The evening times., 1896-03-14

London, March 11.-It is the opinion 1
highiy-informcd military circles that tn
objective point OF the Anglo Egyptian ex
petition. mention of which was made 4
these dispatches this week. is not Dongola
but Bcrber
This opinionis based on the ne ws receive,
from Cairo. II has been learned that tn
plans or the expedition have been approve,
by Lord wolselcy. the commander n.ciiie
or the British army. The government is in
terested In minimizing the importance o
The enterprise, and 1t will, doubtless, whei
explaining the matter TO the House of Com
mons .speahof the heeXpcditionas an Egyptiar
Que. arising from the necessity of checking
the projected advance of the Mahdists into
Egypt.
The same reason for the dispatch OF
an expedition might have ieen given at any
time within the last six months, as accord
ing TO current reports the Mahdists are
concentrating at Dongoia, ready for an
invasion OF Egypt, by way OF Wadyhalfa.
| Isolated bands of dcrvishes have actually
| made sudden raids into the wadylialf;i dis
trict, vanishing afterwards across the
desert.
| OBJECT OF THEEXPEDITION.
| The object OF the expedition is not the
protection of Egypt, but Is to make n di-
| version in favor OF the Italians at Kassala,
| The city which the Itaiians captured rome
| time ago from the dcryishes. and which
| the lattcr are now said TO lie seiging.
This IT is which caused the cabinet TO sud
| denly determine upon operations which
viii involve a considerable expeDditu ure
OF money and men.
l This seems la bc Is.sf r.,ss i,I. linz. ~
action To assist Italy without dra wing upon
| the British treasury. while at the same time
| II viii shcive indefinitely the demands for
| the British evacuation OF Egypt.
The main cost of the expedition will fall
| upon the Egyptian treasury, which is now in
| a condition TO bear |; financial strain. The
| financial report issued yesterday by Lord
| Cromer. the British diplomatic agent In
| Egypt shows for S95 revenue OF II .0SS :
OOO IN excess of the expenditures. This Is Il
most striking proof OF the prosperity OF the
country under British administration.
France may protest gainst the use OF this
surplus for war to reconquer the SOudan.
but her protest will bc isolated. No other
power than Great Britain need regard il and
no other power will join in a protest Il g;finst
the expedition. Gen. Kitchener, sirdar of
the Egyptian army, will command the expe-
dition, which Will consist chiefly OF the
Egyptian troops.
COMMANDED BY BRITISH OF FICERS.
These. however. will he strengthened by
200 British troops. under Gen. Henderson,
staff major OF the army of occupation.
Re-cnforcemcnts from Malta will keep the
British garrisonS .: Egypt up to their pres
ent strength. THE native army Will be
Commanded almost exclusively by British
officers. Fighting is certain.
The Madhi has 4 large force at Dongola
and this will undoubtedly he formida bly, in-
creased before the expedition has time to
get within striking distance. The Nile will
be the line or aprroac oh against Dongola.
which. after its capture, will become the
base of operations against Berbcr.
Grave fears are entertained Of the fight
ing qualities Of the Egyptian army. and the
expedition Will prove a severe test of its
courage. 1t may be attended by disaster.
The House of Commons sat throughout
Thursday night and until g. Friday morn
ing. discussing the estimates. IL WAS the
opening OF The campaign Of obstruction. the
Irish members taking the lead therein. The
Conservative whips kept enough members
on hand TO maintain ma joriiy. The minis
ters took the obstruction quietly.
What the Cnionist papers DO not cease to
call the split in the Liberal party over the
reorganization question does not threaten
to appreciably weaken the party. Some
dozen Radicals desire reform in the
federation and the Central Liberal office.
both OF which have common secretary.
though the latter is under the cont rol Of the
Liberal whips The Liberals have generally
admitted that the relations between the
two bodies need rcadjustment.
A series OF resolutions will he submitted
to the coming conference of the National
Liberal Federation. aiming 10 perfect the
organization and TO give the party a thor
Ougii working cohesion
At a dinner given to Lord ROsebery by
the National Liberal Club on Thursday
night the CONSENSUS of opinion was that
these objects would be attained. Never
since the disa >tcr that befeli the party in
the recent general election have their
hopes of the future been higher The
will be the largest and most
that the party has ever
held. This in itself is good sign OF a
revival OF interest.
WILL OPEN on SUNDAY
Owing 10 the adoption by the House Of
OF the resolution in favor of
opening the national museums and art gal |
leries on Sundays the authorities OF the |
British Museum. the National Gallery. the |
Royal Academy and other art institutes |
opening those places on the |
Sa bbath. |
Gen. Booth, the commander of the Saliva |
ton Army. is at present muci-interviewed |
man. He told representative OF the |
Christian World that the army will sur |
vivc defections. He added that he had no |
alternative but to stand up for discipline
and he could not except member OF his
own family.
The existence OF the army depended upon |
he obedience every officer and soldier owes |
10 those over hem in the Lord. There had
been no unSeemly haste in dealing with
Ballington Booth and no breaking OF faith.
The change in the command of the army |
m the United states was announced TO him
ID ample time for him TO make every ar
His resienatio has not yet
,cen officially accepted. Gen. Booth fur
her said that he was even now pleading
With his son 10 return to the army.
COmmissary Raiiton said that no order |
lad been sent TO Herbert Booth to dismiss |
is brother from the command OF the
rmy in the United States or to demand
is keys Rallington Booth had voluntarily
abled that the post he had occupied was
acant. Then instructions were sent 10
axe over the command ana receive the
eys.
The Rev Hugh Price Hughes writes that |
ne deepest sympathy is felt by the Meth
;iists for Gen. Booth and the Salvation
Irniy over the deplorablc action OF Bal
ngton Booth and his wife. Nothing. he
ays, jusiifies the disloyal, subversive meet
lgs that have been in the United States
he Methodists have no sympathy with the |
tempt to give the organization an Ameri.
IN flavor. The Church of God ought to
e entirely Independent of local and ma.
onal prejudice.
feature of interest at the last Drawing
DOM was the presence in the court pro-
ession of Prince Carl of Denmark, and his
Princess Maud Of Wales Prince |
arl is handsome giant, while Princess
La ud is petite, her head barely reaching to
is shoulder. Their wedding will take
lace in July.