The Portland daily press., 1885-02-09
GEN. GORDON.
Conflicting Reports Concerning
His Fate.
Latest Reports From London Say Moth.
ing ct Importance Has Been Learned.
Gen, Stephenson Advises Retreat
from Metemneh and Concen-
tration at Berber.
Ell Mahdi Said to be Preparing fer AM
ether Active Encounter.
A Rumor That England Will
Evacuate Egypt.

A Rumor That England Will
Evacuate Egypt.
LONDON, Feb. Before Col. Wilson gave
up the attempt to reach Khartoum. his little
steamers sustained for four hours the fire Of
1.0e0 rihemen, eight Krapp guns and eight
machine guns The Arabs showed splendid
practice in handling the large guns The VS.
ter in the Nile is rapidly falling, and naviga-
tion on the river above Metemneh will soon
become impracticable. The troops at Gubat
are cheerful, but their officers exhibit much
fretfulness and disappointment over tho abb
sence of reenforoements and of Lord Wolse-
ley. The Arabs deny that Gen. Gordon has
been made prisoner, and state that he was
killed in action, having refused to give or take
quarter. No trustworthy intelligence, how
ever, has yet been received as to Gordons fate.
The spy service organized by Lord Wolseley,
and now directed by Col. Wilson, has mieled
the commander throughout the campaign.
The government has Issued orders allowing
the free transmission of news from the Soudan
until Sunday night, after which fresh restric-
tions will be imposed. On his way from Gubat
to Khartoum, on Jan. Goth, Col. Wilson was
told by natives along the Nile that Gen. Cor
don had been fighting hard for fifteen days.
On Jan. 9th natiqe reported that Gen. Cor
don was dead. On the return from Khartoum
to Gubat several natives reported to Col. Will
sons party that Gen. Gordon and all the Cop
tic troops who had stood by him had been cap
tured BY 81 Mahdi'G men and put to death.
Later on, during the journey. several Shaggy
eh men came on board Col. Wilson's boat and
declared that it was the intention Of th cir
tribe to join the Mahdi. These men said that
Gen. Gordon, Consul Nicoli, 30 Greeks and
some soldiers, when pressed to desperation,
shut themselves up in Catholic church,
whittier they had removed quantity of am
munition and provisions.
Lord wolseIeys Plan Criticised.
PARIS, Feb. THE news of the fall OF
Khartoum has caused throughout France
profound sensation. The Mahdi's victory is
regarded as terrible blow to the prestige of
England, and as likely to shake the foundation
OF British rule in India. In military circles
Lord Wolseley's plan Of the campaign is Sc
verely criticized.
The Cabinet Council.
LONDON, Feb. 7.-Atter the Cabinet Council
this afternoon, there was long conference be-
tween Lord Harrington, Earl Northbrook and
Hon. Hugh Childers. 1t is stated that ar
rsngements were made for despatching 5000
troops to Egypt, in the quickest practicable
manner to reinforce Wolseley.
LONDON, Feb. S.-The Observer this morn
ing says: "Gen. Wolseley asked for specific
orders as to what he should do in the event Of
Gen. Gordon being found dead. After very
animated and prolonged discussion, the Cabi-
net replied that the campaign should be prose-
cuted until the rebellion was suppressed. An
other Cabinet council will be held tomorrow.
LONDON, Feb. 7.-During the sitting of the
Cabinet today, kilograms were received at
short intervals from Lord Wolseley. In these
Wolseley expresses the belief that the en-
trenched garrisons at Abuklea and Quabot are
not endangered, although continued absence of
news concerning Lord Charles Beresford's at
tempt to relieve Sir Charles Wilson causes
anxiety.
1t is rumored that an order has been tsle-
graphed Wolseley to ascertain if possible be-
fore taking decisive action whether Gordon is
dead or alive. II he discovers that he still
lives he is instructed to try to terminate the
campaign without further fighting. This in
struction is thought to imply desire on the
part of the government to secure releass of
Gordon and his companions by mean of ran
som.
Gen. WOIseIey's ProcIanation.
LONDON, Feb. THE following despatch
has just been received:
NEAR METEMNEH, Feb. 6.
Gen. Wolseley has issued the following proc
lamation
To the NotableS and Inhabitants of the Souddn:
England has sent me with an army to restore
peace, not to collect taxes or to injure any one.
will pay you for all supplies and guarantee
10 execute Gen. Gordon's promises. Only
those deserving punishment at our hands will
receive it. call upon you to submit, and not
listen TO evil advisers Come into my camp
and see my officers. No one shall harm you
0AeAOA SOhalAS Va AObuAuAu6s
The Fall of KharfOum.
Gen. Wolselsy reports to the government:
Although the Mahdi's regulars are reported to
be gathering round the pointwhere the steamers are
wrecked, no suspicion of treachery is entertained
The wreck OF the steamer due to the hurried
treat in the night and the altered current of the
river, which had fallen two feet in a single day,
Some of our marksmen say the enemy are lining the
earthworks on both banks of the river for two miles
north of Khartoum. They number altogether
about 5000, of whom 1000 are Indifferent rifemen
Four good shsts from the Sussex regiment repeated
ly silenced one of the Mahdrs Krupp guns. Dur.
ing the darkness the steamers slipped past the reb-
els, shot the rapids and arrived within sixty miles
OF the fort, when one OF them grounded The sec
ond stranded twenty miles lower down, where Col
Wilson and the Sussex detachment still remain
COL Wortey, with three English soldiers and par
ty of natives in boat, reached here at 3 O'Clock
this morning (Feb. 6th). Sir Charles Beresford's
steamer, with twenty picked marksmen from the
Royal Rifles, started this afternoon to attempt to
relieve them. Col. Wortley had rowed forty or fifty
miles during the night All of Col. Wilson's stores
guns and ammunition are in deep water and beyond
steamers. Col. Wilson's party have trenched them
selves on sandy islands
The steamers, while going up the river, travelled
exceedingly hot fire, which ceased when a man adj
yanced with white flag bearing a letter from the
Mahdi to the English officers, in which it was stated
that Khartoum had been captured without the fir
ing of shot. The city and sGen. Gordon are now
that Khartoum fell on the night of Jan. 27th Fe.
reZ Pasha and other Egyptian commanders entered
lnto secfet negoEatlens with the Mahdi to get the
Egyptian troops on one side of the city, and while
one detachment would attack the boats another
would open the land way. On the third day Of the
journey up the river the natives shouted from the
banks to Col. Wilson that Khartoum had fallen.
The enemy were found well entrenched on the river
bank.
NEAR METEMNEH, Feb. Five natives
were present at the surrender ofsK sKhsrtoum.
They. declare that the rebels admitted the
treschery OF two pashas who had been former
ly punished by Gen. Gordon. 1t is reported
that the officers commanding the three steam
ers which remained at Khartoum took the
Mahdi's troops to the main gate of the CITY,
where they were admitted under the darkness
OF the night Two of the natives declare that
Gen. Gordon has been killed, while the others
are equally positive that he took refuge in the
church with the faithful. There ia no doubt
whatever that the main portion of Khartoum
is occupied by the rebels Col. Wortley saw
them thronging the streets. Countless fags
were flying, and there were many signs of re-
loicing. On the route down the river by the
English steamers, several of our men narrow
ly escaped capture. At the sixth cataract they
we're compelled to psrley with the enemy un-
der the pretence of an intention to surrender,
a message has been received from the Nah
atatlng that Gordon has become q Mussulman,
and that all the English officers had better fol-
low his example, The Mahdi said he had no
desire to tight the English, but unless they en-
Draced the true faith he would not leave one in
the Soudan.
LONDON, Feb. 7.-Gen. Wolseley's latest re-
port was sent this afternoon. He was still
without definite news of Gen. Gordon's fate.
He had sent further spies to Khartoum with
the promise that they should be literally re-
warded il they could definitely ascertain
whether Gordon is dead or alive.
Italy Prepared to Assist England.
ROME, Feb. TIT is stated that the govern
ment is prepared to send 81 900 troops into the
Soudan. All parties express warm sympathy
with England, and the strongest desire for q
close alliance 1t is very evident from indica-
tions put out in all directions that italian
statesmen see an opportunity for Italy to as
sert tor herself a position among the first pow
ers of Europe.
ROME, Feb. S.-Ths Ressegna saws that no
troops will be sent to the Soudan by Italy un-
less under formal treaty providing for an Of
fensive and defensive alliance, and the grant
inrr 10 Tfo1n nf l;aL