The Portland daily press., 1885-02-07
NO NEWS.
The Fate of Gen. Gordon and
Troops Still Unknown.
Both Banks Of the Nile Controlled by
the Rebels.
An Active and Vigorous Policy to
be Pursued by England.
The Cabinet Decide to Give Gen. WOIse-
ley Complete Discretion as to
His Course.

LoNDoN, Feb. 6.-The morning papers con-
tain no further information relative to the fall
OF khartoum. Fothing seems to be known at
Cairo except the News telegraphed there from
London. Tho papers can find room for moth
ing except the news of the fall lof Khartoum.
There are columns upon columns Of the histo-
ry of the siege and of the effort to relieve the
place by means Of Gen. Wolseley's futile expe-
dltlen up the river, and there are whole pages
devoted to letters and dispatches showing the
feeling of the country In regard to Gordon's
fate
A despatch from Suakim states that friendly
tribes have managed to revictual Kassala and
have passed $50 camels loaded with grain into
the town. A successful sortie was recently
made from Ghira ON Steltit river. Another
attack was lately made by friendly tribe mp
on hostile tribes Of Gallabad country. The lat
ter were defeated with heavy loss. All these
occurrences are from one to five weeks old, but
they are just now given out by the War Office
SECOND DESPATCH.
Gen. Wolseley telegraphed from Korti to the
War Office this afternoon, that q courier had
arrived from the British camp near Metemneh,
who reports that the rebels at Metemneh have
become defiant since hearing of the fall Of
khartoum. The courier also says an attack on
Gubat may be Hooked for at any moment, as
the rebels expect reinforcements from Khar-
toum. Lord Wolseley states that he will re-
main quiet pending further orders from the
government.
The Cabinet met at II o'clock this morning,
to consider what course should be taken in re-
gard to the present Egyptian emergency. 1t
was decided to send telegraphic orders to India
for despatch Of Indian troops to Suakim, by
drafts OF troops from England and the Medit-
erraneen. The opinion of the ministry is in
favor Of strong, active and vigorous policy.
The ministry will sanction any demand Of
Lord Wolseley which will aid in the defeat of
the Mahdi and will secure the release Of Gen.
Gordon il alive, or wreak vengeance upon the
Arabs IL he is slain. Telegraph lines between
London and Korti are entirely occupied with
despatches between the Cabinet and Lord
Wolseley,
THIRD DEsPArcH.
LONDON, Feb. 6.-Astonishment has been
caused by report that the Cabinet at its ses-
sion today considered a despatch received
from Lord Wolseley, asking for instructions.
In tnls despatch, Gen. Wolseley informs the
government that he will be unable to reach
khartoum in less time than five weeks, when
the hot season will have commenced. He as
sures the ministry that he feels still confident
OF his ability to successfully attack Khartoum
and defeat the False Prophet, but says that
the operations necessary to achieve these re-
suits would now be difficult and hazardous
Advices from Kort state that a number Of
spies have been despatched to khartoum to as
certain the fate ef Gen. Gordon.
I3 p. m. The Cabinet Council has adiourn-
cd after having been in session three and one
quarter hours.
The residence of Gladstone has been placed
under special police protection.
PARIS, Feb. 6.-The French newspapers, in
their comments upon the misfortune at Khar-
teum almost without exception, agree in the
opinion that England will prove herself fully
equal to the situation, bad as it is
FOURTH DESPATCH.
LONDON, Feb. 6.-Lord Wolseley telegraphs
late this afternoon that he has been informed
that Col: wilson had one man killed and five
wounded while returning down the Nile from
hnartoum. A messenger from the Mahdi
summoned Col. Wilson to surrender and at
the same time stated that Gen. Gordon was
wearing the Mahdi's uniform. 1t is the gener
al opinion in military circles that Gen. Gordon
is dead.
1t is understood that the Cabinet Council to-
day decided to give Lord Wolseley carte
blanche to take any measures he deems neces-
sary for the rescue of Gen. Gordon IL alive,
and to make use Of such military operations as
he considers advisable to regain the ground
lost In the Soudan By the fall of Khartoum.
Among many alterD atives suggested by Gen.
Wolseley were the immediate recApturs Of
khartoum and the employment If necessary
OF Indian troops to reopen the Bsrber route
Col. Wortley, in charge Of the only one Of
Ool. WILSON'S three steamers which succeeded
in reaching Gubat from Khartoum, the others
having been wrecked in the Nile, between the
Two places, furnishes detailed report OF the
movements Of the expedition. This shows
that the three steamers in command OF Col.
Wilson, reached Kharto1m Jan. %, following
the course Of the White Nile. On reaching
Khartoum 1t was found to be utterly impossi-
BILE to land the troops. Then follows descrip-
tion OF the firing By the rebels and the return
Oh the steamers, as given in yesterdays press
reports. Continuing, Col. Wortley says: "The
government house at Khartoum appeared to
be wrecked. One man was killed and five
others wounded during the attack on the
steamers. Col. Wilson's steamer was wrecked
EAVTn lAu kn1wwA -
the bottom Of the Shubalaka cataracts, and the
second steamer was wrecked Jan. 29th. We
reached Gubat in small boats the same dav
that Khartoum fell (Jan. 26) and am certain
that Gen. Gordon's fate is still In doubt. The
general opinion, however, is that he was killed
while some say he is with the Greeks in their
church at Khartoum,
The fall Of Khartoum hasldeoided Shukriveh
tribes to join the forces of Ell Mahdi which
places both banks of the Nile under control of
lish, and the advance of Gen. Earle's column
is awaited with anxiety by them
Natives say that El Mahidi is hard pressed
torsupplies and that he had great difficulty in
persuading the Emirs to attack us.
A messenger from El Mahdi reached Col,
Wilson January 2S. He said that Gen. Cor
don had adopted El Mahdi's uniform.
A courier has brought the following message
from Ell Mahdi: IT call upon you to surren-
der and shall not write again. II you do not
face Of the EARTH"
The statement is confirmed that Faraz Pasha
treacherously made terms with El Mahdi
whereby the latter was enabled to capture
Khartoum.
Gen. Wolseley sends the following despatch:
"ralbots convoy has reached Gubat safely.
The enemy at Metemneh have been entirely
inactive since January 28. The rebel force
there is estimated at between 1000 and 5000
men. Our men are in good health. The
WOun0ad doing vvoI Tho Kat
are still carrying messages and supplies for us
to Gakdal Wells. A messenger has been sent
to ascertain the fate of Gen. Gordon.
FIFTH DESPATCH.
The announcement Is confirmed that at
cabinet council to-day it was decided to give
Gen. Woiseley complete discretion as to the
course to be pursued in Soudan. The govern
ment will give him any assistance he may
need by despatching troops from Suakim to
Berber. Gen. Wolseley will make every effort
possible to save Gen. Gordon, If alive.
The widest rumors are afloat in London to-
night relative to affairs in Soudan. 1t ia said
by some that Gen. Gordon was shot during the
attack on Khartoun. The latest authentic
news from there is contained in Col. Wortleys
report The government continues to monopo-
NE the wires, and even private messages
either way are refused transmission. The de-
csion of the CabinetRin giving Gen. Wolselsy
carte blanche has caused the liveliest Joy
everywhere. Groups Of people are gathered
IN the streets eagerly reading the latest Issues
of the evening papers.
Press Comments ON the Situation.
The Times in leading editorial this morning
says that the shock that the news OF the fall OF
khartoum causes has no parallel in the experience
OF the present generation.
The Daily News says that seldom in the memory
of living men has news been received of such dis
aster to England The cry of TOO late' against
the government is unjustifed. The News thinks
that Colonel Wilson's steamers might have arrived
at Khartoum earlier than they did 1t feels con-
vinoed that a national calamity will be utilized in
furtherance Of party feeling.
The Daily Telegraph says that the situation Is
one of grave and Complicated difficulty It Is RIGHT
that all should wait for the decision of the minis
try upon whose shoulders the responsibility rests
and who must possess the most complete military
information. Nothing can be gained by wild re-
proaches for bygone delays. IL the Governments
cannot rescue General Gordon, let it daily no longer
but retire. The Mahdi must be crushed The gov
ernment has great misfortune to repair buf IL
has no disgrace to lament. All now needed is that
the statesmen rise to the heroic level Of our
soldiers.
,r. PARIS, Feb. 9.
ran OF Ansftonm is matter of concern to all