The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-09
CAMPA!CA IN the S0UDAu
Anxiety at Cairo Over the Fate Of
the Advance Guard.
KHALIFA IS BLOODTHIRSTY

viii Look Out for British Prisoners-Thc
Dcryishcs Preparing for Stubborn
Resistance WherO the First
Fighting Is Expected.
Cairo, April S.-The anxiety here is
increased by each additional budget OF
news from the scene of operations OF
the English and Egyptian troops up the
Nile. While the British intelligence de-
partment experiences the greatest diff
fcpty in obtaining information re-
garding the movements of the Derry
ishes, the latter succeed In transmit
ting important news with rapidity from
any part of the country to the other
The departure of pilgrims from Mecca
has been suspended, indicating that
the holy war is to be pushed with all
the energy of the Dervish leaders.
: The Khalifa has declared that the
tribes Immediately collect and forward
to Omdurman a heavy war tax: that
the pick of the warriors be hurried to
that camp. and that all preparations be
made for long campaign. He eX-
poets, according to current reports, to
muster an army of $4,000 men. COM
posed of the best lighting men of the
Soudan, at Omdurman by September.
when the English Egyptian advance
will be met by the Khalifa in person.
He has recalled the Dervish armies
from Fashoda and Darfur, and even
the Dervishes before Kassala, 1t Is ex-
pected, may be utilized later at Khar-
tum and Dongola.
The Khalifa, writing to the Shek of
a g dot Of lnS hnp
said that he was always ready to sub
init to the authority Of the Khedive 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 country" In concluding his letter
he said: II am aware that the British
desire to have me asSaSsinated, but ]
have taken precautions that none of
the European prisoners shall survive
my murder"
BASE OF OPERATIONS.
Though Wadi- Halfa is really the base
of the Anglo Egyptian operations 1t is
at Akasheh, a place of little import
ance, about ninety miles south of Wadi-
Halfa, that the Ii ight railroad is be-
ing pushed forward for the convey
the first fighting will probably occur.
for telegraph communication with the
vanguard Occupying Akasheh has been
twice out OH by small, struggling
parties of Dervishes. and the latter are
believed to be gathering in force in the
vicinity of that place. Akasheh was
occupied by small column of troops.
under Major Collinson. without oppo-
sition, on March 90 and from that time
on achievements and stores have been
pushed forward by rail where possible.
and by river boats when the railroad
could not he used. 1t is now Being
strongly fortified, and q large camp Is
being marked out and arranged for
the occupation of the troops moving
southwark.
The British troops which will take
part in the advance on Dongola will,
1t Is expected, number about 5000 men.
together with about $4,000 Egyptian
trained troops led by British officers.
Colonel Hunter is in command at
Wadi-Halfa, General Knowles and
Major-General Henderson command at
Alexandria. and other British officers
Of rank are now on their way there
to assume commands.
Two battalions Of the North Stafford
shire regiment are already at Wadi-
Halfa, where there are about 5000
Egyptian troops and more arriving
every day. The work of despatching
troops to the front Is carried on in an
admirable manner, without a hitch of
any kind. Just after the movement
southwark was ordered 5000 men, thor
oughly equipped In every respect for a
long campaign. were sent out from this
nj in,
previously reviewed by the Khedive.
The work of Gordon Bey, who, in
charge of the Citadel, had the furnish
ing, equipping, and transporting Of
these troops. has been greatly COM
mcnded. The employees of the Citadel
have been working night and day since
military operations We're decided upon
and have turned out so far more than
1000 pack-saddlos for camels.
THE CAMEL CORPS.
a strong volunteer camel corps is be-
ing formed from among recruits picked
up among the tribes of riendly sheikhs
and it will prove very valuable body
for scouting purposes. The camel corps
at Wadi-Halfa is now over 900 strong,
and there Is strong force of cavalry
and artillery at the same place. Scout
ing is being carried on night and day
about Akasheh and other threatened
places, and the Intelligence depart
ment is kent busy sending out spies
and receiving the incoming reports.
The distance up the Nile, via Sarras
and Ginnis. to Hanneck. near the
Third Cataract. is about $50 miles. and
from Hanneck past Old and New Dom
COLA to Debbeh (Dongola) Is about l20
miles more. say 800 miles in<ll. Ber-
ber. by the desert route. is about 200
miles from Debbeh and from Bcrbcr
to Khartum. near Omdurman, is about
200 miles more. so. If Khartum is real
ly the objective point of the Anglo
Egyptian advance. there are 200 miles
of travel and probably fighting before
the old headquarters of General Cor
don are reached.
Dispatches received today from
Wadi-IIalfa say that the lines of COM
munication between that place and
Akasheh are being strengthened every
day, and that patrols of friendly Arabs
keep a close watch along the whole
road.
Slatin Pasha. in an interview, is
quoted as saying that while prisoner
at Omdurman he became well ac-
uuainted with Hammuda, the Dervish
leader at Suarda, who commands from
5000 to 1000 of the Khalifas troops.
and that he also became acquainted
| with the Dervish General Bugle, who
IL commanding 5000 men. including
noted chiefs and the pick Of the Khal-
ifa's troops. He says that consider
| able jealousy exists between Hammuda
and Bugle because the Khalifa favors
the former.
Corbett May Spar
n,,ir NTD Anrit e-Tha ,ln,r,.