, 1885-02-06


disaster, however. has since spread fal
and wide. Some tribes that have hith-
erto protested friendship for England,
have declared for the Mahdi.
The Arabs still hold Metemneh. The
garrison there received the news of the
fall of Khartoum with repeated salyos Of
artillery. When Col. Wilson's lotilla APP
preached Khartoum he was compelled to
run the gauntlet under aheavy fire from
both banks. The rebels had four Krupp
guns on the river banks at Halfujeh to
lombard the steamers. When the British
force reached 0mdurman numbers Of
rebels continued the fnsillade- Things
looked worse when it was discovered the
enemy was in possession of the island of
Tutti, just outside the city, the English
| still pushed ahead, but were dismaYed 10
find the garrison firing upon them. No
flags were flying from the public buildings
and the town appearedto be in undisputed
possession of the enemy. The palace
seemed Quilted, and finding it impossible
to land in the face of an overwhelming
number of rebels, the British were
obliged to retire.
The rumors concerning the fate of
Gen. Gordon are many and varied, but
all agree that the Mahdi captured Khar-
toum by treachery. The most reliable
reports point to one Faraz Pasha as the
traitor. It is said that he, being left in
charge of the ramparts, opened the gates
on Jan. 26 and admitted the enemy.
Some rumors state that the blahdi, to-
gether with a few Levantines, were
cooped up in a church. Others say that
Gen. Gordon was seen wearing a Mahdi's
uniform. The majority agree, however,
that Gen. Gordon is killed.
The Pail Nall Gazette this morning in
referring to the Khartoum calamity, says;
Nobody can accuse our gallant troops of
losing a molient in their fierce race
against time in fastening to rescue the
garrison at Khartoum. The response
bility rests solely with our ministers, who
refused TO allow the Nile expedition TO
start, in spite of warnings and entreaties,
until too late. The vote of parliament in
favor of an appropriation Of $500, 900 for
the relief of General Gordon was deferred
until Aug. 5. Even then, if the expedi-
ton had been sanctioned forthwith a
precious day would have been gained; butt it
was not sanctioned until Aug. 10, when the
government finally resolved it must relieve
Gen. Gordon. That period Of hesitation
sacrificed Khartoum. Islam is now vic
torious over the revolt. and the fall of
Khartoum will permeate the arch Of the
world, and unless the ministry displays a
boldness and wariness equal to their for
mer dilatoriousness, a catastrophe worse
than hat at Khartoum will follow. Eng
land dare not hy before the eastern foe.
1t would mean war and mutiny from one
end Of Asia to the other. She must rein
force her garrisons everywhere, including
India, ever if it shall be necessary to call
for volunteers to do the work. Gen.
Earle must advance rapidly to Berber and
Metemneh. The Suakim garrison must
be reinforced and the road to Berber
cleared. Every nerve must be strained to
prove that the Khartoum disaster has
stiffened the resolution TO hold England's
flag aloft in the face Of every foe. Our
duty is not TO finch, but prepare for
eventualities and relieve Metemneh by
water. We have failed to save Gordon,
we have now to save Stewart
On the stock exchange to-day Egyptian
stock dropped IL toe per cent on account
of the disaster to Soudan. The sales
were pressed. The excitement attending
the reception of the news Of the fall of
Khartoum is increasing. A constant
stream of anxious inquirers, inclu ding
Sir VIM. Vernon Harcourt, Geo. Otto
Trevelyan and other ministers, are pour
ing into the war Office. The people
Throughout the provinces are also greatly
excited. At Aldershot the news was re-
ceived with mingled feelings Of sadness
and Indignation. Great sensation wa
caused in the Irish garrisons at Dublin
when the report was received
CAIRO, Feb. 5.-Rumors have reached
here that 1000 men have been massa-
cred at Khartoum. The news Of the dis
aster cast a gloom over the entire
European colony of Egypt The English
garrison now consists of 1900 men at
Alexandra, $3.50 at Cairo and $50
marines at Suez. There are no forces at
Port Said, excepting one gunboat. The
man of war Monarch is at Alexandria.
PARIS, Feb. 5.-The news of the
Khartoum catastrophe created an i'm
mense sensation in this city. Lord Lyons,
the British ambassador, had a long inter-
view with the prime minister during the
day.
IN THE EVENT OF WAR.