The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-06

The w. H. Dimond arrived from
san Francisco yesterday, bringing
three days later news from the Coast,
but no mail. Through the kindness
of Messrs. Dat, we have been enabled
to compile the following summary of
news:
The Guards for SuaIkim.
On the 18th of February the Duke
of Cambridge reviewed the Guards
prior to their departure for ouakim.
His Royal Highness addressed the
troops, and reminded them of what
was expected from their high disci-
pline and traditions. The Princess of
Wales and her daughters were pres
ent at the review.
GOrdoli's Death Confirmed.
Advices from KOrti, February 18th,
confirm the news Of GOrdOn's death.
When he found himself betrayed he
FASTENED to the magazine to blow it
up; but finding it already in the
enemy's possession, he returned to
his residence, on the steps of which
he was killed. This intelligence is
given by Gordon's trusted messenger,
who had arrived at Korti.
The Mahdi, on capturing Khar-
toum, Immediately converted Cor
don's paper money into cash to buy
war supplies. The military stores
which passed into his possession at
Khartoum were exceedingly valuable,
and has enabled him to equip for
midable army with modern appli-
ances.
Retreat Of the British from ssObat.
Great fears were entertained in the
British Foreign Office for the safety
Cobalt This was the advance corps
which pushed ahead towards Metem-
neh after Stewards battle at Abou
IZlea wells. It consisted of 1000 men
without artillery. Ell Mahdi had
$500 men in the near vicinity, with
batteries of long-range guns, and it
was thought Iik ely that an over
wheIming attack would be made on
the British, who had thrown up earth
works on the landslide, having the
Nile on their proper left.
Their actual danger was very much
greater than had been supposed. On
the 18th February Colonel Butler
sent a messenger to AbOu Klea to
announce his intention to withdraw
from Gobat and retire to the former
position. On the 14th he moved out
Of his entertainments, and arrived
at Abou Klea next day, having made
the distance without firing a shot.
The retreat was a clever manmuvre,
and complete surprise to the Arabs,
who counted upon crushing the
| British.
Ell Mahdi, with 5000 men, was adj
vancing from Omdurman, and was
thirty miles distant when Butler
struck tents at Cobalt. An Arab
corps of 5000 men and five guns were
within seven miles of Gobat at the
time, and did not discover the aban-
| Comment of that position for several
| hours after its evacuation. Butler
will retire to Gadkull wells, and pos
sibIy to Korti, to join the main army,
which Lord WolseIey is concentrat
| ing there for an advance in force on
Berber and KhartOum. There are
| $4,000 men, including Arabs and
Egyptians, at Abou Klea, and $50
camels. There is a scarcity of water,
which accounts for the continued
retrograde movement of Colonel Bull
Ier's command.
Miscellaneous Notes.
In an outpost affair, on the 18th,
with General Talbot, the Arabs
lost SO men. There are daily skirm-
ishes.
Ell Mahdi is advancing leisurely
towards Metemneh with 10000 fol-
lowers. He has called upon all the
tribes to rise and attack the British.
Eighteen Canadian vOyageurs re-
main at KOrti as volunteers for
further service.
y dangerous cataract has been de-
veloped in the Nile, between Berber
and Shendy, which will prevent nav
igation in that reach of the river un-
til after July.
Colonel Butler displaced the ma
chinery in two of Gordon's river
steamers at Gobat, to render them
unfit for use. They can be easily re-
paired by the British.
The French Gain a Naval BatfIe in
China.
4 dispatch from Admiral Courbet
was received in Paris February 18th.
1t states: ave have attacked a Chi
nese squadron and gained complete
victory" The French sunk two or
three Chinese men-of-war that had
taken refuge in Ningpo river.
a London dispatch, dated February
18th, from Shanghai, confirms the
foregoing. There were five Chinese
vessels. Two were sunk and the re-
mainder escaped in a fog.
Admiral Courbet telegraphed to
Paris from Chefoo February 18th that
two of Bayard's torpedo boats sunk
the Chinese frigate Yuzuen, carrying