The Portland daily press., 1885-02-14
EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN.
English Troops Routed by Arabs
Near Suakim.
The English Government Blamed for
Keeping Back the News.
The Wounded on Gen. Stewards
Forces Slowly Recovering.

SUAKIM, Feb. 13.-Small parties OF hostile
Arabs have reappeared to menace the garri-
son. q spy has returned from Hesheim, the
place where accommodating party OF hussars
and Egyptians we're attacked on the 3d Inst.
Ths hussars got as far as Handoub without op-
position, but having on their way oat burned
out native village without reason, they were
attacked on their return at Hesheim, which is
about three miles from Handoub The at
tackiDg party lay in ambush and the Arab
fire was so terrible that the hussars could not
face it and saved themselves from annihilation
By retreatiDg at full gallop In circle to
Suskim. Eight husssrs and three Egyptians
were lost. Colonel Freemantle, commanding
at Snakim, in reporting this incident stated
that the officer in command Of the hussars had
exceeded his authority in ordering the burning
of the village. Spies were at once sent out to
ascertain the fate Of the missing troopers. A
spy who has returned could learn nothing OF
them. He found in the desert, near the scene
OF the fight, several articles of clothing which
evidently belonged to the missing men. The
spy took these articles to Suakim. They are
all pierced as II by spears. The spy reports
that he found the enemy encamped at Hesh-
elm.
The Wounded Recovering.
LONDON, Feb. 13.-General Wolseley tele-
graphs that % OF the wounded at the Gakdui
Wells have recovered. Gen. Stewards recov-
cry, Lord Wolseley says, is slow but the others
injuredtin Gen. Stewards engagement are do
i1g well. The diary kept by Gen. Gordon in
Khartoum, with entries up to Dec. 10, 1884, is
reported to be in possession Of the government.
The Government Charged with withhold
ing News.
LONDON, Feb. 13.-The Conservative papers
charge the government with suppressing Gen.
Gordon's diary and letters, in which that off-
Ger stated that he sent Col. Stewart away from
Khartoum, in order to save his (Stewart's) life,
intending himself to meet deathgat Khartoum,
as he knew no help could reach there in time
to rescue him. When Parliament assemblies,
the production OF all the dispatches OF the
government in regard to the SoudaD campaign
will be demanded,
The scene of Tuesdays Battle.
A dispatch from Kerbekan says: "a visit TO
the scene OF Tuesdays battle shows that the
enemy's position was strongly fortified and
carefully protected by screens of stones and
rock. The South Stafford Regiment were on
ly able to capture the high ridge by climbing
on their hands and feet. The ridge is about
400 feet high. The prisoners say that they
were greatly surprised at our appearance in
their rear as they thought that the British
came from Berber. The enemy is now massed
at BeIbef.
General Notes.
1t is believed that General Wood has been
appointed to succeed Gen. Earle. The latter
was highly esteemed. He was regarded rs one
| Of the most brilliant, brave and popular sol
| diers in the British army.
Gen. Lord Woselev is compelled to remain
az hortl owing TO the Importance OF the COM
| municatiens constantly passing between him
| and the government.
An offer comes from New South Wales to
send 800 infantry and two batteries OF artillery
| to the Soudan within month.
| 1t ss probable that the ministers will decide
| to inform Canada and New South Wales that
| their assistance is not needed.
The Canada voyageurs who were with the
| Nile expedition left Alexandria to-day in the
| steamer Poonah which will convey them
n fhnu uurrn or,a-
| bark in the steamer Hsnoverian for home and
| will reach Quebec the first week in March.
| Dispatches from Gen. Wolseley compliment
| the voyageurs for their services.
A London syndicate has made an offer to
| the government to construct railway from
| Suskim to Berber, building block of houses
at intervals to guard the line. il guaranteed
| a per cent income on the capital invested.