Omaha daily bee., 1885-01-24
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.

The event of the week1sthe victory of q
detachment of the British army, under
the command of General Stewart, over a
large body of Mahdi's followers In Sou
dan. The details of the engagement ca
bled from Soudan, indicate q very fierce
and bloody struggle in which the Arab
rebels vera terribly worsted after a des-
perate hand.to. hand encounter. The
British loss was quite severe, including
among the killed Col Burnaby and eight
other officers, ranking from lieutenant to
major. According to British accounts
the Arabs outnumbered General Stew
arts forces six to one, but that Is hardly
to be believed. Gen. Lord Wolseley, who is
commander of the entire British forces
In Egypt, commends General Stewart
very highly, and declares that the nation
has every reason to be proud of the gal
lantry and splendid spirits of her ma
jesty's soldiers on this occasion. The
death of Colonel Burnaby is almost more
talked about in London than the battle
itself. 1t is now feared hat the advance
on Khartoum will require more hard
fighting, The Mahdi, however, is said
to regard this battle as drawn, and later
advicesindicate that General Stewart has
been compelled to intrench himself in the
desert, owing to the superior numbers of
the enemy.
The renewal of hostilities in upper
Egypt has given rise to much speculation
in the capitals of continental Europe.
The prevailing impression is that the ex-
protsctorate over Egypt, since
England could hardly withdraw
from thu country after such expensive
campaigns. Serious complications are
foreshadowed which may lead to a
rupture between England and other
great powers. The Cologne Gazette, in
a leading editorial on the relations of
England and Europe, says: 1.-THE chief
question is whether England or Europe
shall give way, or whether they shall
compromise their opposing claims. We
are convinced England will yield, if the
verdict of Europe is given with the
necessary emphasis" The writer pre-.
diets the decaaencs of English power.
"Only let us show our teeth" the article
continues, and England will surprise
the world with her cowardics."
The Turkish proposals concerning
Egypt and the policy to be pursued has
created considerable discussion, and an
Engl sh cabinet council has been held to
consi3er them. The proposals summsr T.
lied ara as follows: That Turkey sgrees
TO recognize the Egyptian loan guaran-
teei by England; that part of the ex.
pensas of the English expedition shall be
betrayed by the Egyptian treasury; that
lestt eight months. and shall not exceed
two years; that the sultan will recognize
the native tribunals of Egypt; that Tar
key shall occupy certain ports on the Red
s a, and that the right OF Egypt to con
clude treaties of shall be mod.
flied.
The Pau Mall Gazette publishes, un-
der reserve, what purports to be the text
of the agreement bstween England and
Turkey regarding the government of
Egypt. The paper says that the agree
men provides ttat Turkish troops shall
occupy Egypt, with the exception of the
ports of Alexandria, Damietts, Port
Said and Suez, which England will con-
tinue to occupy; that Turkey shall under.
take to maint ain order in the interior af-
ter the capture of Khartoum; thar Eng
land shall retain garrisons on the Red
Sea ~llttoral, and abandon the Soudan to
Turkey, and that Tewik Pasha, the khe-
dive of Egypt, shall be deposed, the sui
tan of Turkey to appoint in his steai a
pasha who does not belong to the family
Of Mehemet AL
The understanding between France and
Germany for cooperation against Eng
land continues to be the leading fact in
the diplomatic situation. 1t undoubtedly
is the work of Prince Bismarck, who &C.
complishes a double purpose In maintain.
Ing 1t. 1t makes the military situation |
on the continent much lie ,s!strained than 1t
was. A France largely engaged In build.
Ing up q colonial empire In Asia. iand
Africa, and in fighting the people who-as
at present in Cambodia and formerly in
T~onquin-do not appreciate duly the
benefits of annexation, Is not likely to
take up the policy of Reuanche at home. |
There is less anxiety about the Rhine for
~tresses, since France is busied with those
on the coast of China. And Bismarck
gets the farther advantage Of keeping
England too much occupied to interfere
actively in his projects of conquest and
colonization. Instead of one power, she
has two o her hands, when any ques-
ton arises as to the limits of her empire.
We believe, no viewer, tia 1t in the Ioug
run England will get the better of them
both. Should q great war break out
all thess new colonies and settlements
would run q good chance of coming under
the British flags as promptly as oil the
European colonies in Asia during the
wars with Napoleon. Everything would
depend upon comparative naval eficien. !
cy, and we have no assurance that the
great file ets of France aud Germany
would be able to resist that of Great
Britain. The habit of naval service Is in
the English blood. 1t IL 60 foreiga to |
France that even In the war with Ger.
many she was able to ms X no efficient |
use Of Der ships along the German coast. ]