The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-17
DANGER FROM THE DERVISHES.
KASSALA THREATENED By An
ARMY 100000 STRONG.

Forces Unclaimed in Central Africa
Which Not Only Endanger Egypt.
But the Peace of Europe and the
Cause of CiviIizatiOn-PnrIia
airy Secretary Makes "A Startling
Statement in the House of Com
mons.
London, March 16-George Nathaniel
Curzon, parliamentary secretary of the
foreign office, and the representative of
that department of the British govern
ment in the House of Commons, made
statement in the House to-day which sets
at rest all doubts. if any there were, as to
the attitude of Great Britain toward the
dreibund, the government coming out
squarely in favor and in sympathy with
Italy in the latter's campaign in Abys-
sinia, and justifying the course adopted
by Lord Salisbury in sending an expedi-
ton against Dongola.
Mr.. Curzon said that for some time past
the government had heard rumors that a
large and formidable advance of the der
wish forces was contemplated, which
threatened three widely separated object
i've points, Murch Wells, between Korosko
and Abu-Hamed, next Tokar between
Berber and Suakin and also Kassala.
News had reached Cairo, he said, that
large bodies Of reinforcing dervishes were
being pushed forward to Dongola. This
information, he continued, had come into
possession OF the government at the end
of February. All of the information which
had been received by the government
portended an advance of dervishes of Sc
rious proportions and equally serious re-
TOT r.H.s.
the dervishes, he said, was perhaps Kas-
sala, but there was an ultimate danger.
the result of which could not fai. to react
upon Egypt.
The information which had reached the
government had caused considerable an
Alely he said, the more so as the Ttai-
ian Iorces IN Abyssinia were known to be
IN ulIncultles. Then came the disaster
10 the Italian army a AdOWa which had
Deen heard OF throughout the United King
d0Ln win mucn sympathy and regret.
OCrles from the Irish of mo" no. ana
them right.D
Mr.; Curzon, resuming his remarks. af-
ter the interruption, SAID: Yes; sympathy
Whlch was not broken by few dissentine
voices. (Cheers.) The Italians are nor
only engaged in battle with the Abys-
SlnlanS, but kassala itself is threafened
by a force of dervishes, estimated 10 he
5OO,OOO strong. Obviously there are All
present influences at work and forces I'M
h.
ed with victory, means danger not only
TO Egypt and British occupation there of
but 10 the peace OF Europe and the cause
or civilization. The government has been
IN constant communication with the gov
ernment OF Egypt and the opinion of mil
1tary authorities both here and in Carlo
is that an advance up the Nile is nee
eSSafy. Consequently, an advance of Brit
ish troops has been ordered to a town one
third of the distance between Wady-Halfa
and Dongola, and it may be ultimately
"a n "a a A n lNfaHa r.In
Mr.. Curzon further said that after the
Soudan expedition reached Akashe, be-
tween Wady-Halfa and Dongola il pos
sibly would advance to Dongola
Mr.. Labouchere contended that the ex-
pedltlon into the Soudan was worse than
needless 1t hindered the fulhllment of
the pledges of Great Bratafn TO evacuate
Egypt and he doubted whether it would
re1eye the Italians. He was a warm friend
OF Italy, he said, but not of Italy in Africa
His sympathies were rather with the men
70 whom that country belonged. Sir
/ Charles Dixie said he did not believe that
the real object of the expedition was the
sa1ety OF the Egyptian frontier, nor a di-
version in favor of the Italians, which
was contemplated
Rome March ia dispatch from Mas
sowah under yesterdays date confirms the
reports that the mahdists army is march
ing against Kassala. The Italians are de-
termined to hold Kassala and with this OBJ
JCCt iiebNC loA W siIu6u SlIOllS I6lnIOfcemenIS
which are expected to reach Kassala to-
day.
Vienna, March ia dispatch to the
Neue Freie Presse from st. Petersburg
says the czar has conferred upon King
Menelek of Abyssinia the grand order of
st. George, the highest military decora-
ton in the gift of the Russian emperor
and that Baron de Meyendorff, council
lor of the Russian embassy at Rome, has
been entrusted to transmit the decora-
tion to Abyssinia. 1t is expected in St
Petersburg, the dispatch says, that King
Menelek will ask Russia to intervene be-
tween Abyssinia and Italy for the conclu-
sion of peace on the basis of the inde-