The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-05
SACRIFICES IN SOUDAN.
LORD CHURCHILL ATTACKS THE
GOVERNMENTS POLICY.

The Conservatives Taken by Surprise
and Narrowly Escape Defeat on the
Division on Account of Absenteeism
-Prolongation of the Debate All that
Saved Them.
LONDON, Dec AIN the house of COM
mons this evening, Lord Randolph Chur-
chill moved to adjourn the debate in order
to discuss the sending of troops to Suakinl.
He said / @ believed that the government
was going against tho advice of high and
responsible military authorities. Within
a few days battle would be fought, and
probably a desperate one, between the
British and Egyptian troops and tho Arab
tribes. For what end were mere handful
of British soldiers exposed to the risk of an
encounter with the Soudanese
DECLARED INADEQUATE.
They we're q totally inadequate force and
the presence Of 1900 utterly unreliable
Egyptians did not remove the danger
Even il success attended the battle it would
necessitate larger operations in the interior
He implored tne house to prevent renewed
slaughter in the Soudan, and to save tive
lives of the soldiers who were being O.
lessly sacrificed.
sTANHoPE's BLACK BATTALIoNs.
Mr. Stanhope, secretary Of war, said that
| Lord Randolph spoke without knowledge
| regarding the position at Suakim, whereas
| the governments action was based upon
| full information as to what troops were
| required. The black battalions at Suakin
| were most unjustly styled unreliable ="
| They had been tested as force upon which
thorough reliance could be placed.
THEIR COURAGE DEPENDED.
Tho natfvag tba hah f,o MS
were Of more than ordinary stamina and
| courage The English troops who were going
| to Egypt, were in the opinion Of the military
authorities there, adequate for the purpose.
| Their operations would be limited and OF an
easy nature and they would be certain Of
| success, lcheersl
Sir William Vernon Har court supported
Lord Churchill, saying that the latter's
mo ion was amply justified by the gravity
of the situation.
The motion was rejected by vote of 2Sl
| to 1S9.
CHURCHILL's ATTACK A SURPRISE.
Lord Churchill's challenge was a surprise
| to the conservatives, and nearly caused the
| government a serious defeat. They had no
| intimation that Lord Randolph intended to
move to adjourn the debate in order TO
| censure the government for the Suakim ex-
| pedition. During the debate messengers
| were sent in all directions to drum
up absent conservative members. At
| one time the government whips seeing
| that the opposition was growing in force,
dsspaired of the result. The liberals were
| alive to the numerical weakness of the min
isterial supporters and sought TO cut short
| the discussion in order to have an early
| division. The government, however, sue
ceeded in postponing the division until their
| benches began to show majority. The
| conduct of Lord Churchill was severely
censured by the conservatives.
| All the Gladstonians and Psrnellites and
| four conservatives supported Lord Church
| ills motion. Several conservatives alb
stained from voting. Lord Harrington and
twenty seven dissidents supported the gov
| ernment.
| Conservative papers infer that Lord
| Churchill informed the Gladstonians of his
| intention to move an adjournment. The
conservatives were ignorant OF his proposed
| action, and when they learned of his inten-
| ton, they summoned Lord Harrington
| from Devonsbire house, and sent urgent
whips to the various clubs in order to rally
| the liberal unionists.
| WHAT THE PRESS SAYS.
LONDON, Dec 3, 4 A. M.-With reference
| to Lord Randolph Churchill tho Standard
| says: The government do not owe their
| victory TO any excess of consideration on
| the part Of their late colleague. His sense
| of public duty must te morbidly acute
when It blunts the common place instincts
of courtesy and fair play. The disloyalty
Of the escapade is only exceeded by its
childish conception of military statecraft.
The Times thinks that there was deal of
justification for the protest. 1t says: "It
must not be supposed that the majority OBJ
tanned indicates general approval of the
| governments policy. 1t was, however,
inexcusable to spring the motion without
| the usual notice.
The NeWs approves Lord Churchills
| course
| The Chronicle thinks that Lord Church.
| ills action was treacherous and cowardly.
because he failed tho courage TO defend the
| only alternative open to the government.
namely, the abandonment Of Suakim and
Egypt.
The Telegraph says Lord Randolph
Churchill may be credited with perfectly
| proper and patriotic motives, but apparently
| he has no other policy to suggest.
The Post says it is glad that parliament
voted against assuming the responsibility
properly belonging to the executiveg govern
| ment.