The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-02-07
THE MAHDi's REBELLION.
Something About HhartOum and
The People who Have Captured
tho Place.

Something About HhartOum and
The People who Have Captured
the Place.
The Philadelphia Times prints the follow
ing interesting sketch of the causes that
led to the present troubles in Egypt and
the Soudan:
Tho city OF Rhartoum, which is reported as
being now in tho hands OF tho Mahdl, is sit
uated mile south OF the Junction of the Blue
Nile and the White Nile, about 1000 miles In
a direct line from Cairo. Timo out OF mind IL
mas been OF considerable Importance as an OK.
change and trading centre, and since the
domination of Egypt In tho soudan Khartoum
has been the seat OF Its government. II is said
to have about 5000 houses, built mostly OF
mud and stone, and Its population is yarIolsly
computed at from 10000 to 10000, always o
strange mixture OF Europeans, Arabs, Turks
and Jews.
Mohammed Achmed, the MahdI, or war
prophet, whose last victory is now setting the
civilized world talking about him, was born
at KhaupR, In Dongola, about three hundred
miles north OF Khartoum, In the year 1912,
and he knows all tho ins aud outs OF the
country and Its Inhabitants for 300 miles
tested unusual business force as q slave
trader at III Obeld and later devoted himself
70 contemplation and the llIe OF Mohamme-
dan religious enthusiast. Ia 1868 he was at
Khartoum and received special religious con-
stcration and swore to consecrete his body
and soul TO the uses OF his people.
Early in July, 1881, about two years after the
deposition or Iemail pasha, the Mahdi gave
the first signs OF military revolt, and the au-
thorltles OF Khartoum having. ordered him 70
come to that city he treated the order with
contempt. When a battalion OF black troops
were sent TO enforce the order he rallied his
forces and cut the black soldiers to pieces.
The next year, 1882, a force OF 6,000 Egyp.
tians were sent against him and he either cap.
tured or annihilated them. Arab was now IN
rebellion IN Egypt, all English Interests were
the British began bombarding Alexandria and
so entered ON the work that has led 10 puny
successes and fearful disasters from that time
In january, 1883, the Mahdl captured Ell
Obel0, about two hundred miles south OF
hhartoun, and has ever since made lt his
headquarters. In March, 1888, Colonel Hicks
British of1lcor, arrived at Khartoum and un.
dertook 10 ornanize f0rco for the reCaptare
OF FL Obeld. In April he defeated rebel
force 5000 strong and killed 300 OF the enemy,
including the Mahd's Grand Nlzler. In sep.
tember Hicks Pasha marched out OF Khart0um
with 1000 lighting men, encountered the
Mohdrs army near III Obeid, engaged IN a
three days fight, lost his-own life and he aud
his force has never since been heard from
Meanwhile Osman Digna rose into prominence
as the Mahdis chief ally In the region OF the
country about Suaklm, on tho coast OF the Red
sea, where tho English landed small forGes
and met with various successes and defeats.
little more than year ago, when the slt-
uatlOn ht KhartOum looked hopeless for the
garrison and European settlers there, General
Gordon was selected as a forlorn hope aud
he said distinctly; ~ 60 TO Khartoum 70 make
peace. We can come 20 an agreement" He
believed simply that the Mahdl was disat-
fected toward the Egyptian Government and
that llDeral English proposals would sottle
all the trouble, He soon found that the
Mahdi represented larger uprising than was
supposed and then bent on smashing him.
This plan the Gladstone government never
yielded 10, hut plan to relieve Gordon was
formed. Aud In August OF last year General
WOlseley LETT England in charge or what has
been known as the Nile relief expedition, con
slstlDg OF 10000 picked soldiers or the British
| army part OF the instructions OF the War
| unlce said "1he primary object Of the expe-
ditlon up the valley OF tho Nile Is 10 briug
away General Gordon aud Colonel Stewart
nom hharioum, When that object mas boon
secured no further offensive operations OF any
KIND arc TO be undertaken"
| Nothing OF any serious moment happened 70
| This force until the 11th and 10Th OF last
| month, when General Stewart, with the ad.
/ vance army OF the expedition, met about
| 10000 rebel Arabs In the Bahuda desert DO.
| tween kortl, tho headquarters OF General
| Wolseley, and Metemneh, where the rebel5
| had gathered IN force 70 meet the English In.
yadOrs. General Stewards two battles turned
| the whole design OF the expedition out OF the
line OF relief force Into that OF nm invading
| army, and tho result was that tho Mahdl
seized the opportunity long delayed and feli
on khhrtOum with such overwhelming mum.
berB as led 10 It's overthrow,