New-York tribune., 1885-02-22
THE NEWS in LONDON.
A PREVAILING FEELING OF GLOoM-MiNi'
TERIAL APOLOGIES.

The Mahdi and the retlremon' y"
from Gubat, though predicted for days by military
writer's astonished and sorely distressed the puplo
The War Office as usual held back the oliciai us
matches. but the correspondents OF Ihe Dd''y ie'e
raph and The Morning Chronicle got tidings through
which these papers published the news on lhursuay
morning, the other papers having nothing' oo"p..N
with the confirmation of General Gordons oea'n'
and followed by the announcement OF oehoi"i
Stewards death, the retreat has hlled Lohooh WIN
gloom. Nobody questions General Woiseieys souno
,rdcment in concentrating his forces, but the
necessity for suspending the advance deeply I'M
presses the English people with sense OF the mag
nitude of the task before them.
Battalious of the Guards depart with touchng
farewell from the Queen the streets and the BANKS
of the Thames being crowded with cheering
.nectators: the Prince Of Wales inspects and ad-
dresses another battalion; General Graham leaves
England with enthusiastic popular demonstrations
Lord Harrington aud many eminent persons being
present at the station; and England realizes tila'
She is at war;
ACRIsIs IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
Society itself has become grave. Lord Salisbury
expressed no more than the general conviction
when he said that the concert of Europe which the
Ministry had sought to establish proves concert
against England, and that the dangers III o'hef
quarters are perhaps not less menacing than thoSe
in Egypt Russia has apparently played double
game on the borders of Afghanistan. The Cehtrai
Asian question once threatens to become
burning one.
The Rcval proclamations respecting the militia and
+be reserves. communicated to Parliament yester-
dav. were fresh aad unwelcome surprise, though
no reserves are actually called out, and only por-
tion of the militia is embodied numerous regulars
entitled to pass into the reserve force being re-
tanned in active service
Offers of troops tor service in Africa from New
South Wales. Canada and threeOther colonies have
been gratefully accepted, Mr.. Gladstone last night
heartily acknowledging the loyal good will which
prompted the offers.
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.
The adjourned session of Parliament opened Ill
for the Ministry neither Lord Granvilles statement
in the House of Lords nor Mr. Gladstone's in the
House of Commons being considered equal TO the
OCCASION Lord Granville's hating apology for
Ministerial misdemeanors was cut to pieces by
Lord Salisbury whose brief. bitter sentences soon
showed that the Torres have come up to London in
fighting humor.
Mr. Gladstone spoke for twenty minutes, and
never to less advantage. His friends thought hiin
spiritess. confused and desutory, and allowed him
To sit down without solitary cheer; yet the speech
had the great merit of frank disclosure of the de-
eison of the Cabinet respecting measures adopted
in consequence of the fall of KhartOum. His state
ment contradicts the London papers. and confirms
what I telegraphed you. General Woseley never
asked for carte blanche, but insisted upon knowing
whether the Ministry wanted the Mahdl smashed
or not. The Cabinet said Smash him; take
Khartoum when and how you like; that done, we
will consider what next" Mr.. Gladstone now an
pounces that he still means ultimately TO abandon
the Soudan. Nobody except the Morley-Courtney
,uad believes he can or will do it but the eiect of
such an announcement is mischevous in Egypt.
Mr.. Gladstones omission of anything like an ade
quate tribute to General Gordon and his silence
about the victories and deaths panied the House
and gave Sir Stafford Northcote a chance which he
seized Ample tributes to Generals Earle and
Stewarthave since been Oferedby other members OF
the Ministry but the general grief is the best rib-
ute of all.
Thu VOTE OF CENsURE.