New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-14
CRETE AND THE SOUDAN.
ENGLANDS CONTRASTING ATTITUDES
TOWARD THEM

THE CRETAN TROUBLES IGNORED. WHILE
CONQUEST OF THE DERvlsHEs-TRou-
BILE AHEAD IN THE MINISTRY.
London. June 13-Though the smoke of burn
ing villages can be seen from the European
cruisers along leagues Of the Cretan coast, the
| Porte has sent official communications to the
various embaosies declaring that perfect order
and peace prevail throughout the island. Rus
eia has again become dead weight on any ac
| ton by the Powers in connection with the Cretan
question. She opposes anything beyond diplo-
matte protests. which would of course. be as
futile as they were in the of Armenia. To
the representations of Greece against permitting
the Turks 10 crush the rising in the island by
sheer force OF arms the Powers have made and
| will make no response while the Porte Is send
| ing fresh battalons Of troops to Crete to be en-
poyed against the Christian insurgents. The
! forces In the island under command OF Abdulla
| Pacha will soon number 10000 men. Russia is
not even neutral in the matter She has brought
pressure to bear upon the King Of Greece to
| prevent any action being taken by the Greek
| Government and also to stop private supplies
being cent to the insurgents. The sum Of the
| position is that the Turks are getting a free
| hand to deal with the Christians as they will.
The British Government displays no interest
whatever in the Cretan question. Its hands are
full with the Soudan campaign
The question asked yesterday in the House of
Lords by ex-Prme Minister Rosebery who de-
sired to know if Lord Salisbury would explain
the extent and object of the Anglo Egyptian
campaign in the Soudan. brought forth the first
Ministerial declaration that the complete recon-
quest Of the Soudan was contemplated by the Brit
! ish and Egyptian Governments. After explaining
| that the expedition had finally been decided upon
when 1t known that the Dervirhes were
| threatening Kassala. and that Dongola was the
present objective point II the expedition. Lord
Salisbury said: I'VE shall not have placed Egypt
in a position Of safety until the Egyptian flag
floats over Khartoum." which place is the pres
| cnt seat Of the Dervish power This declaration
| by the Prime Minister Will lend strength to the
| attack OF the Liberals on the Government for
committing the country t. unknown but vast
expenditures besides adding energy 10 the
| French and Russian hostility 10 Great Britain's
action In Egypt
| Conservative opinion expressed In the lobby
Of the House of Commons last night was that
| Lord Salisbury had been unusually indiscreet.
| and that he should have limited his eXPlana-
ton to the statement that for the present entry
| into thu Soudan beyond Dpngoa was not con-
| tempated. 1t IS however an open secret, which
must be known in Continental as wei as In
British official circles. that the military prepara-
tons pointed TO a campaign beyond Kharioum.
| including Kordofan. Darfur and The whole Nile
|
II Is the belief Of the War Office authorities
| that the expedition will be at khartoum 10y
| Christmas. and that by the end Of next spring
! IL will be at Egypts southern boundary on the
| White Nile. The recent victory OF IN" Egyptian
| troops over the Dervshes az Firlet Increases
| the expectations OF the English military circle.
! the members Of which think that the expedi-
ton will sweep the Soudan without risk OF dis
| aster Cooler calculatOrs. even within the Min
| isry Itself. considering the possibilities ~
| the strain which will be made on men and
| money, They do not approve or an advance be
| yond Dongola.
| The recent decision OF the Mixed Tribunal at
| Cairo against the expenditure of moneys for the
| purposes Of the expedition 10y the Commission
| Of the Public Debt has excited considerable" UNI
! easlness The decision Will De appealed from,
| but the fact remains that the financial aspect
| Of the campaign threatens To- make trouble In
| the British Cabinet. Sir Michael Hicks-B'ach.
! Chancellor Of the Exchequcr. is opposed 10 IN"
| plans ~ Lord Salisbury. and threatens 10 resign
| II the Exchcqucr is compelled 10 bear the eN-
| penses ~ a long and costly expedition.
| Lord Salisbury can rely upon a majority IN
| the Cabinet and in the House ~ Commons In
| favor Of a war vote The adoption OF such n
| vote would doubtless lead to the resignation 81
| other Ministers with the Chancellor or the TX
| chcquer. and 10 a dangerous agitation through
| out the country $500
| n occupy Suak!m will cost $3.50 600 month FOR
| pay and maintenance alone The additional ex-
| Dense Of transport. munitions, etc. cannot ac-
| riratelv be estimated The Nicerpy Of india has
| protested against placing the financial burden
| of the expedition on the Indian Exchequer. II
must finally fall on the English Treasury. II
| tho English taxpayers get out 81 this most
elastic enterprise under an expenditure OF tlo.-
! 400 600 they can bless their luck, ana not the
foresight Of Lord Salisbury.
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