Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-04-13

municated to the most distant quarters
of the Mohammedan world and the de-
parture of pilgrims for Mecca has been
suspended, which means that khalifa is
calling upon his warriors to muster to
the standard, and that Jehad (holy war;,
which he recently proclaimed against
Egypt, is to be pushed with all the des-
perate energy of the Dervish leaders.
The Khalifa has decreed that the
tribes Immediately collect and forward
to Omdurman a heavy war tax, that
the picket warriors be hurried to that
camp and that all preparations be made
for a long campaign. lie expects to
muster an army of $4,000 men, com
posed of the best fighting men of the
Soudan, at Omdurman by September,
when the Anglo-Egyptian advance viii
be met by the Khalifa in person. The
latter has recalled the Deryish armies
from Fashoda and Darfur and it is be-
lieyed that the siege of Kassala will
shortly be raised even if it has not al
ready been raised, in order that the
Dervishes now before that place may be
utilized at Khartoum and Dongola.
Wi Fight Britain to the End.
The Khalifa, writing to the Shiek of
Assouan under date of December last,
said that he was always ready to sub.
nit to the authority of the khedlve OF
Egypt as the representative Of the Sui
tan. but that he would resist to the
death any expedition coming from Egypt
so long as the British occupy the coun-
try." The Khalifa concluded: Il am
aware that the British desire to have me
assassinated, but / have taken precau-
tions that none Of the European prison
ers shall survive my murder.
The British troops which will take
part in the advance on Dongola will, it
is expected, number about 5000 men and
in addition there will be about $4,000
EcyYf;op froOOc lad hV and trained nv
British officers.
The sirdar Of the Anglo-Egyptian
army. Sir Herbert Kitchener, is at pres
ent in supreme command of the opera
tions He is young and ambitious, thor
oughly familiar with the methods of the
Soudanese, a born fighter and officer,
having the full confidence Of those serv-
inc under him. But it is expected that
the wiseacres of the British war Office
will replace him in command of the
troops by an older officer, one more ex-
perienced in the handling of large bodies
of troops before the real advance on
Dongola commences. Some man like
Grenfell. Butler or Wood will then, it is
believed. succeed Kitchener before Sep
TENDER. It is told of Sir Herbert
Kitchener that in one of the Suakim
campaigns he was employed in consular
work along the coast of Asia minor, but
when he heard of the fighting he lett
his post without leave. was badly wound
ed in action, bullet lodging in his
throat.
The distance up the Nile, via Sarras
and Ginnis. to Hammock near the third
cataract is about 100 miles, and from
Hanneck past old and new Dongola to
Debbeh (Dongola) is about l2o miles
more, say 300 miles in all.
Berber, by the desert route, is about 300
miles from Debbeh and from Berber to
Khartoum. near Omdurman, is about 2OO
miles more, so, if Khartoum is really the
objective point of the Anglo Egyptian
advance there are 70O miles OF hard trav-
el ami harutr hgntlng to be overcome be-
fore the unfortunate Gen. Gordon's old
Headquarters are reached.
Lines Beins Strengthened.
DISPATCHES received today from Wady-
Halfa saw that the lines of communica
tion between that place and Akasheh arc
being strengthened every day and that
patrols of friendly Arabs keep rigid
watch along the whole road
Slatin Pasha, i'll an interview: IS quot
ed as SAYING that while a prisoner at
Omdurman he became well acquainted
With Hammuda, the Dervish leader at
Suarda who commands from three to
four thousand of the Khalifa's troops
and that he also became acquainted with
the Dervish Gen. Bugle, son Of the cele-
brated Fiki, who is commanding 5000
men. including noted chiefs and the pick
Of the Khalifa's troops. Slatin Pasha
adds that considerable jealousy exists
between Hammuda and Bugle owing to
the fact that Khalifa favors the former.
kassala Not Evacuated.
A late special dispatch received here
from Rome says that Kassala has not
been evacuated as previously reported,
but that Col. Stevani's column has been
withdrawn in order to- decrease the num-
Der of mouths to be fed and in view of
the fact that the ordinary garrison of
that place is now considered strong
enough to defend it.