New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-15
MESSENGERS FROM KHARTOUM.
DENYING THAT THE CITY HAS FALLEN.

| LONDON, Feb. IA dispatch from korti states
that messengers have arrived there from khartoum'
and profess ignorance regarding the 1all Oh hnar
toum or of the death of General Gordon. Inc
Mudir of Dongoa refuses to credit the reports con-
cerning the capture of Khartoum by the Mahoi ana
the massacre of General Gordon and the garrison
under his command.
The Standard this afternoon publishes dlspatch
from its correspondent at Korti, stating that mes
senger who has just arrived from Kort declares .ha'
Khartoum has not been captured by the Mahdl.
The messenger the correspondent says asserts that
he left Khartoum six days after Colonel Sir Charles
Wilson appeared before the city in the boats sent
from Gnbat and that when the messenger left the
CITY General Gordon still eld.khartOum. Govern
ment officials do not believe the messengers story
and state that no official information conhrinatory
of 1t has been received
At the council of war held to-day at the War
Office 1t was resol we'd to increase the Indian con-
tngent to be dispatched to the Soudan for Ueherai
Wolscleys relief. to $500 men, III order 10 ralse the
total effective force which General Graham Is to
have for his Suakim expedition TO 1 800 men, The
council also again considered the colonial offers OF
military assistance. Both the Earl of Northbrook
and the Marquis of Harrington urged tie war
Office to assent to the requests to emDody colonial
contingents in the expedition.
General Graham will depart for Suakim on fcD-
ruary 10. He will be given the fullest option rs
to the time to be occupied by the expedition to
reaching Berber 1t is stated, however, that
General Graham intends to make forced marches
all the way to Berber from Suakim. If he en-
counters Osman Digna and defeats him, General
Graham believes that he can reach Berber WITHIN
twenty DAYS. 1t would require thir ty days to
complete the Journey with army making or
dInary time
Ii is row thought certain that tho attack on
Metemneh by the British forces at Gubat will be
made tomorrow, as contemplated. The news Of
the result of the attack is expected To arrive at
Korti on Tuesday next. Lord Wolsclcy's disposal
of the forces at present at Gubat under the com
mand of Colonel Sir Edward Butler depends upon
the result of Io-morrow's assault.
The .4rmy and Nary Gazette takes gloomy view
of the position occupied at present at Gubat. Ac-
cording to The Gazette the troops can neither re-
treat across the desert nor down the Nile. They
arc compelled from the necessities of the situation.
It is contcnded, TO entrench themselves where they
are. and there hoard their ammunition, live on
camel meat and remain on the defensive until re-
lieved.
The Duke Of Connaught has requested 10 be as
signed to service in the Soudan. He will retire
from his command at Meerut. India, on April l.
The report that FL Mahdis troops are marching TO
attack Kassala has led 10 renewal of negOtIa-
tions with Italy for the dispatch of an Italian ex-
pcditon from Massowah for the relief Of the garri-
on.
gigantic trading corporation, to be called the.
Royal London Trading Company, is being formed
in London and Alexandria upon the same lines as
those upon which were conducted tho East India
Company If the corporation succeeds III obtain
ing the charter it has already applied for. 1t will
claim as one of its privileges the right to build a
railway bet ween Berber and Suakim.
The Governor of Victoria has sent message to
the Home Government rendering TO the Queen the
assurance that the colony of Victoria was ready to
do It's part integral portion of Her Majesty's
empire to assist England in Egypt.
The Marquis of Lorne published a letter in to-
days Times urging the acceptance by the Govern
mcnt OF tie prOilered services of W.lliams's
Canadian Corps the men TO be allowed either 10
take the places in England Of those sent to Egypt
to go to the front themselves. The prompt offers
of military service made to the Home Government
by the Canadian aid Australians the Marquis says.
shows that the colonies of Great Britain possess
right feelings toward the parent Government and
ready desire to their loyalty at all times in
the right way, and prove that all parts of the En-
pire united whenever the interests and honor of
Great Britain are assailed fr any quarter
The Times still, clings to the hope that General
Gordon is alive. 1t thinks that the saddlc-bag
document was possibly ruse made use Of in the
hope of preventing the British advance on Khar-
toum, 1t was then too late to rescue General
Gordon. The Times asks: If Gordon mas been
killed and Khartoum captured. why did not the
Mahdi let Colonel Wilson land there and then mas
sacre him and his party p
Many members of the Liberal party openly
expressing the belief that the best solution Of the
Egyptian difficulty is to hand over to Sultan Abdul
Hamid the control OF the SOudan. General Gordon
said last August official communication to the
British Government: If You do not make con- |
yentlOn with the Sultan you will get out
of the Soudan alive" Five Thousand men from
the volunteer force iii England have already |
offered their services TO do garrison duty, for
active service IN the sOudan and 100000 more |
would be forthcoming if the Government would |
accept their services. At Durham to-day |
III parade of 500 men of the Durham Volunteer |
Artillery Regiment The colonel invited the men to
enter the army for activeduty IN Egypt, and they
all yelled their assent. The colonel Immediately |
photographed the War Office offering their services
The War Office has organized balloon force from
the Engineer Corps of the army for experimental |
service In the SOudan.
SUAKIM, Feb 14.-Spies report that n large assem-
gathered at lanai. The Mahdis I'M men, o tho spies ,
saw are perfectly acquainted with the details of the |
British victories at Abu Klea and Gubat, but they
consider them unnportant compared with the |
PROPHETS success Ill capturing X hartoum. The |
story Df this success has been spread and magnifed
everywhere among the Arabs sympathizing with FL |
Mahdi and they are all apparently greatly elated |
over IL.
ROME, Feb. IA Dispatches from Massowah |
state that the situation there has improved steadily
since the Italian occupation. The commander Of
the saletta has been ordered TO dsporse the bands
OF marauders sent to the vicinity Of MassOwalI by
the hahdi. IL IL reported that the Government will
SEND an Italian General TO MassowalI
CAIRO FEB. l4.-lt is reported here that Prince
iiassan has been appointed GOvernor-G eneral of
the Soudan. -
OTTAWA, Feb. lathe statement that tbs offer
for service in Egypt of Canadian contingent
made by Colonel Williams has been declined. is in.
correct. No reply has been received by the Home |
authorities and it understood that the matter ~
still under consideration. The offer of Colonel