The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-26
THE EGYPTIAN EXPEDITION is
NOW LOOKED UPON AS A
BIG UNDERTAKING.
THE MAHD| HAS ABOUT 100000 MEN
They Are Well Trained and Are Fierce
Fighters-A Sporting Sheet Opposes
Yale's Presence at the Henley
Regatta7-Other Items.


The French government, it is asserted,
expected the cooperation of Germany,
but found she has been anticipated by
Great Britain, as the Marquis of Sails
bury assured himself he had the support
of Emperor William and is said to have
| informed the British premier that Great
Britain could rely upon the support of
Germany and Austria if she aided Italy.
| The Marquis of Salisbury it appears,
also consulted with the Congo Free State
authorities before announcing the gov
ernment's decision. France conse-
| uuently found herself confronted with
plan fully prearranged and it is stated
she now shows a disposition to "climb
| down" from the attitude she assumed
when the government issued its note
on Wednesday last saying that the pro-
| posed advance up the Nile was a great
surprise to the government of France
and will serve to embitter the anti-Eng-
fish feeling in that country at a time
when a better understanding was prom
Used and adding that Great Britain's
explanation that the advance IS neccs-
sary in the interest of Egypt is viewed
with skeptcism in France. The word
ing of this note is now saddled upon the
premier, Bourgeoise, who, it is assert
ed, issued it without consulting the rest
of the ministers. The opposition in
France to the use of Egyptian reserve
funds to defray the expenses of the ex-
petition to Dongoa does not avail, for,
as the British under secretary of state
for foreign affairs, Mr.. Curzon, explained
there are two funds controlled by the
Egyptian debt commission. One of
these, the larger fund, is derived from
conversion of the Egyptian debt and
it requires the unanimous consent of
the powers to authorize the expenditure
of the whole or any part of it. But the
second and smaller reserve fund,
used with a majority of the commission
and Great Britain has a majority of
the commission on her side, even if
France and Russia refuse their consent,
for the approval of Germany and Italy
to the use of the reserve fund has al
ready been obtained.
Then again. French newspapers argue
that Egypt has no right to repel the
dervishes, taking the ground that if she
| uOcS 81, luey Will Dc uIlNCh SOuth anu
may disturb the French, Belgian and
German possessions in Central Africa
Such an argument naturally does not
carry very much weight here and the
| British newspapers retOrt that every
body must protect himself.
In spite of the bold front put upon
the matter here, there is no denying that
there is a feeling in Great Britain that
the Nile expedition is likely to turn out
| nafbinp nf 1ictlrrhipp alornant n M
the support of Italy, in case matters as
sumo a serious aspect, is problematical.
A Russian traveller, Elizieffe, who is
thoroughly familiar with the situation, es-
Inmates that the forces at the disposal of
the mahdi number about 100000 men,
of which 10000 are Baggars, all trained
and disciplined The mahdi is believed
to have 100000 rifles, but it is said they
are as rule of an obsolete character
form part of his store of arms, are
serviceable. SO far as artillery is con-
cerned it is not believed that he has more
than the guns captured upon the occasion
of the defeat of Hicks Pasha, but it is
intimated that, like King Menelik of
Abyssinia, the mahdi has been secretly
purchasing arms and ammunition for
some time past and it will be found that
his troops are quite as well armed as
thOoC VI thC hCS uos
The capture of Soudan will not be ac-
complished without the expenditure of
much blood and treasure and that end
will not be attained without drawing
largely upon the British Indian troops, as
well as upon the British troops now in
England. In fact, the more the matter
is looked into the more serious the out
look appears, and anything in the shape
of a picnic or walk-over need not be
anticipated. The Mahdists. as is well
known, can fight with terrible determi-
nation, skill and ferocity, and they can
endure hardships beneath which the
best European troops would speedily
yuccumb. The mahdi's chief lieutenants
are Cheriffe and Vadichelow. The
khalifa's flag is black, Cheriff's is green,
indicating that he is direct descendant
of the Prophet Mahomet, and Vadi-
chelow's is red.
Much interest is manifested in legal
and other circles at the bill introduced at
the instance of Lord Halsbyr, for the
suppression of indecent evidence. This
measure was read for the second time in
the house of lords yesterday. By its
provisions judge is empowered to order
evidence which he thinks would be preju-
dicial to public morals not to be pub
lished The lord chief justice, Baron
Russell, is known to be opposed to the
bill and it is quoted that the master of
the rolls, Baron Esher president of the
divorce court, is of the opinion that the
law is already strong enough and that if
the proposed measure becomes q law it
will practically establish censorship of
the press.
Lord Glenesik, proprietor of the Morn
ing Post, contended that the tendency of
the press was quite against the publiea-
ton of such details, and asserted that
he had read more offensive things in
recent novels than had ever been found
in the newspapers.
Although the bill has been read for the
second time in the house of lords it is
doubtful if it will be adopted by the
house of commons.
The Field continues it's opposition to
the presence of Yale crew at the Hen
ley regatta and prints letter urging the
most stringent inquiry into the amateur
standing of the members of that crew
who intend to take part in the races at
Henley without being desired to do so,"
as the writer says, and suggesting the
immediate passage of rule excluding all
foreign crews from participation in the
annual regatta at Henley.
Another letter to the Field contends
that raising money by public subscrip-
ton, as has been done in the United
States, prejudices the status of the men,
bers of the Yale crew as amateurs.
Mr.. VIM. X. Vanderbilt has been in