Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-16


The Times still clings to the hope tha,
Gordon is alive. 1t thinks the saddle bag
document was possibly ruse made use of IN
the hope of preventing the British advance
upon khartOum, as it was then too late to
rescue Gen. Gordon.
The Times asks if Gordon had been killed
and khartoum captured why did not the NAH
di let Col. Wilson la nd there and then mas
sacre him and his party.
The Standard, this afternoon, publishes a
dispatch from its correspondent at Korti,
stating that the messengers who have Just ar
rived at Korti declare Khartoum has not been
captured by the Mahdi. The messenger, the
correspondent says, asserts he left Khartoum
six days after Col. Sir Chas. Wilson appear
ed before the city in boats sent from Gubat,
and that when he left, Gen. Gordon still held
khartoum. Government officials do not be-
lieve the messengers story, and state no off,
cial information conirmatory of it has been
received.
The Mahdi's men, the spies say, are per-
fectly acquainted with the details of the Brit
ish victories at Abu Klea and Gubat, but they
consider them uRimportant compared with
the prophets success in capturing Khartoum
1t is thought certain that an attack on Met
emneh by the British forces at Gubat will be
made tomorrow. As the news Of the result
is expected to arrive at Korti, Tuesday, Lord
Wolseley's disposal of officers at present at
Gubat, under command of Col. Sir Edward
Butler, depends upon the result of tomorrow's
assault.
Gen. Graham departs for Suakim on the
lStn inst. 1t is stated that Gen. Graham in
tends to make forced marches all the way to
Berber from Suakm. 1t he encounters Os-
man Digna and defeats him, Gen. Graham
believes that he can reach Berber within 20
days. 1t would require 80 days to complete
the journey with the army making ordinary
time.
A council of war was held today at the war
office. 1t was resolved to increase the In
dian contingent to be dispatched to the Sou
dan, for Gen. Wolseley's relief, to $500. in
order to raise the total effective force, which
Graham is to have for his Suakim expedition
to 1880 men.
In the approaching session of Parliament
demand for vote of credit of so 500, 900,
on account of the Suakim expedition, is ex-
pected
Gen. Warren has written letter to the
Duke of Cambridge, commander-in-chiefo of
the British armies, in which he states that
there is a strong belief the the English expe-
dition to Bechuannland, will effect it's object
without being compelled to fight the beers.
The government has decided to accept the
offer of the contingent from New South
Wales.
LONDON, Feb. 10.
Ge,. Graham and staff will leave London
next Saturday for Cairo.
Messrs. Leonard H. Courtney and John
Maley, members of Parliament, are making
arrangements to hold a conference of all the
liberal members of Parliament who are op-
posed to the continuance of war IN the Sou
dan. They have ALREADY been assured of the
adherence of 40 members. Radical mem
bers are taking al independent line of action
against the government.
Ismail Pasha, ex-khedive of Egypt, is now
in London canvassing for supporters of a
scheme looking to the restoration to the Khe-
dival throne
telegram was received at the war office
today, from Gen. Wolseley, in which that
officer gives an account of the fall of Khar-
toum as narrated by a native who was an eye
witness to the entrance of the rebels into the
town of Khartoum. This informant says 1t
was entered by Ell Mahdi's forces at day.
break on the morning of January 26th Gen.
Gordon was killed by a volley from the rebe |
rif1emen, while on his way from headquar-
ters to the Australian consulate. The Aus
tralian consul was killed in his residence.
The press association states, under reserve,
that late on Saturday night the war office
sent telegram to Miss Gordon stating that
Khartoum had not fallen and that Gen. Cor
don was safe.