New-York tribune., 1885-02-07
GORDON'S FATE IN DOUBT.
.BE1JEF THAT He HAS BEEN KILLED.
THE ATTACK ON COLONEL WILSON'S STEAMERS Al
KHARTOUM ,

THE ATTACK ON COLONEb "ih0O-'S
KHARTOUM. =,
,o,, Fob q Colonel Wortley in charge OF
a.. o,I, one of Colonel Wilson's three steamers
h;oh sncceeded in reaching Gubat from MAJ Voun Jun
.ha two Others having been wrecked IN inc MIC
hatweeo the two places-furnishes detalleu repoi'
of the movements of the expedition. inns SHOWS
that three steamers in command OF Coonei "nsoN
reached Khartoum on January 2S, following 'ho
course of the White Nile. On reaching khartouhi
Il was found to be utterly impossible 10 laiu tno
troops. Then follows description OF the hring oy
the rebels and the return of the steamers Con'nu-
inc Colonel Wortley says: "The Government House
:. Khor,orm anneared TO be wrecked. One man
o L;i,ed and FIVE Others wounded in the attack on
th. steamers. Colonel Wilson's steamer WAS
uracked four miles above the enemys positoh
below the bottom of the Shublaka Cataract. Inc
second steamer was wrecked on January ~. we
reached Gubat in small boats the same day. Ina.
Khartoum fell on January 26 is certain oehera,
ordons fate is still in doubt the reports IN regard
co him being conflicting. 1t is the general opinion
however that he was killed. Some say that he Is
with the Greeks in their church at Khartoun.
sThe fall of Khartoum has decided the ehuNiHon
tribes to Join the forces of Ell Mahd when piaooS
hotb hanks of the Nile under the control OF 'ne
enemy. The natives greatly fear the Englsh' anu
the advance of General Earle's column IS awaited
with anxiety by them. The natives say that II
Nah ii s hard pressed for supplies, and that he hau
GREAT diaiculty in persusdng the emirs TO attack
ne A messenger from Ell Mahdi reached Colohel
Wilson on January 90. lie SAID that UeheI"i
Gordon had adopted FL Mahdis uniform lne
conrier brought the following message from III
Mahdi: Il call upon you to surrender. snail not
write gain If you do not become Mahometahs
will wine YOU of the face of the earth Inc State-
ment is confirmed that Faraz Pacha treaoherousiy
made terms with FL Mahdi, whereby the latter was
enabled to capture Khartoum"
General Wolseley sends the following dispatch;
aTalhot,s convoy has reached Gubat safely. Inc
eremv at Metemneh have been entirely inactive
s,rca Januarv 2s The rebel force there Is
estimated at between 1000 and 5000 Our men
ore in good health The wounded are dong wen.
General Wolseey telegraph from Kortl to the war
Ofie. this afternoon that courier has arrived from
the British camp near Metemneh, who reports that
the rebels at Metemneh have become dehant since
hearing of the fall of Khartoum. The courier aiso
saws that an attack on Gubat may be looked lot au
onv moment. as the rebels expect reinforcements
from Khartoum. Lord Wolseley states that ne VIII
remain quiet pending further orders FROM the Gov
ernment.
THE CABINET COUNCIL.
Tho Cabinet met this morning to consider what
conrse should be takeo i'll regard to the present
Fgvptian emergency. II was decided to send teie-
oranblc orders TO India for the dispatch OF Indian
troops TO Suakm, and meanwhile to reinforce the
garrison at Suakm by drafts OF troops from Eng
land and the Mediterranean. The consensus OPINION
IN the Ministry is in favor of strong, active ana
vigorous policy The Ministry Will sanction any
demand of Lord Woseley which Will ald III the
defeat of the Mahdi and will secure the release OF
General Gordon. if alive or wreak vengeance upon
the Arabs If he is slain. The telegraph line between
attrnly
matches between the Cabinet and Lord WolseIey
The Cabinet Council adjourned after being IN
session three and quarter hours
IL is understood tuat the Cabinet Council decided
70 give Lord Wolseley odite blanche TO take any
measures he deems necessary for the rescue OF ueh-
era Gordon if alive and to make use OF such mill
tarv operatons as .he considers advisable 10 regain
the ground lost in the Soudan by the iall OF hha-
toum Among the alternatives suggested 10 UeheIai
Wolseley are the immediate recapture OF khartonm
and the employment, IL necessary OF lnulail
70 reopen the Berber route.
General Wolseley informs the Government that
he will he unable 10 reach Khartoum i'll less time
than five weeks when the hot season VIII nave
beonn. He assures the Ministry that he feels still
confdent of his ability to attack Khartoun success
fully. and defeat the False Prophet but he says
the operations necessary to achieve these results
would now be difficult and hazardous.
From Cairo all military advices counsel an inlme-
diate dispatch of the whole British force III Lower
Egyp for the capture of BerOer and the sending OF
not less than $4,000 reinforcemcnts from England
or India to Suakim to insure the retreat ofsihe
other troops or the cbastIsement of the Mahdls
Arabs. whichever shall be decided upon.
PREDICTIONS OF AN EGYPTIAN.
Arab had something to do with bringing about
C;ordon's downfall il the story told to-day by q
prominent clergyman of London is to be credited.
This clergyman publishes letter in an afternoon
edition of The Globe about meeting in tie city last
November an Egyptian who had been project OF
nolice under Arab. The :prefect and preacher be-
came well acquainted. On Christmas they had q
long conversation concerning the Egyptian situa
tion The clergyman expressed the hope That Lord
Wolseley would soon enter Khartouin. AT tins the
,r,fect laughed and said that General Gordon wac
perfectly sale where he was. and that Wolseley
yould not enter Khartoum. WIlfrid Blunt. the pre-,
ect continued the only living man able to
feet for England peaceful solution of the
oudan question. I'll Mahdi had confidence in him
and would accept him mediator. SO far as
Lord Wolseley's expedition concerned. the
pre ect said FL Mahdi had arranged to allow it to
approach Khartoum without any regular OppOsi-
ton. The Prophet might fight at or near Shendy
but II he did it would he mercy for the purpose OF
tempting Wossley on into further and greater
risks. On no account. however. would FL IMahdl
hight a decisive battle until the British forces were
massed in the vicinity of KhaItoum.
General Gordon, the prefect insisted. was already
at the time of the conversation, virtually a
prisoner. Ills so-called defence OF Khartoum was q
mere form. as III Mahdi was not engaged in any
attack upon the town. because it practically in
his power and he could take il whenever he pleased
The Prophets plan was TO allow Lord Woscleyt
army to approach khartoum, then to enter the city
nd WOlSeey grea
point of vantage. The project always insisted tina
Genera. Gordon would not he killed by FL Mahdi