Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-03

The English forces marching TO the re-
lief of Gen. Gordon are now well into the
| desert, and the most critical part of the
| expedition is at hand. 1t is not known
that any very formidable force of the
Mahdrs followers can be concentrated to
resist the advance. but it is more than
probable chat sufficient opposition will be
encountered to make the trip from Korti
to Berber an interesting one, to say the
least of it.
The change of line of march from the
direct route from KOrti to Shendy to that
by Merawe and Berber has been YariOusly
commented on. Were it certain that no
considerable army of rebels would be en-
countered on the way, the route to Shendy
would be by far the most preferable, as
by it the march across the desert would
be sooner ended and the relief of khar-
tOum would be practically accomplished
with the arrival of the expedition at
Shendy. The objection to this route is
that it passes through many defiles where
the troops could easily be ha-
raised, il not ambuscaded and de-
strOyed, by comparatively small bodies
VI ACuNAcs Inc AOANG AAOLn 2ntldMG "
Berber follows substantially the telegraph
line across the desert, and it is through
comparatively open country, where the
troops can be more easily handled and
manwuvred to better advantage in case
of attack. Moreover, in the event of a
defeat. retreat to the Nile would be
more practicable from the latter route,
and the advance could be resumed around
the great bend, which the present march
is intended to cut off.
Ii the Mahdi is in condition to contest
the road across the desert, the British
will not reach Berber without a fight,
and the desperate manner in which the
rebel fanatics 90 into battle will put the
metal of the troops to a severe test. If
the expedition should be defeated it
would doubtless be almost exterminated,
and the destruction of Gen. Gordon and
his forces assured. If the rebels should
be defeated, it is probable that the cam
paign would be soon ended with the relief
of KhartOum, and the way would be
opened for the final suppression of the re-
belliOn in the Soudsn by the Sublime
Porte, whose religion and even existence
is threatened by the False Prophet.
Senator Sherman does not seem to be
one of those who Overestimate the capac-
ity of military heroes. In a conversation
the other day at Washington he is re-
ported to have said: ''Take the three
leading Union Generals Of the late war.
We have seen how disastrous Gen.
Grants venture has been. Gen. sherman
is untitled to handle large business in
terests. He has a dread of debts, and if
he met any obstacle in his business he
would merely crush it or tramp over it.
Gen. Sheridan couldn't run a cattle
ranch" Might it not be good idea to at
tach a business department to the military
academy at West Point? 1t is unfortu.
nate that so many high army officers are
ignorant Of the first principles of business.
While John Roach was redu eng the
rents OF his tenements and getting some
praise for being the friend Of American
workmen, be cut the pay of his employees
down to per cent. below the lowest wages |
paid in the English shipyards during the
last % years. Roach is a shrewd old |
-~rr~aor