intense Anxiety as to Stewards Fate-A For
ward Movement by WOlseley.

Intense Anxiety as to Stewards Fate-A For
ward Movement by Wolseley.
LONDON, Jan 26--Intense anxiety is felt as to
the fate of General Stewart The War Office
had received TO further tidings from him up to
| noon to-day. Dispatches are expected every
hour, and the officials make no effort to conceal
their deepening disappointment as they still fail
| to come. Alarming rumors are flying about the
city concerning the fate of his brave followers
who fought at Abu-Klea Wells and then disap-
peared in the desert beyond. The apprehension
that serious disaster has occurred is gaining
ground. The transport Deccan has been ordered
In readiness to convey regiment to Malta, and
from there to Egypt, if occasion requires
dispatch from Alexandria to the Exchange
Telegraph Company says General Wolseley has
sent reinforcements from Korti to Stewart, and
he himself is about to press forward.
The War Office has, at 2:30 p. M, made public
the contents of dispatch received this after
noon from General Wolseley, at Korti. He says
he has not yet received any further news from
General Stewart. He assures the government
that in his opinion, there is cause for anxiety
in this long absence of intelligence. The first
news of the battle at Abu Klea, which was re-
ceived at Korti four days after the fight, was
brought in by bashi-bazouks. The last of these
who were following Stewards army left in a
little band and carried the story of the fight
across the desert No information but that
brought by these Arabs has yet reached Korti.
Whatever additional reports Stewart may have
dispatched Wolseley says, must come by camel
couriers with the ordinary British escort.
A telegram from Cairo, dated at 2 M. to day,
says There is no news from the front regard
ing General Stewart but many unfounded ru
mors are afoat, Anxiety as to the fate of his
force increases hourly
Up to midnight, Monday, no tidings had been
received at the War Office from General Stew
art. The.sudden decision Of General Wolseley
to go to the front is considered ominous.
The Whole Force in a Precarious Situation.
Interview with Gen. G. P. Stone.
When Gen Stone was asked by reporter yes
terday what he thought Of the situation of Gen
eral Stewart, he sad
''His situation must cause serious anxiety
The affair of January Is was simple repuse of
a vigorous attack, and that repulse was pur-
chased at heavy cost in losing, according to the
official report more than IL per cent of his force
valuable officers. His enemy having retired in
reasonably good order without being pushed,
can hardly have been badly demoralized, while
his own men would hardly be in condition for
very vigorous work in the immediate future, worn
outas they must be by extraordinary exertions and
heavily incumbered with wounded comrades. who
must require the attention of many of his eff
cient soldiers. l regard his position as very criti-
cal, indeed, as he has immense odds against him,
and the Soudanese have well learned the lesson
that in hand-to hand fight the spear is as good
as the bayOnet and perhaps better, being longer
than the musket and the bayonet cannot
understand why General Wolseley so divided his
forces after having gone to the trouble of trans
porting SO large force to the interior. Had the
whole force of his command moved from korti
on Metemneh, it would have had better chance:
but even that force could only have made the
movement in contempt of the qualities of the
rebels who were known to be so numerous The
Arabs, in their movements in the desert, have
great advantage in their thorough knowledge of
the country and of every nlace where water can
be found, while the British force is compelled to
march from one known well to another EN-
boldened by partial success, the Arabs will,
doubtless, be active in preventing the march of
reinforcements to the relief of the little band
under Stewart The chances are now against
the British; yet there is always very much to
expect from the great courage, steadiness and
devotion to duty of British troops, and we may
be certain that every thing possible for to do
in holding out will be done by General Stewards
force, and that whatever men can do In reach
ing and relieving him will be done by any force
which General Lord Wolseley may send to
Stewards relief"
''Do you think General Stewart is at Meten,-
nehqo
'"There is nothing in any dispatches which /
have seen which gives definite idea as to his
present position. 1t would surely be the strategy
of the Arabs to draw him as far from water as
possible and then to cut him off from any water
supply. Could they succeed in that the fate Of
the troops would be settled within few hours
/ hardly think that General Stewart reached Me-
temneh, and do not believe he would quit one
position when he had such necessary supply
without being certain of reaching another or Sc
curing his return. 1t is probable that if he ad-
vanced he returned to the wells, where the ac-
tior of the 10th took place."
IF General Stewart is entrenched at the wells
and General Wolseley at Korti, are not the
chances of his destruction greatl'
Undoubtedly. AS / have already said the
Arabs would do their best to prevent the
arrival of reinforcements, and Stewart would be
attacked by snch odds as to make his escape al
most impossible. Yet, much can be expected
from the high qualities of his troops"
what do you think Of General Earles posi-
-tionl"
do not give us sufficient knowledge of his posi-
ton to enable one to form Judgment If he is
operating in isolation from other forces. it is
only another force in danger OF being taken in
detail"
lis not the situation of the entire British force
precariousp
'It is by no means reassuring Should Stew
arts force be destroyed, the prestige of the
Mahdi would be so increased that almost any
thing might be expected"
iGoRDON's ECCENTRICITIEs.
A