The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-08
Expects to Have $4,000
Men by September.
Will Wage a Desperate War
Against the Nile Forces.
1t Is Fight to the Death While En-
gland Occupies Egypt.


CAIRO, April s. Each add lonal bud
get of news from the front increases the
anxiety here In unofficial circles as to the
eventual fate Of the vanguard OF the
Anglo Egyptian forces operating up the
Nile as preliminary to the advance in
force upon Dopgola for which troops are
being rapidly concentrated at wady -Halfa.
While the British intelligence depart
ment experience the.greatest difficulty in
obtaining information regarding the
movements of the Dervishes, as the latter
apparently having spies in all quarters,
succeed In transmitting important news
with lightning-like rapidity from any
part OF the country to the other. Thus,
in some my sterious manner the news OF
the Anglo Egyptian advance has been
communicated to the most distant quar-
ters OF the Mohamnedan world, and the
departure OF Pilgrims for Mecca has been
suspended, which means that the Khy-
lifa is calling upon his warriors to mus
ter to the standard and the Jehad (hola
war, he recently proclaimed against
Egypt, Is to be pushed with all the des-
perate energy of the Dervish leaders.
The Khalifa expects to muster an army
OF 80, 600 men, compoed OF the best fight
ing men of the 6oudan, at Omdurman,
by September. when the anglo Egyptian
advance will be met by the kbalifa in
person. The latter has recalled the Der
wishes from Fashoda and Darfura and 1t
is believed that the seige of Kassala will
shortly be raised IN order that the Der
wishes now before that place may be util-
lied at Khartoum and Dongo,a.
The Kbalifa, writing to tho Sheik of
Assoun, under date of December last,
says that he was always ready to submit
to the authority OF the Khedive Of Egypt
as the representative of the Sultan; but
that he would "resist to the death any
expedition coming from Egypt SO long as
the British occupy that country"
The Kahlifa concluded: 81 am aware
that the British d esire to have me assas-
sinated, but i have taken precautions
that none of the European prisoners shall
sur vive my murder"
Though Wady-Halfa is really the base
OF the Anglo Egyptian operations, Akas-
miles south of Wady- Halfa, Is the present
base of operations. Akaskeh was occu-
pied by small column of troops under
Major Collin son, without opposition, on
March 20, and from thaat time on-rein-
forcements and stores have been pushed
forward by rail where possible, and by
river boats when the railroad could not
be used.
The Sirdar of the Anglo Egyptian army,
Sir Herbert Kitchener, is at present in
supreme command OF the operations. He
is young and ambitious, thoroughly fa-
miliar with the methods OF the Soudan
and is born fighter and an officer hsv-
ing the full confidence OF those serving
under.him. But 1t is expected that the
wiseacres OF the British war Office will
replace him in command of the troops
by an older officer, one more experienced
in the handling Of large bodies Of troops,
before the real advance on Dongola COM
mences. Some men, like Grenfell, Bull
Ter or Wood will, 1t Is believed, succeed
Kitchener before September.
1t Is told of Sir Herbert Kitchener that
In one of the Suakum campaigns he was
employed in consular work along the
coast of Asia Minor, but when he heard
of the fight he left his post without
ieave, was badly wounded in action, O
bullet logging in his throat, and he was
conveyed to Cairo in a state between life
and death. 1t was proposed to try him
by court-martial, but as he had behaved
with great gallantry and his worst offence
was fighting without permission, the
matter was dropped. When Kitchener
heard this, according to the story, he
swallowed the bullet which was in his
throat and soon afterward began to mend.