Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-07
THE WAR IN TIE SOUDAN.
Gen. GOrdOn.s Fate Still Uncertain
WOlseley Given Carte Blanche.

The fall OF Khartoum and the probable fate Of
General Gordon continue to command general
interest throughout Great Britain. The cabinet
council yesterday decided TO give carte blanche TO
Lord Wolseley to take any measure he deems ne
cessary for the rescue OF Gen. Gordon If alive and
10 make use OF such military operations as he con-
siders advisable to regain the ground lost in the
Soudan by the fall Of Khartoum. This decision VI
the cabinet caused the iivelest Joy everywhere.
There are ten thousand British troops at stations
In the Mediterranean that available for service
In the Soudan These Include eight regiments OF
the line thirteen batteries Of artillery, and five
slider the troops &c Metemneh safe, Gen. Earc's
advance to BerbeT is fastened and reinforccInents
dian troops VIII garrison Suakim while 4 force OF
COCO British Will advance upon Berber. The expe-
dition will be composed OF drafts from the Indian
regiments and the accliInated British troops now
in Egypt, who Will be replaced by drafts from Eng
land and the Mediterranean. Gen Gordon's fate Is
that he was killed The statement is confirmed
that Taraz Pasha treacherously made terms with
FL Mahdi whereby the latter wac enabled 10 cap
ture Khartoum.
TIE MAHDrs FIERCE THREAT.
Gen. Wolseley has Informed the government that
message fron FL Mahdi reached Col Wilson Jan.
q. He said Gen Gordon had adopted FL Mahdis
uniform The courier brought the following mes
sage from 81 Nahdi az cali upon you to surrender.
shall not write again. Hyou do not become Ma
honmsdans VIII wipe you OF the face OF the
The fall Of Khartoum has decided the shukriyeh
tribes TO join the forces or 81 Mahdi which places
DOH banks OF the Nile under the control OF the
enemy.
Gen. wolssley sends the following dispatch:
| "Talbot's convoy has reached Gubat safely. The
enemy at Aetemneh have been entirely inactive
since January 70. The rebel force there is esti-
mated at between two and three thousand men. OF
WHOM $50 are horsemen and 500 have rifles Our
Een are In good health The wounded are doing
well The Kabbabish tribes are still carrying mes
sages and supplies for US to Gakdul Wells A mes
senger has been sent to ASCERTAIN the fate OF Cen
THE BExARKABLE STORY TOLD By A CLERGYMAN
A clergyman OF London publishes q remarkable
letter in the Globe OF that city He declares that he
met In London last November an Egyptian who
had been project OF police under Arab PaSha.
The project and preacher became well acquainted.
on Christmas last they had long conversation
concerning the Egyptian situation. The clergy man
expressed the hope that Lord Wolseley would soon
enter Khertoum. Al this the project laughed and
was and that Wellesley would not enter Khsrtoum.
NJ. Mtlired Blunt, the project continued, was the
only living man able to effect for England peace
confidence in him ana would accept him as me-
diator. 50 ter Is Lord Woseleyh expedition was
eonssrasd the project said, e Ashai had arranged
regular opposition. The prophet might hight at or
near shendy, but II he old II would be merely for
the purpose Of tempting Wolseley on into further
a1d greater risks On no account, however, would
n AAhdt hight q decisive battle until the
British forces mere massed In the vicinity OF Khar
Cen Gordon the psrsss ins
prisoner. ais so-caiied defense OF Khartotm
was Q mere form, as 81 Nahdi was not engaged In
Any aSt,ck upon the town, because L was praca-
he pleased. The Prophets plan was to allow LORD
Velseleys army to approach Khartoum, then to
inter , ne CITY take possession, ana night Wossey
killed By n Mahd..