Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-22
THE NILE EXPEDITION
British Government Maintains Greatest
Possible Secrecy Respecting II.
The Peril of the Italians WINS
seized as n Prctext for Putting I"
,.,o EGect-France-Rus - Lon
don Gossip.
Especial London cable letter.

fhing 20 the medbie ihA"A hi"N'S" S~ w
government deems it prudent TO reveal
boarding the expedition that is to go to
7,orgola. and, perhaps. further in an at
,or,nt 20 reconquer the Soudan. The
e,o,oroent made by the Right Hon. Joseph
Cho,nbcrlain. Secretary of State for the
(,aioniss. that the advance OF the expedi-
don would be regulated by the extent
NJ the resistance offered by the dervishes
,osmed either designed TO befog the House
=. ~ convey the idea that the government:
t,d no definite plan Of campaign. What
bo Minister refused 10 disclose can be
found by cOllating the reports from re-
uslle sources. The sensational rumors
with which the British press is usually
rife deal with the expedition as sudden
decision Of the governments, the fact
that II was to be dispatched being un-
known even to the Khediye. They de-
scribe the forward movement of the
troops as being already commenced, and
that Akasheh has been occupied;
that fighting is imminent, and that Dom
cola viii be reached in a week, when
1000 deryishes will face the Egyptian
forces.
The facts are that the expedition was
projected last autumn, when General
Kitchener the Sirdar OF the Egyptian
army, was in England. He then bought
the materials necessary TO complete the
railway from Wady Halfa TO Akasheh,
ordered a number OF hght-draught steam
ers built to carry stern-ire guns, ana
got the assent of Lord Salisbury TO the
Preparations. Though the date OF the
campaign was not then fixed, General
ID n that
rome big scheme was being Matched.
Speaking at bennington Wednesday,
Earl Russell stated that he had personal
knowledge that the expedition had long
been decided upon, but that II had been
postponed because II was thought mex
sedlsnt This was the view taken Of the
matter until the defeat of the Italians at
Adowah afforded the government an OPP
perfume excuse for the dispatch OF the
Expedition. He added that. according TO
the plan originally decided upon, General
Kitcheners first objective was to be Dom
Eola, and then Berber, with a simulta-
neous advance from Suakim, on the Red
Sea. a railway was to be built TO link
poneola and Berber before a march was
made upon Khartoum. There was no
reason to suppose that this plan had been
altered. but IT was probable that it would
deyc.. more slowly than some of the
Cairo kilograms indicated
DONGoLA IN THREE WEEKS.
According to the Times. Dongola may
be reached in three or four weeks. The
military authorities at Cairo, however,
calculate that that place will not be
reached before June. The van Of the
Egyptian troops, consisting of 1900 men,
Of which number 800 are cavalry, ought
,at, 10 10,
not expected to get In touch with the
dervlshes there. They will remain at
Akasheh until, by accommodating, they
learn the strength of the dervish outposts
st Ffrka and are likely TO remain until
the Akasheh railway is completed.
The main Egyptian force is now put at
10000 men, of whom 1900 will be Sou
danese, who are real fighters. They will
not reach the first line of advance before
the end Of April. The march upon DON
COLA will depend upon the strength OF the
1rvishes, who are concentrating there.
Doubtful reports place their number at
1880.
Colonel Calmont, who commanded the
Camel Corps in the Khartoum expedi-
iion says that the troops ought not, in
the mean time, TO push forward beyond
Akasheh, and that II is now too late for a
spring campaign in the desert. even for
black troops. The Italian and Turkish
military attaches will accompany General
Kitchener.
LIBERAL FEDERATION.
Mr.. Henry Labouchere, Sir Charles
Dixie, and the Hon. Philip Stanhope the
Radical leaders, refuse to attend the APP
preaching conference OF the National
Liberal Federation. Mr.. Labouchere says
hat he VIII neither directly nor indirectly
recognize the federation. and that the
conference can adopt any and every reso-
luton II pieases. This tone of contempt
cannot be based upon a consciousness of
strength on the part of the Labouchere
CLIQUE. The great guns of the Radicals
Sltally adhere to the federation.
EXAMINATION OF MARY STUART
Inc proposed canonization OF Mary.
queen Of Scots. has been approved by the
Calnohc Diocese OF Westminster where
the inquiry into her claims to martyrdom
was hela The matter is now before the
AulhorIues In Rome. The Tablet, a lead
H.s OathoAc organ, says that the question
u AeI canonization is not one dealing
win the life of the Queen, or the vexed
IoNts or her history. The question is
Icy II she died as a martyr to her faith.
"laa mat not even her enemies can
UeAy her a martyrs crown.
FRANCE AND EGYPTIAN FUND.
me position Of the British Government
'1Sler under the official news from
tdiIs mat France will either not oppose
tAe Frs. credit for 10000 from the Eryp-
van iund for the expenses OF the soudan
Apelluon, or Will conflne her opposition
- formal protest against the use OF
-'' TOT thiS purpose. Russia VIII re-
-" sulctly neutral, and Will give no
,Fpott 10 france as against the expedi-
IN. russia Is even credited with view
.s 'Ae British project with some measure
sgol WILL as being likely to divert the
e energies OF Great Britain In a
i1,yuoh where Russian interests are not
navy 10 be greatly concerned.
81 berthelot, the French Minister OF
,vsh Affairs. clearly recognizes.
S'-sh the French people do not. thai
1 'o'le Is powerless to make an effective
a,1,uoh' Russia has no vote in the
vtl,l'iss ION on the Egyptian public debt.
Great Britain holds two votes.
c~ce TWO. and Austria, Italy. and
N'"any one each.
inference OF opinion exists as 10
"H',ner the statutes relating 10 the COM
-s'Ion require unanimous or a ma
s2'lF vote. In several Instances deci-
ms nave been based on a majority
% notably the grant OF f25 900 for the
t-'Iuon OF the corvee. at which time
rance protested against the grant. At
Dy rate. NJ. Berthelot, feeling himself
o"eriess TO prevent the expedition, has
beaten a retreat.
sTRENTH OF MAHDISTs.
The War-Ofice officials here declare
mat the expedition viii be only a re-
.y.hoissanee in force. and VIII not adj
nl mat the present phase Is any
ming beyond an initial step IN an autumn
campaign. The Army Intelligence De
lafunent possesses only the most vague