Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-02-27

luill lnTOuHl bllc ucSCIl, OOl' w lfoUH
with three steamers up the river,
remained at Korti with half his force
himself and let Gen. Earl stop at
Brit, above Korti and Gen Beresford
at Berber still further up. With his
forces thus scattered he remained i'll
active through December and a part
of January.
On Jan. II Gen. Stewart fought
battle near Abu Klea Wells and a
week later fought a second. In these
engagements 200 of his 400 men
were killed and disabled, he himself
being wounded. He finally intrcncncd
himself at Metemneh, half way be-
tween Berber and Khartoum. In
this battle the Arabs were repulsed
with heavy loss. In the meantim
Col. Wilson continued up the Nile
and reached Khartoum Jan. p. He
found the city in the hands Of the
enemy, Gen. Gordon and garrison
having been betrayed and massacred
two days before, Col. Wilson was
turiously attacked and in attempting
to escape down the river, two Of his
boats were wrecked OH an island,
with the loss of several men. Lord
Beresford went up from Berber and
rescned him from his perilous pos
ition few days later, but lost several
men in fight with the Arabs.
This brings us up to the present
month. Gen. Wolseley has called
for help from England and in the
meantime is concentrating his SCAT
tered forts at Korti. Gen. Earl in
passing up from Brit was attacked
and he and several men killed, though
the force finally joined Beresford at
Berber. Gen. Wolseley is now at
Korti with half his force. This town
is in communication with England
by telegraph. Gea. Drackenburg
and Gen. Bcrcsford with about $500
mon have undertaken TO retreat from
Berber TO KOrti and Col. Butler, who
succeeded Gen. Stewart who died
last week from wounds received in
battle, aud Col. Wilson are at Abu
Klea Wells with 1900 men. The
whole country is swarming with
armed Arabs and the chances are
that the concentration of these three
detachments al Korti will be attended
with extreme danger and difficulty.
In the meanwhile the hot season is
setting in and the soldiers are sicken-
ing and dying from the intense heat.
The Nile is so low that retreat by
boat is cut Off and the English are
running short of supplies. Their
best guns and much of their ammu-
milton have been captured by the
rebels who hold every important
town except KOrti. After uniting at
Korli the whole army will attempt to
fall ba.k TO Debbeh near Korosco,
and throw up intrcnchmcnts and
want till the Nile rises in June or un-
Ill help can cross the desert from
Suakin. A strong force is now ell
route from England to Suakin. The
situation of the British army is very
critical and the chances are that there
will lie hard fighting and perhaps
even worse defeats before help can
reach the handful of troops who are
surrounded by 100000 Arab warriors,
inspired to deeds of blood by hate and
fanaticism. Gen. Gordon being dead
Wolscley has no object in view and
England has not declared war. Ills
first step will be to secure his own
safety and then if reinforcemtnts
arrive the British government an.
nounoes that Khai toum will be re.
captured to vindicate the honor oI
England and then the whole country
will be evacuated and turned over
to the Mahdi's followers. This proposi
el evacuation may be found to bt
the hardest part of the undertaking
This much however is speculation
+ The failure of the present campaign
f is now attracting the attention Of thu
, whole world, and the one fact that
+ stands out prominently is that VOL
t seley is grossly inefficient as milit'
AIRY commander.
The latest advices indicate tina
, the situation is growing more critica
every day for the British army. Gen
\ Buffers division is constantly men
e aced and Gen Brackenburg's is ais,
c in great danger. The chances ar
: that these commands will not be abb
S to Join Wolseley at Korti. Ever
: should they succeed in doing SC
: Wolseley's whole force of something
1 over 5000 men would be in DANCE
of demolition in a retreat, 1t is an
8 nounced that Wolseley will retrea
c to Debbch and leave the other divis
# ions to their fate. England is send
i ing troops but it will be long month
h before they can reinforce Wolseley
}. The British lion has allowed his Ia
o TO be caught in a trap and he wi
c have cause for graduation if he eve
Il vets il out.