The herald., 1896-03-26
THE CAMPAIGN IN EGYPT
LEADS THE SUBLIME PORTE TO MAKE
APPEAL FOR AID
France, Russia and Germany Asked to Inter-
vene, But the Result Likely to be
Accomplished Is Increased Activity on
the Part Of England
Associated Press Special Wire.


Turkish government has issued an appeal
to France and Russia, asking them to in
tervene with the object of regulating af-
fairs in Egypt. Germany, it is added, was
also requested by the Porte to exercise her
good offices. Instructions we're dispatched
to the Turkish ambassador at London to
make representations to the Marquis of
Salisbury, but their tenor is not known. 1t
10 declared that the action of the Porte is
due to the counsels of the French and Rus
sian governments, which countries, it is
claimed, have submitted that the present
is an opportune time for Turkey to raise
the question of her suzerainty over
Egypt being practically usurped by Great
Britain.
There is no doubt that considerable an
noyance is felt by the porte at the fact that
Turkey was not consulted in regard to the
advisability of dispatchine British.E .Egyp-
tian expedition up the Nile, and the feeling
of irritation has been increased by the
khedive also ignoring the porte entirely.
Reproaches have, in consequence, been ad-
dressed to the Ottoman commissioners in
Egypt for not taking steps to prevent 'the
organization of the expedition, as it is
feared that the effect of the advance up the
Nile will be felt elsewhere than on the
frontiers of Egypt, and that the Arabs of
Yemen (the principal division of Arabia
adjacent to the strait of Rab-ei Mandeb)
may be encouraged to fresh hostility 10 the
Turkish authorities.
In diplomatic circles here it is believed
that the steps taken by the porte 10 protest
against the expedition to Dongola will not
have more than a moral effect, and though
it is admitted that France and Russia will
refuse their consent to the Use of the
Egyptian reserve fund. it is generally un.
derstood that nothing short of armed in
reference Of those two nations will pre-
vent Great Britain from pushing the Soudan
campaign. Indeed, there are people who
believe that the appeal of the Porte to
France, Russia and Germany to intervene
will have an effect in Great Britain con-
trary to the one hoped for. While it is
known that no great enthusiasm exists in
England over the prospects of another
bloody and expensive campaign in the
Soudan, the appeal of Turkey to the
recognized enomies of Great Britain for in
tervention may arouse the wer spirit of
the British isles, and SO the sultan may
play into the hands of British statesmen
while aiming to do the reverse. The more
this view of the case is considered the more
plausible it is asserted it becomes, for
Englishmen of both parties have alreahy
declared themselves against the proposed
Soudan campaign, and the expedition
might have been allowed to flicker out
after the occupation of Akasheh. Now,
however, the British may be spurred to
push onward to khartoum, as there is
great difference. it is pointed out, between
graceful backdown in the face of popular
opinion in Great Britain and humiliating
retreat in the face of the adverse repre-
sentations of France and Russia.
1t is true, it is argued, that there are only
about 5000 purely British troops in Egypt,
but this number could be promptly in.
creased by drafts from India and Great
Britain, and the task OF ''driving" the
British out of Egypt, as suggested by the
more fiery of the French newspapers,
might be moro Difficult: than calculated
upon by them.
If the ostensible object of the Anglo
Egyptian Nile expedition is to be accom-.
plished. namely, creating a diversion
which will relieve kassala, it must be done
speedily. The distance from Wady Halfa,
the southern boundary OF Egypt, to Dom
COLA is about 800 miles. But the route is
troops of Egypt and especially 80 at this
period on account of the low water of the
Nile. necessitating the employment of inn
mense numbers of camels for transporta
ton and the possible building of light
railroad. Then, admitting that Dongola ia
by no means certain, that place is not like
ly to capitulate easily. A long siege
may be necessary and the 10000 to 3O,-
600 men the mahdi may muster there,
possibly under Osman Digna, may prove
more than a match for the 10000 British
Egyptian troops which will reach Dongola
after a most wearisorne march from Wady
Halfa. Then even with Dongola fallen,
Kassala is not necessarily relieved, and
the capture of the latter place by the der
wishes would threaten Suakim and Tokar.
The possession of Dongola, it is explained.
is necessary in order to defend Egypt
against dervish raids. 1t consists OF for
titled town in district of the same name.
Locally the place is known as Ell Ordeh
and was the headquarters of Sir Herbert
Stewards troops in 1854. An advance
from there in the direction of Berber could
hardly be made until August or Septem-
ber. Therefore the Soudan campaign. it is
said, would in all probability have died out
had it been allowed to take it's own course.
but Intervention would he likely to make
what is originally party measure ma
tional question, uniting all parties for the
defense of Great Britain against France
and Russia.
ITALIAN ACTION
ROME, March 25. The senate by a vote
of 100 to has adopted the credit asked
for by the government for contemplated
operations in Africa consequent upon the
defeat of the Italian army at Adowa. The
amount OF the credit is 14O,O0O,OOO lire.
The speakers during the debate pointed
out that the attitude of great Britain
showed the Anglo. Italian alliance was an
accomplished fact and rested upon more
solid basis than mere treaties and proto-
coils.
The duke of Sermoneta. the minister of
foreign affairs. replied on behalf of the
government. He said the position of Cas-
sala was regulated by protocol of April,
1891.
1.-The rights of the Egyptian govern
ment," the duke continued, ''are suspend
ed, and not renouuced. If the Dongoia ex.
petlition recaptures the Soudan, and Great
Britain desires it, we must restore Gas.
q ala" (Sensation.)
The Duke of Sermoneta continued that
the alliance of Italy with Great Britain
was founded on real sympathy, but it was
an alliance of sentiment. The previous
cabinet, he said, was wholly responsible
for the African disasters. Cheers.
Signor Saracco, VINO was minister of
public works in the Crispi cabinet, chal-
lepged the government to produce docu.
ments. No orders were given, he said. by
the previous government to prosecute a
war to the knife.
This statement produced an uproar in
the senate, but Signor Saracc0 proceeded
to say: "Let the senate judge between
the Duke of Sermoneta and the Crispi cab.
met. If victory had smiled upon Italy the
present ministry would not have been in
power''.
This statement evoked storm of groans
and Kisses from the government support
ers, mingled with cheers from the opposi.
tion. The president exhorted the senate
to be calm. The marquis di Rudini, the
premier, in his reply accepted the respon-
sibility for the duke of Sermoneta's re.
marks, which, he said, were provoked by