The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-02-13

| LONDON, EeD. 6.-Ilo War OfIIce has IS
sued the following: kilograms from Cen
eral Wolseley announce that the fall of
Khartoum took place on January g. He
says Colonel Wilson arrived at Khartoum
January % and was greatly surprised
to find that the enemy were in
possession of that place He imme-
diately started on his return down the river
and proceeded under heavy fire from the
rebels. When some miles below the Shu-
blaka Cataract Colonel Wilson's steamer
was wrecked, but he and his whole party
managed to reach an island in safety, where
they are secure. A steamer has gone to
bring them back to the British camp near
| Metemneh.
General Wolseley says he has no infor-
nation regarding the fate of General Cor
don, anG does not know whether he is dead
or alive.
There is no longer any doubt that the
Mehdi holds possession of Khartoum. Some
hopes are entertained that General Gordon
may still be holding out in the citadel of the
town. Meanwhile the excitement in Lon
don and everywhere throughout the Brit
ish Isles where the news is known
is rising to fever heat. The clubs
and public resorts of every description are
thronged with crowds of people eager to
catch the last syllable of intelligence from
the distant Egyptian desert Through
Fleet Street and the Strand it is almost
impossible to make ones way, So
crowded are these thoroughfares with
throngs of curious and excited citizens.
Most people take gloomy view of the pO-
sition of the British troops in the Soudan.
The jubilant gladnesS which characterized
England in regard to Egypt ever since the
welcome news of General Stewards sue
cessful arrival in the neighborhood of
Metemneh was received has given
way to universal depression, and
expressions of dismay and forebod-
ings come from almost everybody. 1t is
too early to estimate the influence of the
news on the political situation. The War
/ Office is besieged with army officers tender
ing services for active duty in the Soudan.
| Numerous kilograms are being received
from officers throughout the country asking
assignments t6rescue the expedition, should
the Government conclude to take such ac-
ton.
The capture of Khartoum has created
| 6A@FO 1Cdioi CopCCldlly Ill dIDly ClTCltS, IOr
| the safety of General Stewart and his army.
A number of military officers of repute even
| express the opinion that unless reinforce
ments are hurried forward to Korti the fall
Oh Khartoum may lead to disasters under
Lord WOlseley and General Earle.
| The military authorities are of the opin-
ion that General Gordon sent the greater
part of his troops down the Nile to meet
| Stewards forces, and so depleted the gar
rison in the town and citadel of Khartoum
that an attack by the enemy from Omdur-
man was rendered much easier.
Native reports are that the Mahdi had
10000 men in the vicinity of Khartoum, and
that he introduced number OF his ennis
saries into the city. These emissaries
mingled freely with the native troops
under General Gordon, and by brides,
threats and working on their religious
| feelings induced them to desert. Several
| thousand of the garrison deserted to the
rebels, leaving Gordon only $500 faithful
soldiers. With this small force he attempt
ed to hold the city against the Mahdi's
great army, but after severe fighting, in
which large number of rebels were killed,
he was compelled to surrender.
Further details reveal the fact that the
news of the fall of Khartoum received by
General Wolseley was brought by a mes
Senger, who left the island where Colonel
| Wilson got stranded and came on foot to
Gubate Two messengers were dispatched
to Korti via Abu-Klea and Gakdu They
reached their destination, which is regarded
as owing to the news that Khartoums fall
was not known in the desert. The
intelligence of the disaster, however, has
| since spread far and wide. Some tribes
| that hitherto profesSed friendship for En-
| gland have declared for Ell Mehdi The
Arabs still hold Metemneh. The garrison
there received the news of the fall of
| Khartoum with repeated saivos of
artillery. When Colonel Wilson'S fotlIa
approached Khartoum he was com
PEELED to run the gauntlet of a heavy
| fire from both banks. The rebels had four
Krupp guns OH the river banks at Halfyeh
| to lombard the steamers. When the British
force reached Omdurman numbers of rebels
continued the fussillade. Things looked
worse when it was discovered that the enemy
was in possession of the Island of Tut, just
| outside the city. The English still pushed
ahead, but were dismayed to find that the
| garrison commenced firing upon Them No
flags were flying from the public buildings,
and the town appeared in she undisputed
possession of the enemy. The palace
| seemed Quilted. Finding it impossible to
land in face Of the overwhelming numbers
of reDels, the British were obliged to retire.
The .rumors concerning the fate of General
| Gordon are many and varied, but all agree
that Ell Mehdi captured Khartoum by treach-
cry. The most reliable reports point to one
Faraz PaSha as the traitor. 1t is said that
| he, being left i'll charge of the ramparts,
| opened the gates on January 26, and adj
mitted the enemy. Some TumorS state that
| Ell Mehdi together with few Levantines,
lis cooped up in the church. Others
say that General Gordon was seen wear
ing lei MehdTS uniform. The majority
| agree, however, that General Gordon
was killed. Colonel Wilson had three
steamers, two of which were wrecked
halfway between Khartoum and Metem-
| neh, The third steamer, bearing Colonel
W0rtley, came on, and brought the news to
the British camp Inear Metemneh. Lord
Wolseley does not consider the British po-
sition at Gubat in any immediate danger.
General Stewart is doing well. All the
British wounded have been brought back to
the camp at Gakdul Wells.
1t is understood that the fall of Khartoum
will not check the advance of General
WolSeley whose main body of troops will
probably march across the desert at once
| and besiege hhartoum at the earliest posi-
bic moment. Commander Cameron, the
African explorer, has offered to start imme-
diately for the Soudan. Troop ships are
being fitted up at Portsmouth
AT council held at the War Office last
evening it was decided to advise the dis
patch OF 5000 troops to Suakim imme-
diately General Stephenson telegraphs
that 5000 men will be needed 10 clear the
road to Berber, as the news of the fall of
Khartoum will induce the central tribes
to join Osman pigma. General Stephen
son also advises the present strength
of the troops in Upper and Lower Egypt to
be maintained, and the reinforcements to
be drawn from England and India. General
Wolseley has renewed his demand for an
| expedition to Suakim of 5000 men under
| General Greaves. Orders have been dis
patched to Woolwich to Immediately pre-
pare to send months rations for 5000
men for the Khartoum expedition.
Resigned.
PORTLAND, Ore, Feb. Cat meeting