The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-15
ENeLAND'S NEW WAR IN EGYPT
BERBER BELIEVED TO BE THE Ex-
petitions OBJECTIVE POINT.

DEAtAsh OmceFs-OnAy ls%OO hrAthsh
Troops to Strengthen the Expedi-
tiOn-Grave Danger That IL May
Meet With Disaster.
London, March Alt is the opinion In
highly informed military circles that the
objective point Of the Anglo-Egyptian
expedition, mention of which was made in
these dispatches this week, is not Don
COLA, but Berber. This opinion Is based
on the news received from Cairo. It has
been learned that the plans of the expe-
dition have been approved by Lord Wolse-
ly, the commander-in-chief OF the Brit
ish army. The government is interested
in minimizing the Importance of the en-
terprise, and it will doubtless, when ex-
planning the matter to the House Of Com
mons, speak of the expedition as an Egyp-
tian one 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 been given at any
time within the last six months, as ac-
cording to current reports, the mahdists
are concentrating at Dongola, ready for
an invasion OF Egypt by way of Wady-
Halfa. Isolated bands of dervishes have
actually made sudden raids into the
Wady Halfa district, vanishing after
wards across the desert. The object of
the expedition is not the protection Of
Egypt, but is to make a diversion in favor
of the Italians at Kassala, the city which
the Italians captured some time ago from
the dervishes, and which the latter are
now said to be besieging. This, 1t is
which caused the cabinet to suddenly de-
termine upon operations which will in
volve considerable expenditures OF mon
ey and men.
This seems to be the best possible line
of action to assist Italy without drawing
upon the British treasury, while, at the
same time, it will shelve indefinitely the
demands for the British evacuation OF
Egypt. The main cost of the expedition
viii fall upon the Egyptian treasury,
which is now in a condition to bear
| financial strain. The financial report, is
sued yesterday by Lord Cromer, the Brit
| ish diplomatic agent in Egypt, shows for
| 1895 4 revenue of f1 900 in excess OF the
expenditures. This. is a most strikins
| proof of the prosperity of the country un-
| der British administration. France may
| protest against the use OF this surplus
for war to reconquer the Soudan, put
| power than Great Britain need regard it
and no other power will join in pro-
test against the expedition. Gen. kitch-
ener Of the Egyptian army Will command
| the expedition which will consist chiefly
| of Egyptian troops. These, however, will
| be strengthened by 100 British troops
| under Gen, Henderson, staff major of the
army of occupation. Reinforcements from
Malta will keep the British garrisons In
| Egypt up to their present strength. The
native army will be commanded almost
| exclusively by British officers. Fighting
is certain. The mahdi has a large force
at Dongola, and this will undoubtedly be
formidably increased before the expedi-
| tion has time to get within striking dis
tance: The Nile will be the line of ap-
| proach against Dongola, which, after its
| capture, will become the base of opera
| tions against Berber. Grave fears are en-
| tertained of the fighting qualities of the
prove a severe test of its courage. II
may be attended by disaster.
| The Anglo-Egyptian expedition has the
| unstinted approval of the conservatives
and liberal unionists, the hesitating sup
| port of the liberals, and the fierce opposi-
| ton Of the radicals. A statement relative
! TO the matter will be made in the House
of Commons on Monday, by the Rt. Hon.
! George Curzon, parliame mentary secretary of
| the foreign office, and this will lead TO the
| warmest debate of the session, which will
| be followed by every device of obstruction.
| In cleaning from official opinion 1t is
| found that the line of the defense Of the
| government will be a denial that the ex-
pedition aims at a reconqueSt of any part
| of the Soudan, and a statement that the
| British troops Will be employed only to
| guard the line to Wady Halfa, while the
| Egyptian troops advance to Old Dongold,
making their headquarters at El Ordeh
| (New Dongola). 1t is stated this after
| noon that the Egyptian troops VIII not go
| beyond Old Dongola. Defense, not con-
| quest, will be the substance of the gov
ernments explanations, Assurances of
| this sort will deceive nobody.
According to Cairo advices, the 1900
| Egyptian troops who will take part in the
| expedition will begin to advance immedi-
| ately. Part of them Will march along the
! Nile, while the Others proceed in light
draught steamers up the river which
is now so low that In many
| places camel transportation must be large
| ly used Field Marshal Lord Wolsely and
| Gen. Kitchener do not seem to place much
trust in the Egyptian troops 1t Is not
| expected that the dervishes will make a
| stand at Ell Ordeh, but in case of fighting
| the British troops will be ready to support
| the Egyptians. With a view to giving
| this support a railway will be constructed
| for 100 miles southwark from Wady Halfa,
! and river steamers, armed with guns, will
| be stationed between the point where the
railway will terminate and FL Ordeh. The
| Nile at this part of its course is navigable
for light dra6ght steamers for the greater
part of the year.
as the fast of Ramadan will end ON March
| IS, it is probable that the dervishes will
| Immediately thereafter advance north
| ward from Dongola- A great deal of anx-
| iety is felt in Cairo over the situation and
| the military authorities were in confer
ence all day yesterday for the purpose OF
| considering what steps Should be taken.
| Baron de Courcel, the French ambassa-
dor to Great Britain, crossed the channel
| from Dover to Calais this afternoon on
| his way to Paris to report to his govern
| ment the result of prolonged interview
which he had with Lord Salisbury last
| evening. 1t is believed that the confer
ence had especial reference to Egypt.
The British troops. If the real designs
/ of the government are carried out, will
advance in force up the Nile in August
| next. A contingent of the Indian army,
| chiefly Silxhs and Ghoorkas, WILL 1t is re-
ported, be likely to be landed at Suakim
| to operate in conjunction with the Anglo
] Egyptian forces and march to Berber.
| The London papers have arranged 20 send
| special correspondents with the expedi-
tion. It is generally conceded that the
| campaign will be a big undertaking,
| though the government Is reluctant to
j disclose the whole scheme. Simultaneous
! ly with the Dongola expedition, a Belgian
/ Congo Free State force, led by Baron
! Dhanis, will attack the dervishes on the
| Upper Nile. Acting with the consent of
the British foreign Office, Baron Dhanis
has recruited at Lagos $50 natives who
have been drilled by British officers. These
natives, who are splendid fighters and who
1 will go wherever they are led without
/ fear Of danger, will join the Belgian and
| Congo Free State force. The Congo state
| has chartered thirty steamers which will
convey the expedition as far as possible
| up the Congo river
| President Kruger of the South African