New-York tribune., 1885-02-01

tions of any kind are 10 be undertaken.
Although you are not precuded from advancing
IA far a, Khart0nm should YOU consider sncn
stem essential To insure the safe retreat OF Gcnerdi
Gordon aud Colonel stewart. yod shonih bear III
mind that Her Majestys Government iS neslioi' -, ~
limit the sphere of your operations as inuch as
po,sibc They rely on you. therefore,: not to
advance further southward than is aosoiutely
necessary in order TO attain the primary wonrsef
in communication with General Oordoh anu C''o"0'
Stewart as soon - possible.
That ia. in few words: AGO as far as may DO
necessary to got General Gordon and Colonel
Stewart Get them and bring them back
The above instructions were approved and Tor
warded October X. 1854.
At tho dato of the letter Of instructions the posi-
ton in tho Soudan was very serious. All kordoian
was in the possession of the Mahli. SO was the
province Of Senaar; tho district OF GallabaO; the
whole of Dariour and ierbcr and Abou liammsd had
recently fallen. Nearly all Nubia was ruled by
Osman Digna in the name of the Mahdi. KhartOum
was seriously threatened and Gordon and Stewart
there had no friends outside tho town nearer than
Dongoa to the northwest moro than 200 miles) and
Kassaa to tho cast. moro than the same distance.
the latter being at tho time beseged. The nearest
British troops were at Suakim more than $50 miles
away to the northeast.
The situation In Khartoum itself was clearly
portrayed By a telegram from twenty -four field
Oinctr3 ana olentcou OWL IunCtlonarloS uatcu
August 10, 1884. which was received in Cairo on
tho 10th September the day before the date of the
letter of instructions to Lord Wolscley 1t is as
follows:
ave, the military. tho civilians. the Ulema and
tho inhabitants ana settlers In KhartOum. submit
for the consideration of tho Khedive that for SIX
months We have been unceasing in our defence of
the capital, of our lives and those of our children.
and OF our property day aud night. till our mus
fortunes and dangers have assumed ctupendous
inna - hlNh mi =
pletely cut OF from the outer world. and have in
vain looked for renfOrcements and succOr from
Government. We have been allowed to delnde
ourselves with vain hopes from hour to hour. while
the Government shows indifference and delays
Weakened and reduced to extremties. God In
His mercy sent Gordon Pschs TO us in the midst OF
caamities Of the siege; and We should all have
fate have boon like that OF most Of tho other gar
rsOns In the SOudan, such Berber and kOrdOIan.
But We, sustained by his intelligence and great
military skill have boon presor ved in KhartOum up
to now, nor does lie IN the arduOus task of tho
defence omit his benevolent care for tho people.
we are penniloss And without resources. and our
patience is exhausted.
"The Government neither succors us, nor does II
regard Gods law, nor lis own political duties. IL
makes effort to suppress anarchy or to prevent
the cfusl0n OF blood; nor yet does IL try TO main
| tain It's own and our honor. though we are its
people. Its own subjects and co-religionists."
| This statement must have been read by Lord
Wolseley before his departure from Cairo. lio
hastsned to Wady Halfa Second Cataract), where
he arrived October o. 1884. to organize his advance.
Sad news met hun there. Half of his prescribed
work. tho succor Of Colonel Stewart. was no longer
possible Of pshment for he learned that that
admirable officer Rhad psrshed at Mcrawch about
ten days before.
One would think that If tho instructions given to