The herald., 1896-03-15
Soldiers Rejoice Over a Pro-
posed Soudan Campaign
EGYPT WILL NOT BE SECURE
So Long as the Mahdi's Power Remains
Unshattered
Bold Britons Want the Corbett-Fitzsimmons
Fight But Are Somewhat Tired Of
international Sports
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press special Wire.
LONDON, March a. Copyrighted, 500,
by the Associated Press. There is much
rejoicing in the British army at the pros
ipect of another campaign in the Soudan,
in spite of past experiences with the fierce.
tireless troops of the Mahdi and the recent
defeat of the Italians by the Abyssinians.
THAT a Bcitsh-Egyptian advance on the
mile from Wady Halfa on Dongola has
been determined upon is no longer in
doubt. All the British officers of the
Egyptian army who have been absent on
Aeave have been ordered to return to their
tposts Immediately. A dispatch from
sCairo announces that the Connaught
rangers have already been ordered to
sWady HalEa..
The proposed campaign has been i'm
spending for year past, although it was
undoubtedly precipitated by the crushing
kaefeat of General Baratieri at Adowa,
which, it is believed, must have a depress-
ling effect upon the prestige of European
NArms, and In,sy. consequently, lead to an
advance northward by the dervishes. But
i&he real reason for the campaign, now be-
ang prepared at the British war office. may
be found in the fact that Egypt will never
as the Mahdi's power remains unshattered.
Although the relief of kassala may be the
rotItward cause of the British advance, the
possession of the fertile regions about
Dongola, which furnished most of the sup
splies to the Khalifa, is what Great Britain
1s really after. and there is lit
ale doubt thar an attempt to capture the
Mahdi stronghold, Omdurman, will follow.
The plan of she campaign as submitted at
the cabinet meeting held yesterday is that
Ave black infantry battalions, seven Egyp-
kian battalioIis and large force of artillery
and cavalry, with about 100 British Off
lcers, will compose the expeditonary force.
&The same route that was taken in l S94
will be followed, but owing TO the low
water in the Nile at this season, the trans
sport of ammunition and supplies must be
by camels, of which very large number
1t is proposed to reconquer the Soudan,
province by province.
/ Dongola would be first taken, and then
- great deal will depend upon circum-
stances. While the campaign is endorsed
by the Unionists, the Liberal and Radical
press loudly protest against it.
Several prominent sporting writers in
,4ist that the National Sporting club has
not forwarded articles of agreement 10
James j. Corpett for a boxing match with
Robert Fitzsimmons. but there is reason to
believe that the clubs denial of the report
tended to prevent the English authorities
from interfering. 1t has been learned that
the National Sporting club has requested
o ell-known sporting editor to draft the
required articles, which, after being ap-
proved by the club, will be forwarded to
New York.
The Field, commenting upon the an
nouncement that a crew from Yale univer-
eity will compete at the Henley regatta
shis year, says that the Americans will be
greeted with every courtesy. But, the Field
adds, there will be no enthusiasm.
The Field also prints letter in which
the writer deplores international contests,
declaring that few minutes over the Hem
ley course may do more to promote inter-
national enmity than "all the Monroe doc
trines." The letter concludes with many
sneers at the Yale men, saying among
other things: "They could get no one to
TOW them in America: therefore they are
coming to Henley, although no one invited
1hem.''
The secretary of state for war, the mar
quis OF Lansdowne. has finally declined to
form "a regiment of gentlemen"
In politics during the last week there has
been q remarkable renewal of Irish activ-
~ in lines of obstructing the passage of
different measures. This has called fort h
some heated remarks from certain news
papers. The Saturday Review, for exam
ols' .rss ssys; svowed po,5ov Of bo,h s.ct;oD. ot
the Irish party as revealed during the
week is to do everything in their power to
force war by representing that the increase
in the navy is q menace to the Americans,
whereas the naval program was settled up
On in November
Captain Hayes, commodore OF the Gu.
inard steamship line, has been retired.