Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-24
HIS SECRET DISPATCHES.
GORDON'S TROOPS SUFFERING
FROM LACK OF PROVISIONS.

Appeals for Ke1nfOrcementR-ss The
Hearts of my Gallant Men Weary with
Waitine'-Extracts from the Generals
| Letters.
LONDON, Feb. 23.-The Daily News says
that on Dec. IA, when Gen. Gordon de-
clared that KhartOum was all right, he
sent a secret and confidential dispatch
saying that his troops were suffering from
lack of provisions, and that Gen. Wolse-
ley should come quickly by way of Me-
! temneh or Berber.
GEN. GORDON's PROMISES.
The Daily Nepcs says the papers in relation to
| Egypt which are to be submitted to Parlia-
| ment Will contain a statement from Lord
/ WO.seley that he sent from DOngola by rel
| ative OF the Mahdi, with instructions to en-
| deavOr to make terms with the False Proph-
| ct, on condition that Mahdi should become, as
! Gen. Gordon had promised. the Sultan Of
| kOrdOfan.
GORDON APPEALS FOR AID.
number Of dispatches from Gen. Gordon
/ to the Home government in regard to the sit
| uation of affairs at Khartoum previous to the
capture of that city are published to-day.
| Writing on Nov. Gen. Gordon declines 10
| agree with the home authorities that the eX-
| pedition under Lord WOlseley was for the pur-
| poe of rescuing him, but it was, he says, de-
| signed to rescue the garrison at khartOum.
On Sept. Is he wrote as follows:
"HOW many times have | written asking
! for reinforcements, but my letters have never
| been answeredS The hearts of my
gallant Sl men are weary with
| this long waiting for assistance
and failure to receive any words of enceur-
| agement which would lead them 10 expect
| help shortly While you eat and drink and
| rest in good beds, we are always fighting"
| 1t appears from letter dated Dec. IA, that
| Cen Gordon never said II can hold out for
| years. as has been published, but on the con-
trary, had declared that food was scarce and
| that relief should be sent him at once.
LETTER FROM GORDON.
The Egyptian blue book, issued to-day, con-
| talns letter sent by Gen. Gordon to Gen.
Lord WOseley on Nov 4. This says: II have
hYe steamers and nine guns at Metemneh
awaiting your orders. / can hold out 40 davs
longer with ease. After that it will be diff
cult. The loss of Col. Stewart Is terrible. l
told him to give you all the information posi-
ble He had my journal from Jan. to Sept.
~. The Mahdl Is miles from KhartOum.
Sennaar is all right. The garrison there Is
aware that you are coming. MY journal from
Sept. 10 to date is on board Of one of the
steamers which you will find at MetemEeh. I
continue TO have occasional fights with the
Arabs. II IS rumoreG that all Europeans with
the Mahdi, including Slatin Bey and the nuns
have become Musselmans.
''LuptOn Bey has surrendered. | have sent
out scores OF messengers in all directions
during the last eight months. Do not send
private letters to me; the risk IS too great.
Do not write me in cipher; 1 have ne.and it
IS of no use. The Mahdi knows everything.
Take the road from Abu Klea to Metemneh
you need not fear the Mahdi. Both the Greek
consul and Austrian consul are safe. The
Mahdl has captured letter from the King of
Abysslhla to me. Your expedition, as | un-
derstand, is for the relief of the gar
risOn at KhartOum, which | failed
to accomplish. decline to admit that 1t is for
the rescue of myself personally"
A letter from Gen. Gordon, dated Sept.
g., contains the following statements:
1--WE have sufficient money and pro-
visions here at khartoum to last
four months. At the expiration of that
period we shall be much embarrassed. at
SEMINAR there IS dOura enough. The garri-
son at Galata and the people In that neigh
borhOod are continually fighting, and The in
habitants are opposed to the false Mahdi.
Although we wrote you that it was impossible
to SEMI Col. stewart to Berber on account
OF many things which had occurred here, we
afterwards saw fit to send him, together with
| the French and English COnsuls, in small
steamer to Dongola to communicate with the
BRUSH commander there concerning the Sou
dan.
I'VE detailed two large steamers to accomp-
any them to Berber to keep the way clear for
them to pass by Berber towards Dongola.
"How many times have we written asking
for remittances and calling your serious at
| tentlon to the SOudan, and no answer came.
| The mems hearts became weary. While you
are waiting and drinking and resting in
good beds, we soldiers and servants
are watching night and day trying to quell
the movements of El Mahdi. OF course, you
take no interest in the suppression of this re-
bellon, the serious consequences of which
are the reverse of victorious for YOU Neglect
| thereof won't do. Stewart starts IN two
days. My reason for sending him Is because
you have been silent. All this while you
have neglected us. We have lost time with
out doing any good. If troops be sent us, the
rebellion will cease. When they reach
Berber the inhabitants will return to
their former occupations. Therefore it
is hoped you will listen to all that
stewart tells you, and regard it seriously
send the troops we have asked without delay
Gen. Gordons messenger on Dec. IA informed
Wolseley that khartoum was besieged on three
sides, and lighting was carried on day and
night, but that Ell Mahdi's men could not take
the city except by starving out the garrison.
CAUTIONS TO wOLsELEY.
Gen. Gordon also instructed a messenger
sent from KhartOum on Dec. IA to deliver the
following message to Lord Woseley: Don't
scatter your troops. Bring plenty OF troops.
The enemy is numerous. We still hold ON
durman. The Mahdps works are within rifle
shot. The Mahdi lives beyond gunshot. The
Mahdists month ago attacked Omdurman
and disabled one of our steamers. We dsa-
bled one of their guns. Fighting was renewed
on the south side three days later. The rebels
were again repulsed. Come quickly. Don't
leave Berber in the rear. Keep the enemy in
your front. Don't let rumors Of your ap-
proach spread"
Ell MADHI RETURNED TO KHARTOUM.
Latest advices received from Soudan state
that the hostile Arabs reappeared at Abu
Klea on the night of Feb. 10, and were dis
persed by few rounds from Gen. Buffers
Gardner guns. This intelligence which is
conveyed in dispatch dared Abu Klea, Feb
20, also contains the statement that the Arabs
taken prisoner by Gen. Butler state that Ell
Mahdi has returned to KhartOum.
RELIEF FOR THE SOLDIERS ORDERED TO
sUAKIN.
fund has been started for the relief of
families of soldiers of the guard res iment or
dered to Suakin. The wives and children of
these men are now turned out of the barracks,
in which they have hitherto had comfortable
quarters, and In many cases their only reli-
ance is pence per day allowed by govern
ment to married soldiers while on active duty
abroad.
The Sikh Regiment has sailed from Bombay
for ouakln.
LORNE's UNAsKED ADVICE.
letter in the Pau Rs &aH GdsSt5s p@RsiSaGs tRis
afternoon in which he deprecates the British
advance against Khar,oum now that Gen.
Gordon is dead. The British. the Marquis
contends. should be satisfied TO take up po-
sitiOn on the Nile to block Il Mahdi from ad-
vancing upon lower Egypt.
A CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS.
At meeting of Conservative peers held at
the residence of the Marquis of Salisbury, this
evening, it was unanimously resolved to move
in the House OF Lords vote of censure against
the government for its Egyptian policy.
THE LYDIAN MONARCH SAFE.
The owners of the steamer Lydian Monarch
pronounce the report of her having sunk in
st. Georges Channel, while bound from
kingstOwn for Suakin, with English troops
on board, a wicked canard.
81 WOULD NOT LEAVE KHARTOUM.v
The blue book rncerning Egypt contains a
telegram received in September, which gives
a summary of the letters rent by Gen. 5Ordon
on various dates from April 81 to June 81,
1854. In these Gen. Gordon says: "Let the
relief expedition follow the right bank of the
Nile from Wady Halfa to Berber in the hope
OF surprising Berber. IL you find it impOssi-
bic to follow the Nile route take the Masso-
wah, san keit or Kassala road. 1 would not
leave KhartOum if l could"
On Aug. "A Gen. Goruon wrote to the Eng
lish naval commander at MassOwah: I'VE
have five months provisions and hope to get
more. our cOuDtry's role has not been very
noble in Egypt or the SOudan"
ITALY HAS A SECRET TREATY.
The Standard says the Porte has sent to all
the powers protest against the occupation of
MassOwah by the Italian troops. Great irri-
tatiOn exists at COnstantinople over the action
of Italy, as the Porte thinks Italy has a secret
treaty with England.
ENTHUSIASM OF NEW SOUTH WALES.
SYDNEY, N. S. w. Feb. 2s.-The popular
fund for the equipment of the New South
Wales contingent to the SOudan expedition
now exceeds $l50,000. An enthusiastic meet
ing was held here to-day for the purpose of
taking steps to urge the home government to
hasten the dispatch of the contingent to the
front. Eight thousand persons were at the
meeting.
MORE RUMORs FROM KHARToUM.
KORTI, Feb. ga messenger who was sent
to KhartOum last Monday failed to reach that
city, and has returned here. He said that
while on his journey ne met native who
told him he had been present at the capture
OF hhartoum. The native said the soldiers
had killed Gen. Gordon with swords and
spears. They considered him the cause of all
their trouble, and feared the Mahdi would
spare him. All the regular soldiers of the gar