Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-06
The Fall of Khartoum.

The news from the Soudan is OK
citing. and the developments Of the
next few days both in that country
and in England, will be watched with
intense interest all over the civilized
world. IL seems that after all COR
DoN was mistaken in declaring that he
could hold his own indefinitely: also,
that the Arab force encountered by
General STEWART was, as reported
by descrters, only small part of the
Mahdi's army. Khartoum has fallen
four dispatches say through treachery),
and at this writing the fate of GORDON
is a mystery. When Colonel WILSON
reached Khartoum he found, much to
his surprise, that the place was in the
hands of the Mahdi's forces, and he
WILSON was compelled to retreat
under heavy fire from both banks Of
the river. Not only this. but his
steamers were wrecked, and he was
forced to take refuge upon an island.
At last accounts, however. he was safe,
and q steamer had been sent to his res
cue. ,
That this news is unexpected. and that
the situation is critical, cannot be de-
MED. The capture Of Khartoum must
of necessity inspire the Mahdi's troops
TO more vigorous resistance, and what
a week ago looked like walk-over for
England now means desperate fighting
and perhaps temporary disaster. lfthe
reports as to the number of the Mahdi's
army be true, there is good ground for
the apprehension that is said to prevail
in London. and the fall Of Khartoum
has probably increased immensely the
work that England undertook in the Nile
expedition. Divided as WoLsELEY's
forces are, his columns may be crushed
out singly by sheer weight Of numbers.
General STEWARDS column, which has
been reinforced from Korti, is near
Metemneh, about ninety miles from
Khartoum, and in striking distance of
the Mahdi while EARLE'S column is
in the second great bend Of the Nile,
where it may have to give battle to
determined foe any day. A junction
between these two columns in time to
save the former, were it attacked by a
force sufficient to oyerwhelm it, would
therefore seem impossible.
Again: EARLE's objective point is
Berber, the country about which it
would never do to leave unprotected.
As for the column at Suakim. even were
the route across the desert from that
point not infested by 0sman DIGNA's
forces, it would take thirty days to
make the march.
Yet for all this we have no fear re-
garding the final outcome Of the English
operations in the Soudan. Even should
the worst-which we look upon
as a possibility and not as a prOba-
bility-befall WoLsELEY's present
force, the overthrow of the NAH
DI is a fixed future fact. Dis
aster to WoLsELEY would only
mean fearful punishment for the
Mahdi, and place the permanent occu-
patton Of the Soudan by England be-
yond question. In the event of any
portion Of WOLsELEY's forces being
cut to pieces, both honor and public
sentiment would demand that England
see the matter through to the bitter
end, and this she would do at any cost of
blood and money. She may be checked,
but if she lets 60 her grip permanently
it will be the first time she has done
such thing in many years. Indeed,
already adyices from London indicate
that that idea is not to be entertained.
The people are thoroughly aroused,
the War Office is crowded with
army officers volunteering for active
service in the Soudan, and it is even
reported that GLADSTONE thinks of
resigning. While there may be no
thing in this latter report, and GLAD
STONE may be glad, as we have init
mated he would be, to seize any oppor-
tunity to prosecute more vigo-
rons policy, the fact that
there is such report is a good indi-
cation of the public temper. 1t shows
that whether the present Ministry re-
mains in power or new one is called
in, the people have determined that
yacillation must end, and that the whole
Egyptian question must be dealt with
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