The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-24
The Forces of the Mah1i, Not at All Demoral-
lied by Their Recent Repulse, Re-
form Their Lines,
And Surround General Stewart and
His Command at Abu-Klea Wells.
The British Throw Up Intrenchments and
Await Reinforcements-Detai of Losses
by the Avalanches in Italy.
A PERILOUs SITUATION.
Gen. Stewards Force Surrounded by Arabs
at the Scene Of the Late Fight.

Gen. Stewards Force Surrounded by Arabs
at the Scene of the Late Fight.
LONDON, Jan. 23-Private advices received
late this afternoon from Korti assert that the
rebels have surrounded General Stewart in the
desert, where he has taken up an intrenched po-
sition to await reinforcements from General
Wolseley Deserters from the rebel
lines state that the Mahdis officers consider
the affair at Abu klea wells drawn battle. The
Arabs were neither routed nor pursued, and fell
back in an orderly manner. not in the least de-
moralized by the outcome of the engagement
They recovered themselves so quickly and
effectively that General Stewart dared not
move, but was compelled to intrench himself on
the scene Of conflict. GovernmdUs s1oficials dis
credit the information conveyed in the above
private dispatches
The Times, Telegraph and Standard have not
yet received reports of the battle at Abu klea al
though they had special correspondents in the
fold. This fact increases the anxiety concern
ing the fate of Stewart. A belief is becoming
prevalent that the battle at the wells was more
severe than the government is willing to admit
There is an impression that the official reports
were colored at the War Office, and the special
dispatches interpreted by the press censors, be-
cause they contained information which throws
an Objectionable light on the affair.
A telegram from Alexandria says "Private
advices from the front state that the rebels are
strongly entrenched at Metemneh, which port it
will be necessary for the English forces to occupy
before they can proceed to Khartoum 1t is re-
ported that the rebels are collected at Abu
Hamed and prepared to resist General Earle"
A dispatch to LIE Parts, of Paris, from Alexan-
dria, says report prevails there that the rebels
have surrounded General Stewart, whose line of
retreat is threatened.
Officials at the War Office believe General
Wolseley may find it imperatively necessary to
reinforce the troops now operating against the
Mahdi in the Soudan by draft of men from the
British army of occupation in Lower Egypt. At
the same time they are afraid to allow the army
of occupation to be seriously weakened They
are accordingly preparing for the transportation
of troops from Malta Gibraltar and home de-
pots to Alexandria, to take the places of those
who may be sent to the Soudan.
The British war Office has received no news
concerning General Stewards advance, since the
account of the battle on Saturday. The absence
of news causes considerable anxiety. The heads
of the War Department met at noon to-day, with
Earl Morley Under secretary Of State for War,
presiding, to consider the situation.
General Wolseley teleeraphs that no news is
expected from Metemneh until Saturday or Sun
day.
After midnight on Thursday night, when all
the newspaper men of this city were excited over
the stirring news of the Soudan, a belated re-
porter was astounded at seeing Mr. Gladstone
enjoyably pacing up and down the sidewalk in
front Of his official residence in Downing street
The Premier was walking slowly, with his hands
clasped behind him, and with calm and even
serene expression on his rugged features. 1t
was evident that the loss of few score of SOL
ders in the Metemneh desert and the anxiety
concerning the future of the expedition had no
power to disturb his equanimity despite the
diatribes about blood -guiltness to which he has
been treated by the peace atany price Radicals
The promenade lasted half an hour At the heels
of the great man followed one of the detectives
detailed to guard him whenever he goes out of
doors. The detective was almost audibly ours
ing the duty which kept him trotting after the
Premier at that unseasonable hour.