The sun., 1885-02-08
HEMMED In BY THE ARABS.
GEN. STEWART'S LITTLE ARMY AWAIT
mo Ell MAHDES ATTACK.
Wellesley Unable TO Learn the Fate ef Cor.
don-The Governm~ut to Hurry Forward
Ke.enforcemeots - kharsoum Enci-cied
with FIre-Will q Ransom he Onersds

LONDON, REQ. t-SpeClal ueSpatcneS from
the Soudan arc arriving RAPIDLY In London
now that Gen. Wolssloy has removed tho em-
barge on news. and they differ in many re-
spects from the official reports which have
hitherto been allowed to come. Matters in the
vicinity OF Metemneh arc evidently In very
serious shape. Several OF the correspondents
express nervousness over the attitude of tho
kabbablsh tribe and other natives who have
hitherto been relied upon AZ friendly to tho
British. Their allegiance has been shaken BY
Gen. Gordon's failure at Khartoum. and many
OF them are wavering between desire to keep
their pledges to the British and a wish to mako
terms with the Mahdl. II they become actively
| hostile 1t will be difficult and perhaps impos.
sible to maintain communication between
Gubat and Korti. 1t is evident that
| tho Mahdi has decided to attack Gakdul and
the other posts established by Gen. Stewart
during his march across the desert His plan
Is said to be to attack these positions In detail.
| to slaughter tho troops which have been left as
guards, and to hold the officers as hostages for
| ransoms strong force OF Arabs. armed with
| heavy field guns Ia said to be making Its way
toward Gubat. and tho necessity for re-
| enforcing that point is hourly becoming moro
apparent. The force which Col Boscowsn now
| has is barely sufficient to hold the position
| against the casual assaults OF skirmishers.
| and could not withstand any well-directed at
| tack in force. Among the garrison at Gubat
are many negro troops. formerly under Con.
| Gordon's command at Khartoum. and II is not
| believed that they can be trusted. Most OF the
| correspondents are making their way toward
| korti for fear OF being cooped UP during the
| expected siege OF Gubat The Government has
issued orders that the free transmission OF
news from the Soudan shall continue until
Sunday night. whom fresh restrictions will be
| A despatch received to-day from Gen. wolss.
| ley's headquarters states that couriers. accom-
panied by an escort. now on their way across
arrive at Korti tonight. The couriers are con-
veyng the report Of Lord Bsresford's attempt
island in tho Nile where. with u number OF
refugees from khartoum. they had been
| hemmed in by hostile Arabs.
The Cabinet council. which was convened at
noon to-day. remained in session until $3.50 2.
NJ. 1t is rumored that Con. Wolsslsy declines
campaign in the present tropical heat. and pro-
poses poses to act solely under the directions OF the
Cabinet, when tho Ministers shirksd the re-
dan by giving Gen. Molseey carte blanche to
do AS he pleased. This decision was hailed
Ss a hs by sSrGs a fS; s hS
back to the Cabinet and says. in effect; All
right. II you want few more men slaugh-
The official 3 in Downing street are much per-
been EMS sent to Cen. Wolssiey. coup,ed ~ With I. de-
mand for an immediate reply. Most OF the
spend tho Sabbath at their country houses. but
| they have all felt constrained to remain here;
ID hsd and
grams were received at short intervals from
tho intrenched Garri.ons at ADu- K lea and Gubat
are not ehdangered. although the continued
| Beresfords attempt to relieve Sir Charles VIII
son causes anxiety.
graphad to Gen. Wo!sesy to ascertsiD' nit II possi
be eIore TAXI taSnH decisive ncIon R Wheeler Cen
terminate the campaign without further fight
Ing. This instruction is thought to imply q
the release Of Gen. Gordoniand his companions
| by means Of ransom.
After tho Cabinet session to-dayI.ord Harting-
ton, Secrstnry for War. held d long conference
with Earl NorthbIrook. First Lord of the Ad..
sna Sir Hsh chdSs n Of
| 1t is said. was that arrangements were perfect
ed whereby reenforcements Of 5000 men would
forwarded from England and will form the
n1st @ instalment & Fl an aa army for tho Soudan
veloped BY uni ioreSeen events.
Ihe Arabs deny that Gen Gordon has been
in action having refused to give Hs or take HsT
ter. No trustworthy Intelligence. however. has
yet been received as to Gordons fate. The spy
directed by Col. Wilson. has mised the COM
mander throughout the campaign. The water
the river above Me;smneh viii viii soon become me
impracticable. The troops at Guhat are cheer
iI' b1t their officers e1hibi. much fretfuness
endorsements and Of Gen, Wolse!ey.
Deapatches from Korti to-day indicate n very
| near Metemneh. Gen Wolselsy teeRrnphs to
the War Va on ONCE that courier Who has lust
thst ,hs Mahdi's forces are prsparInx to ATTACK
heavy guns, which are being @ crsdusy H Irs, moved
up SO as to bear on the British camp and other
field pieces are being mnnDuvred for the
Natives report that the Mahd has 80 600 men
scattered sSmnS @ hs,Ween T berber shsndy ana Me.
IL daily receiving retnforcements
,Adyices from Gubat. dated Feb. l., give
Stewards little army there. The men had been
placed on threo-luarters rations. These had.
however ne we've" been @ once snppcmented With dole
opposite bank Of the Nile and Metemneh, three
in clearing the ground in front OF the caInp and
main earthworks erected Tor the protection Of
the camp from tho river front had already bsen
that they would be com ed that night.
Several OF the men who hn,l been wounded In
tne desert battea lnu died In camp since the
arrival OF the army at Gubat. The others were
doing we'll.
A second despatch received from Stewards
camp at Gubat. whence 1t was forwarded on
Feb !. states that the Gubat camp has been
greatly strengthened, The troops were in good
| spirits. Intelligence had been received that III
Mahdi had threatened to attack the camp with
| al overwhelming force.
Late advicss received from Gubat show that
the camp daily sends out foraging parties
These patrol the Nile on steamers and take
whatever whatever forage and cattle they can procure
they are paid In money for the cattle and forage
II Is feared that ample time has already
elapsed since the fall OF Khartoum to allow tho
rebels to make movement from Umderman
against the Hank or rear Of the isolated Rarrl-
sons OF Abu-k and Ciubnt. II such move
msnt has been made it VI b, absolutely neces-
sary TO depend on the Nile steamers to furnish
those garrisons With supplies.
o. on his way from Gubat TO khartoum, on Jan.
20. Coz. Wilson was told by natives along the
Nile that Gen. Gordon had been lghting hard
for fittren days. On Jan. 81 = native reported
that Gen. Gordon was dead.
On the return from Khartoum to Gubat sew.
erRl natives reported to Col. Wilson'S party
TINT Gan (ioripn and all tho Coptio trnnn.