New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-29
ENGLAND AND EG IPT.
MAJOR Won WISsMANN DISCUSSES The
SITUATION on THE NILE.

In q roccnt number Of the "Miacr Wochenbla't'
Major Hermann Won Wlssman. the African U'Nc'cr'
for many years Imperial German commissioner pun
usbcd an article upon "The Military situation III
Egypt" Owing 10 the authors long experience III
Africa and familiarity with his subject his opinions are
worthy of great consideration
Wien received directions three years ago - MAKE
enlist the first German colonial iroopS
he writes ait especially advisable 10: INC -
famlliarze myself with the military measures Oh Inc
English in their colonies took advantage Vi /"
tourney ND the Nile made for the benefit Of my health
10 examine the troops Of the Egyptian army trained Dy
the English wished above all 10 see the negro troops
Of Egypt because the greater part Of the German aiN
In East Africa made up Of people OIL the same
SCudanese tribe a. the black baitaliOns OF E@ypt III
Egypt the Soudauese are kept separate from the
Egyptians proper. They are used only as lhlal"H
men, They are considered the most reliable soldier
Of the army.
"The Egyptian feah In many WAYS IS superior to
the negro lie is muscular more Intelligent u
better shot; but from military moral point OF we"
he IS inferior The soudancse serve In the army
as long as they arc fit for duty but tho fcllas serve
only SIX years. The Egyptian army consists OF inc
battalion, squadron and battery, ana contains az
pre,ent between 10000 and 1000 men. Almost half
Of the army is stationed In Lower Egypt. In Cairo,
sucz Alexandria and IN suaklm. the Red ss, The
other half IS Oh the Nile the highway between Egypt
and the soudan. ,uaklm Is the starring point o.
the best army way the capital Of ;he entire soudnn
formerly Kharoum now Omduman In case Of an
other expedition against the Mahdts, IT VIII form III
| all probability the basis Of operations.
"since the Dervishes made their last vain attempt
| at TasM In 1853, 10 push into Lower Egypt CON
| iinues Won Wlssmann, the Mic army form. Egypt
protective wall against the MGEIiais Tne excellent
position OF this army, Of which the troops Ia lower
| Egypt form the reserve l. primarily due T. the
| Nile the only military way. Distant marches To
| tbo Of tlp imDy~ciblp
Of the lack Of water In Tie desert The OuppNtS Of
the Maldl, who Is still considered rebel by England
although shots have been exchanged for t"o years
reach 10 the third cataract At Ass)uan the civic
| Egyptian authority ends as there begins the military
province which includes the part Of IN, Nile Nrlly
| Guarded by the army of occupation. This province
| Is undr the direct control Of sir Francis Grenfel
| the SIrdar or communicated chef, Of III: Egyptian
army II Is noteworthy how long England keeps
a colonial country In which safety Is not absolute
under military authority and In quasi stat. Of Siege
| Everything necessary can be taken rs far a.
| Assouan BY boat from Lower Egypt. short railway
| wind, about the cataract AssOuan Is occupied b,
| Two battalions, and with the railway and wharf
opposite the island Of Phiae is protected by mum
Der OF small forts. Two river cannon boats, armed
| with q cannon and two Enfield guns, insur,
| between the two cataracts the safety of the com
| municatlou. which IS carried on by ten steamboats,
Between Assounn aud Wadi llalfa hes kOrDskO, which
is fortified Here the boats plying between AssOuai
sarns point Of the great caTvanway to Bcrbc
| and khartOnm. Wad lafs, below the second cnta
the pne iSs pS tDr Of T roo ,w s"a DaG
ions, a mule battery and camel corps: small fort
On both banks OF The RIVER protect the nppronIG%
bank Of the. river, about twenty miles l'ng
passing sGnd the also eSs e to the Of tSp
| camels does picket duty toward the south. These
forts may do well enough as tss % nSs ST
| less, without exception. If attacked by an enemy
| with good artillery.
the chief question is whether the soldiers are reliable.
sSp SSmP assson s "'
Although the English officers are obliged to show
regard In vnrious ways for the conntrys ruler and
a number Of Egyptian officers as battalion com
mandcrs the English officers, nevertheless, have
succeeded in gaining the full confidence Of the soldiers
| Another commendabc point is their ia IN
stnng into the men a seltconhdence, comprc
ns when " sne ,rmen,bers what the Egyptian
soldiers used to be, how many deserted, how mnny
army when one has seen the drt.covcrcd fcllah,
In their villages. when one has known the goveing
| with admiration upon the clfconident appearance
| OF the clean and well-clad soldiers OF to-day. Tn
fortunately the remain in this condition only
long as they absent from their dirty villages
But 1t has been proved that something can BE- mad,
The e eommade ROT Of Wad nl Lieutenant colone
| Krcmstcr. received me In most friendly manner. an,
ss @ d Sa' we visited 20 bar %S and
two soudanese battalions As the soudancse soldier
are married. rule. more than ncfourth Of then
receive leave OF absence every day the leave nsui
twenty -four hours. to visit the village Of the
| danese women near the forts. The leave
however. are obliged TO dri!l during the day time
| On the second day We took a trip to sarfas ia,
| furthest outpost which has Oic' cannon an'
two machine guns. sarras lies near the Nile, wha
a lovely climate where soldiers sleep In thc
tents the year round The commandment alarmed thu
garrison, In order that might the action Of tht
troops. The men were quickly nj their posts. A
beautiful military picture uDfOlded itself. tn,
dromedary corps did excellent work on account o
the stubhorness Of the animals and their comparative
lack Of speed In going short distances they canno
be used for attacks"
Major Won wissmsnn believes that, the whole
the English will be able 10 surmOunt any dlcultic
that may arise In Egypt He does not think tina
\ mere civil administration Is possible, for tn,
present IN the Interior provinces OF Africa although
! out military interference.