The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-22
A CALL TO ARMS IN AFRICA.
THE DERVISHEs TO BE ATTACKED
FROM TWO SIDES.


with the AnglO-Egyptian Attack
on the Lower Nile.
London, March 2l-Last nights debate
in the House Of Commons added moth
ing to the meager information that the
government deems ii prudent to reveal
regarding the expedition that is to go 10
DOngola, and perhaps further an attempt
TO reconquer the SOudan. The statement
made by the Rt. Hon. Joseph Chamber
lain, secretary of state for the colonies,
that the advance of the expedition would
be regulated by the extent of the resist
ance offered by the dervishes, seemed
either designed to befog the house or
TO convey the idea that the government
had no definite plan of campaign. What
the ministers refuse 10 disclose can be
found by collaung the reports from re-
liable sources. The sensational rumors
with which the British press is unusually
rife deal with the expedition as sudden
decision of the government, the fact that
it was to be dispatched being unknown
even to the khedive. They describe the
forward movement of the troops as being
already commenced in bulk, and state
that Akasheh has been occupied, that
fighting is imminent, and that DongOla
dervishes will face the Egyptian forces.
The facts are that the expedition was
projected last autumn, when Gen. Kitch-
ener. the sirdar of the Egyptian army,
was in England. He then bought the
materials necessary TO complete the rail-
way from Wady-Halfa to Akasheh. or
dered a number of light draught steamers
built to carry stern fire guns, and got
the assent of Lord Salisbury to the prep
arations. Though the date of the campaign
was not then nXed, Gen. Kitchener made
no secret of the fact that some big scheme
was being Matched.
Speaking at Leamington Wednesday,
Earl Russell, stated that he had per-
sOnal knowledge that the expedition mad
long been decided upon, but that 1t mad
been postponed because 1t was tnouShI
eXpedlent. This was the view taken OF
the matter until the defeat OF the Italians
at AdoWa afforded the government an
opportune excuse for the dispatch of the
expedition. He added that according to
the plan originally decided upon, Gen.
Kitchener's FIRST objective was to be Dom
COLA and then Berber, with a simultane-
Gus advance from Suakim on the Red sea.
A railway was to be built to link Don
gola and Berber before march was
made upon Khartoum. There was no
reason to suppose that this plan had been
altered, but it was probable that it would
develop more slowly than some of the
Cairo kilograms predicted.
According to the Times, Dongola may
be reached in three or four weeks. The
military authorities at Cairo have cai-
| culated that that place Will not be reached
before June. The van of the Egyptian
troops, consisting of 200 men, of which
number 800 are cavalry, ought to occupy
Akasheh by to-day. They are not expect
ed to get in touch with the der
Akasheh until by accommodating they
learn the strength of the dervish out
posts at F'irket and are likely TO remain
until the Akasheh railway is completed.
The main Egyptian force is now put
at 10000 men, of whom 1000 will be Sou
danese, who are real fighters. They win
not reach the first line of the advance be-
fore the end of April The march upon
Dongola will depend upon the strength
Of the derEishes, who are concentrating
there. Doubtful reports place their num-
ber at 10000
Col. Calmont, who commanded the cam
el corps in the KhartOum expedition,
says that the troops ought not, in the
meantime to push beyond Akasheh, and
that 1T IS now too late for spring cam
Raign in the desert even for black troops.
The Italian and Turkish military attaches
Will accompany Gen. Kitchener.
The position of the British government is
easier under the official news from Paris
that France will either not oppose the first
credit for 100000 from the Egyptian funds
for the expenses of the Soudan expedition,
or will confine her opposition to a for
mai protest against the use of the money
for this purpose. Russia will remain
strictly neutral and will give no support
to France as against the expedition, or
British projects with some measure of
good will as being likely to divert the
whole energies of Great Britain in di-
rection where Russian interests are not
likely to be greatly concerned. NJ. Berthe
lot, the French minister of foreign affairs,
clearly recognizes, though the French peo-
pie do not, that France is powerless to
make an effective opposition. Russia has
no vote in the commission of the Egyptian
public debt, while Great Britain holds
two votes, France two, and Austria Italy
1 and Germany one each. A difference of
opinion exists as to whether the statutes
relating to the commission require unan-
imOus or a majority vote. In several in
stances decisions have been based on
majority vote, notably the grant of ESQ.,
900 for the abolition of the COrVee, at
which time France protested against the
grant At any rate, NJ Berthelot, feeling
himself powerless to prevent the eXpedi-
ton has beaten a retreat.
The war Office officials here declare that
the expedition win be only a reconnois-
ance in force, and will not admit that the
present phase is anything beyond an ini-
tial step in an autumn campaign. The
army intelligence department possesses
only the most vague information regard
ing the strength of the Mahdists. Military
experts distrust the estimates made by
Slatin Pasha, though. as matter Of fact,
his long captivity among the Mahdists,
should on the face of things, have made
him an authority on the subject. The ex-
perts consider that report made by the
Russian traveller Eliseief, who was re-
Gently elected a, member of the Russian
GeOSfdDIlcdl DOClSlys - IuoE6 EtAldDlb llidI
that of Slatins Pasha. He says that the
Khalifa's force numbers 1000 men, in
cluding 1000 cavalry and camelry. They
possess 10000 rifles, of which 10000 are
Remingtons, really fit for service. The ar
tillery is poor. There are twenty guns at
Dongola and fire Krupp and ten siege guns
at Ormurdan.
A correspondent of the Army and Navy
Gazette states that the dervishes are now
able to deliver deadly rifle night. They
will combine European tactics with the
formidable onsets of cavalry and spear
men in the old style The correspondent
declares that the British tactics of forming
squares and awaiting the shock of battle
will not do now in fighting the dervishes,
and if they are followed will result in
rout and ruin.
The consensus of military opinion is that
if a reconquest of the Soudan is intended
a picked force of British and Indian
troops 20,0O0 strong, viii be necessary. II
rs no wonder that the British government
is reticent regarding the details and ulti-
mate aim Of the expedition.
Even with a solid parliamentary major
fty, the cabinet does not dare in the mean
time to arouse the opinion of the country
on the great enterprise, which is certain
TO ultimately involve large expenditures
bv the British treasury, and until parlia-