Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-07
kBGLENU'S De I'll.
7 HE BRI sSH TROOP a DES.
PERATE %1TuATION - $4,000
MEN ASH ED FOD.

II 4 BBI bSH h TROORHrN n DEE.
PERATE AsTUATIUN $4,000
MEN ASH ED FOD.
LONDON, Feb. 6-Ths latest des-
patch from General W Wolseley, received
It the War Offics this morning, is
,ouched in such terms as to leave no
doubt that the situMtiop o. the British
troops IA desperate. He says that he
Ii In receipt Of com mmunication from
General Sir Redvers Butler, the COM
officer IT Gubat, urging the
forwarding Of reinforce
ments. General Butler states that
since the news of the capture of Khar-
toum by the Mahdi's forces che enemy
has become very bold and defiant.
At intervals they approach in large
bodies TO within few hundred rods of
the British position, and he expresses
the fear that, should they combine for
another attack, they may overwhelm
course" adds the General, Z" 1 can en-
bark my forces on the steamers here,
but 1 have determined not to abandon
the position which was 80 gAllantly OBJ
tained by my predecessor while one OF
us Is left alive, unless otherwise com.
manded by you"
General Wolseley's reply to the dis
patchof the government giving him car
to blanche to operate in the Soudan Ia
expected by noon to. morrow. Colonel
Wortley, in charge Of the only one of,
Col Wilson's three steamers which suc-
ceeded in reaching Gubat from Khar-
toum-the two others having been
wrecked in the Nile between the two
|places-furnishs detailed report Of
the movements Of the expedition. This
shows that three steamers in compaud
Of Colonel Wilson reached Kka--.um
January 20, following the course ofthe
White Mile.
On reaching Khartoum It was found
to be utterly impossible to land the
troops. Then follows a description of
the firing by the rebels and the return
of the steamers as given in yesterdays
Associated Press reports. Continuing,
Colonel Wortley says: The govern
ment house at Khartoum appeared to
be wrecked. One man was killed and
8 others wounded during the attack on
steamers. Colonel williams steamer
was wrecked four miles above the
enemy's position below the bottom of
Shublaka cataract.
The second steamer was wrecked
January 20. We reached Gubat in
small boats the same day. That Khar-
toum fell January 20 is certain. Gener-
al Gordon's fate is still in doubt, the
reports in regard to him being conflict
ing. 1t Is the general opinion, however,
| with the Greeks in their church at
Khartoum. The fall of Khartoum
has decided the Shukriyeh
tribes to join the forces of Ell Mahdi,
which places both banks of the Nile
uuder the control Of the enemy. The
natives greatly fear the English, and
the advance of General Earle's column
is awaited with anxiety by them.
"a messenger from El Mahdi reached
Colonel Wilson on January 90. He
said General Gordon had adopted e.
Mahdi's uniform. The courier brought
the following message from Ell Mabdi !:
call upon you to surrender +; shall
not write again. If you do not become
Mohammedans, will wipe you off the
! face of the earth.'"
The Cabinet met az eleven o'clock
! this morning to consider what course
should be taken in regard to the pres
ent Egyptian emergency. 1t was dc.
cided to send telegrapIiic orders to
India for the dispatch of Indian troops
to Suakim, and mean while to reinforce
the garrison at SuakiD by drafts of
: troops from England and the Mediter-
rsnean.
The widest rumnrS are afloat in Lon
, don to night relative to affairs in the
! Soudan. 1t is said by some that General
Gordon was shot during the attack on
Khartoum. The latest authentic news
, from there is that contained In Colonel
Wortley's report. The governments
continues to monopolize the wires, and
!, even private messages either way are
refused transmission. The decision of
, the Cabinet in giving General Wolseley
Q carte blanche has caused the iiveliest
joy everywhere. Groups OF people are
D gathered in the streets eagerly reading
the latest issues of the evening papers
CAIRO, Feb. 6.-RUmors have reach
ed here that 1000 men were massacred
at Khartoum The news of the disaster
, has cast . gloom over the entire Euro.
pean colony in Egypt. The English
, garrison now consists of 1900 men at
i Alexandria, $500 al Cairo, and $50 ma
|, rines at Suez. There are no forces at
Port Said excepting one gunboat. The
, man-of- war Monarch is at Alexan.
dria.
From Cairo all military advice coun.
sells an immediate despatch of the hole
+ British force in Lower Egypt for the
capture of Berber and the sending of
Dot less than 10, GOO reinforcement {.
from England or India to Suak i'm tc
. insure the retreat of the other troops or
I the chastisement of the Mahdi's Arabs
whichever shall be decided upon.