Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-09-30

Egypt, but really Dy Great brltaln ahu
as one of the results it is expected that all
central Africa, which is now closed to
outsiders, will pass under the dominion
of Great Britain.
The Soudan forms the southern boun-
Diary of Egypt. 1t is about half as large
as the United States, is supposed to have
population of about 6, 100000 people, and
is governed by wild Mohammedan ruler
called the Khalifa. The conquest of the
country was attempted about dozen
years ago by Chinese Gordon, and how
the army of Gordon was shut up in the
city of Khartoom, about 1000 miles up
the Nile, and finally starved and butch
cred, is matter that is still fresh in the
public mind.
The present expedition against the
Soudan was commenced last spring. 1t
consists of Egyptian soldiers, officered by
the British, and under the command OF
Sir Herbert Kitchener. AT the outset
the force consisted of 2l,OOO men; but in
the advance up the Nile, it has been nee
essary to leave small garrisons all along
to protect the line Of communication
with Cairo, and the force is now reduced
to something like $1,000.
Just what the exact force of the kha-
lifa is, is not known. 1t is estimated at
anywhere from 5000 to 100000, wild ia
natics, who fight with the courage of cor
nered tigers. They are undisciplined,
however, and very poorly armed. 1t is
for this reason that the British believe
that smaller force of well disciplined
men, armed with the improv we'd weapons
of mordern warfare, can easily overcome
them.
It was the expectation Of General Kich-
enor that when he came to Dongola, the
first important town in the Soudan, he
would have to fight decisive battle !;
but he was disappointed. The town was,
to all intents and purposes, defenseless,
and surrendered without a shot. A few
days afterward large force of Soudanese
Dervishes was encountered little fur
ther up the river. There ensued a des-
perate battle, in which the Dervishes
fought with the greatest bravery; but the
discipline and machine guns of the Brit
ish soon got the best of it. The killed
among the British troops only numbered
about 20 men while the loss of the Der.
wishes went up into the hundreds.
The opinion has been expressed that
the engagement referred to, together with
the taking of Dongola, will probably end
the war; but the students of Soudanese
character think otherwise. 1t has been
the policy of Khalifa, heretofore, to allow
his enemies to advance far into his terri
tory without interference. Sometimes he
would not show single soldier for weeks.
Then as the enemy became more conf
dent, he would suddenly pounce down
with vast horde, and leave not man to
tell the tale. Chinese Gordon was allow
ed to get to the city of Khartoom without
meeting with a great deal Of resistance,
and just as he was about to felicitate him
self on the fact that he had completed
the conquest of the country, the Dervish-
es completely surrounded the city and
cut off all hope of either supplies or mil
itary re-enforcements. 1t is believed that
the same tactics will be followed in the
case of General Kitchener, and for thai
reason the general is proceeding with the
utmost caution.
But it will all be over in few months
more. The conquest Of the Soudan will
mean the opening up to civilization of al
most the whole of Africa; but in the
event of the failure of the present eX'
pedition. it is likely that the Dark Cont.
nent will continue to preserve it's we'll
fitting and very suggestive name fol
many years to come.