New-York tribune., 1896-03-30
THE DONGOI.A MARCH.
WITH ROENTGEN METHODS OF CONs1D-
ERING UNEXPECTED EvENTS-THINGs
WHICH HAVE HAD A RUN.
London, March is.


London, March 1s
This is indeed. an Annus Mrabilis for tho
London journalist. So rapid Is the march ~
events that there is a new menace of war or an
unexpected catastrophe every fortnight Presi-
dent Cieveland's Venezuelan message Jameson's
raid. the German Emperor's Intervention In
Transvaal affairs. the mobilization Of the Flying
Squadron. the italian defeat at Adowa and the
march on Dongola have had the effect OF
series Of startling surprises following one an
other after short intervals. Hardly has public
interest in one foreign question begun 10 abate
before another crisis looms up In another quar-
ter. and the feeling Of intellectual excitement
from living In period when the unexpected is
always happening is renewed. As London is the
centre OF the modern world. all these unforeseen
events are like scenes in a spectacular drama
invented for the entertainment Of a faded audi
ence and the metropolitan journalist who writes
the daily leader is something more than the
prompter under the stage. II he be taken as
seriously as he desires. he alone employs a R0nt-
gen process. by which events impenetrable under
ordinary conditions are revealed Independently
OF the action Of what Is known as light
The advance toward Dongola is the most re-
cent Of these transformation scenes. and It now
engrossee public attention to the exclusion OF
everything else. The Government have not
sought TO make q dark and inscrutable mystery
Of 1t. They announced the new policy as soon
as the Cabinet had decided upon It after consul
tation with Lord Wolseley. Mr.. Curzon ex-
plained with an air Of unstudied frankness the
proposed movement Of the Egyptian troops up
the Nile. 1t had been under contemplation for
several months in consequence Of the activity Of
the Dervishes. who seemed to have many
three objective points: and 1t had been precipi-
<ota ed hv no al
investment Of Kassala- The Egyptian troops
had not been ordered to Dongoa, but only to
Akasher one-third Of the way from Wady
Hafa; but they might not stop there. since the
Importance Of the chief granaries of the Nile
basin wtSs understood by every expert Still.
the movement was, primarily. a diversion for
the relief Of the Italian garrison at Kassala;
and, secondariy defensive measure against
what might become a formidable menace to
Lower Egypt.
This official explanation seems sufficiently in
tellgible to the ordinary observer, and there Is
no apparent motive for Ministerial dissimulation.
1he fall of Kassala following the Abyssinian
victory would set the desert on fire. 1t is true
that the Mahdist uprising Is now a political
rather than religious movement, and that
camps once united by the frenzy Of fanaticsm
are divided by faction teaousies: but Oe-
man Digna Is not yet dead. often he has been
killed in dispatches from Suakim. and the Sou
danese. II not we'll armed, can still
their spears with terrible effect. No argument
would seem to be required IN order to demon
strate the expediency Of forestalling descent OF
the Dervishes upon the Delta by the prompt
cupation OF Dongola: and the effect Of the ex-
petition. Of which tidings will be swept across
the deserts by the Winds will be to discourage
the besiegers Of Kassala, and possibly to save
the italian garrison. OF course. this effect will
be minimized by the employment Of Egyptian
troops, who have not been able to make a sue
cessful stand against the Soudaneee during re-
cent years; but they will inevitably be supported
by detachments Of British regulars Of greater or
less strength.
This is the situation as 1t appears under ordi-
nary conditions OF light. But by the R6ntgen
process what is ordinarily impenetrAble TO the
eye Is revealed by superior intelligence IN touch
with ethereal pusations Of secret media Mr..
Labouchere and men Of his way Of thinking are
not deceived by Mr.. Curzon's plausible state
ments. In their estimation the division in favor
OF Italy and the dread Of Soudaneee raid
shallow pretexts for a new campaign Of which
the real object Is TO furnish an excuse for con-
tinued occupation of Egypt. With the Sultan IN
stgated by the Car TO raise objections to
the British occupation, with France sullenly
eenting the reputation OF Mr.. Gladstones
pledges and with the German Emperor predis-
posed to Increase the embarrassments OF the
English Ministry in every quarter Of the world.
q pretext is required for deferring indefinitely
the evacuation Of Egypt Accordingly there is
this new vagary Of Jingoism-the invasion OF
Dongola when Kassala ie not beleaguered. and
when Lower Egypt Is not menaced by the Arab
tribes which are only bent upon preserving
their wild Independence. and are yearnins for
80 Az tvoA 40
with Cairo and suakim. This is the Labouchere
view Of the advance 10 Dongola. and It IS sup
ported with energy and enthusiasm by the
French press.
This is one result Of the Rontgen process OF
dealing with official explanations OF important
public events. Another is equally striking. In
the opinion Of journals like "The Times" this
advance TO Dongola is the first step In series
Of campaigns, which will have for their ultimate
object the occupation Of Khartoum and the re-
conquest OF the Upper Valley OF the Nile. This
policy Is defended the general ground that
Egypt will remain In a state OF insecurity and
peril 80 long as the upper reaches OF the river
are controlled by the Mahdiste The reconquest
OF the Soudan will not be undertaken reckessly
and prematureiy. but cautiously. One step will
be taken at a time. After Dongola. Abu Hamed.
and In due time Khartoum; and then the shat
tering Of Mahdist power wherever II remains;
and all these mighty works are to be wrought
for the welfare and glory Of Egypt. which
twelve years ago could not afford to retain her
conquests. but now has solvent excheQuer and
a powerful army
This certainly Is the view taken by many Ger
man journals which forecast as the result OF the
Italian reverse an ofiicious and insincere diver
sion In the interest Of Italy. followed by an ex-
pansson of the British Empire from the Delta
to the Lakes. 1t seems almost incredible, In
view OF the calamitous retirement from the
soudan twelve years ago. when the Khedives
vast African empire was virtually surrendered
at the dictatson Of a Ministry in London. When