Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-07
FIVE WEEKS NEEDED TO REACH KHAR


Astonishment has been caused by the re-
port that the Cabinet at its session to-day
considered a dispatch received from Gen.
Wolseley asking for instructions. In this
dispatch Geu. Wolseley informs the govern
ment that he will be unable to reach Khar-
tOum in less than five weeks, when the hot
season Will have commenced. He assures
the Ministry that he still feels confident OF his
ability tn successfully attack Khartoum and
defect the False Prophet, but says that tie
operations necessary to achieve these results
would now be difficult and hazardous.
WOLsELEY GIVEN CARTE BLANCHE.
The Cabinet Council to-day lasted three
and half hours. 1t is understood that 1t was
decided to give Gen. WOlseley carte blanche
to take any measure he deems necessary for
the rescue of Gen. Gordon il alive, and make
use OF such military operations as he consd-
ers advisable to regain the ground lost in
Soudan by the fail of khartoum. Among the
alternatives suggested to Gen. Wolseey are
the immediate recapture of Khartoum and
the employment, If necessary, of Indian
troops to reopen the Berber route.
The MiddleseX regiment, now at Dover, and
90 members OF the Commlsssry Department
at AldershOt, have be, n ordered to prepare
for active service.
PARIS TALKING OF NO OTHER THEME.
A Paris correspondent teegraphs that the
story of Ell Mahdi's success is the uppermost
topic OF conversation in all circles, political,
artistic and social. Gen, GOrdon's name, the
correspondent says, Is on every ones Iips.and
everything else but the story OF his herOism
seems to be for the time forgotten.
10000 TROOPS AVAILABLE.
There are 10000 British troops at the sta
tlons IN the Mediterranean that are available
| for service IN Soudan. These include regi-
ments OF the line, 10 batteries of artillery and
| 5 companies of engineers.
WILSON'S ORDER TO SURRENDER.
Lord WOlseley telegraphed late this after
| noon that he has been informed that Col.
| Wilson had one man killed and five wounded
| returning ha f,sop
| toum messenger from FL Mahdi sum
| moned Col. Wilson to surrender, and at the
same time stated that Gen. Gordon was wear
| ing Ell MahdPs uniform. 1t is the general
| option in military circles that Gen. Gordon
| is dead.
THE STORY OF WILSON'S TRIP.
Col. Wortey, in charge of the only one of
| Col. Wilson's three steamers which reached
| Gubat from Khartoum, furnishes q detailed
report of the movements of the expedition.
| This shows that the three steamers in com
! mand of Col. Wilson reached Khartoum JAN
%, following the course OF the White Nile.
IMP 9ssIBLE TO LAND TROOPS AT KHAR-
TOUM.
| On reaching Khartoum it was found utterly
| impossible to land troops. The Government
| House at Khartoum appeared to be wrecked.
| One man was killed and five others wounded
| during the attack on the steamers. Col.
| Wilson's steamer was wrecked four miles
| above the enemy position. below the bottom
| OF the Shublaka cataract. The second steamer
| WAS NItCkCu Jan. u. We ICdCuCu 0uDdb
in small boats the same day. That Khartoum
| fell Jan. 26 is certain. Gen. GOrdOnS fate is
still in doubt, the reports in regard to him
| being conflicting.
GORDON BELIEVED TO BE KILLED.
1t is the general opinion, however. that he
! was killed. Some say that he is with the
| Greeks in their church at KhartOum. The
fall of Khartoum has decided the Shur Kryeh
| tribes to join the forces of Ell Mahdi, which
places both banks OF the Nile under the con-
| troll OF the enemy. Natives greatly fear the
| English, and the advance Of Gen. Earle's
column is awaited with anxiety. The
natives say that Ell Mahdi Is hard
pressed for supplies, and that
| he had great difficulty in persuading the
Emirs to attack us. A messenger from III
Madhi reached Col. Wilson Jan. 20. He said