The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-21

NEW YORK, March pa Herald
special from Cairo says:
Your correspondent called on LORD
Cromer, but he declined to express any
opinion as TO the situation. The as
sumption is that he knows very little
of the scope of the movement. 1t is
known that the ord,r for the advance
was a surprise to him. With the eX-
perience gained through Wolseley's dill
atory, vaccilating tactics in the kar-
tourn campaign before the British war
Office. it is practically certain that this
expedition will be called forward with
sharpness and precision, but 1t is not
at ali probable that a, serious advance
will be made upon the very threshold
of summer.
The Soudan and Egyptian troops at
Wady Halfa may be pushed to Aka
shar. while the English contingent will
concentrate at Wady Halfa and organ
ize for effective work. When cooler
weather sets in, early in September,
columns from the Nile and Suakim can
make a combined advance on 0ndur-
man, but the guardians OF hhallta
Abdulla know something of British tao
tics and may not wait for the cooler
=
wishes are reported afoot and ready to
fight. The rnassacres of Italians at
Adowa filled them with warlike zeal,
and the fall of Kassala will inf1ame
them with fanaticism. They may take
the initiative and may fall upon the ad-
vance column OF the Nile and crush 1t,
even before the main support can reach
Massun.
NATIVES DISCONSOLATE
While the natives are disconsolate at
the prospect of war, the English at
Cairo are elated. Scores of young men
in civil places are striving for permits
sion to join the forces, and several
English women have volunteered for
hospital service.
The prospect for fighting creates
much enthusiasm among the British.
Mrs Constance Knowles has issued
an appeal to Englishmen here on be-
half of a fund for protecting widows
and orphans.
Many serious-minded observers pre-
dict that the attempt to carry out Eng
lands long matured policy in the
Soudan will provoke a European war
inasmuch as it will afford Russia and
France the pretext which they have
been year ing for. The war cores
pondents of the London press are rap
idly concentrating here.
The troops in Cairo are taken by raj
to Ghieren, where the Cook steamers
receive and carry them to Assouan
The North Staffordshire regiment is
booked to make the trip on the 26th.
The young Khedive is said to be
elated over the prospect.
Your correspondent had an inter
view with Slatin Pasha. the com
Danion of General Gordon. who has
had seventeen years of life and i'm.
prisonment in the Soudan and who now
holds the rank of colonel in the Egypt
ian army. He is suffering from an in.
jury received through a recent fal
from his horse. He said:
Although / am still lame, I shall
so to the front at once. By reason OF
my knowledge of the country. and my
information as to the forces in the
field, and my ability to speak the dia
lects of the Soudan residents, 1 ought
to be able to
RENDER GOOD SERVICE.
1 really speak Soudanese better thar
my native German.
Il think we shall have fighting in
side of a. week. Our troops today mad.
the first advance beyond Egyptian
territory. They are certain TO NEE
opposition 1 think we shall find tn,
enemy at least 1900 strong in rifles
with 5000 spearmen and with an ir
regular cavalry force of about 1000
The best arms they have are Reming
ton rifles and they are quite out o
date now
THE talk about the dervishes beins
able to put 1000 fighters in tn,
field is absurd. Not half that numbe
of fighting men can be mustered il
the whole region. They have SOM
regimental and brigade organization
but discipline is lax, and supplies al
ways inadequate.
"Osman Digna will probably be on
chief opponent. The dervishes viii
not in this encounter have the fanat
icism which the Mahdi inspired in th
Gordon campaign.
Besides the people are much dis
satisfied on account of the oppression
and misrule OF their government O
late. / am quite familiar with all tn
tribes that can be brought against U
and we have no fear as to the resul
of this expedition. Quite a number o
European military officers are apply
ing for permission to a. ompany us
Sfroa, who is the nominal commando
OF the Egyptian army, will go to tn
front on Tuesday. Much is expecte,
of the trained Soudanese regiment
Offered by the British, but l woul
not care to depend much upon Egyp
tan troops such as / have seen"