The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-25
TURKS OUTCRY.
The Porte Calls on France and
Russia
To Stop Great Britain's Advance
on the SOudan.
CAMPAIGN PROSPECTS.
British Moving Forward With
Camels Building a Railroad.
The Capture of DongOla No Easy
Task.

CoEsTANTINoPLE, March 25.-As a re-
suit of the extraordinary cabinet councn
which lasted throughout Saturday, the
Turkish govern ment has issued an appeal
addressed to France and Russia, asking
them to intervene with the object of reg
ulating the affairs of Egypt Germany,
it is added, was also requested by the
porte TO exercise her good offices In
this sense. Instructions were also dis
patched to the Turkish ambassador at
London to make. representations to the
marquis of Salisbury; but their tenor is
not known.
In we'll informed circles it is declared
that the action of the porte is due to the
counsels of France and Russia, the gov
ernments of which countries it is claim
ed have submitted that the present is an
opportune moment for Turkey to raise
the question of her suzerainty over
Egpyt, being practically usurped by
Great Britain. The government syndl-
cate, it is alleged, promised Turkey their
support in the matter.
The porte fears that the effects of the
advance NJ the Nile will be felt else
where than in the frontiers of Egypt and
that the Arabs of Yamen (the principal
division of Arabia) adjacent to the strait
of Bab-el-mandeb, may be encouraged to
fresh hostility to the Turkish authori-
ties
In diplom attic circles here it is believed
that the steps taken by the porte to pro-
test against the expedition to Dongola
will not have more than a moral effect,
and, though it is admitted that France
and Russia will refuse their consent to
the use of the Egyptian reserve fund, IL
is generally understood that nothing short
of the armed interference of those two
nations will prevent Great Britain from
pushing the Soudan campaign.
1t is true that there are only about
5000 purely British troops in Egypt but
this mum Der could be promptly increased
by drafts from India and Great Britain
aud the task of driving" the British out
of Egypt as suggested by the more fiery
of the French newspapers, might be
more difficult than calculated by them.
If the ostensjble objectSof the Anglo.
Egyptian Nile expedition is 70 be ac
complished, namely, creating diversion
which will relieve Kassala, it must be
done speedily. The distance from Wady
Halfa. the southern boundary OF
Egypt, to Dongola is about
300 miles. But the route is
most arduous one, even for the black
troops of Egypt and especially SO at this
period, on account of the low water of
the Nile, necessitating the employment
of immense numbers of camels for trans
portation and the possible building of a
Then admitting that Dongola is reached
without serious reverses, which is by no
means certain that place is not likely TO
capitulate upon simple summons. A
long siege may be necessary and the
10000 to 10000 men the Mahdi may
muster there possibly under Osman
Digna. may prove more than match
for the 10000 British Egyptian troops
which will reach Dongola after a most
wearisome march from Wady- Halfa.
Then, even with Dongola fallen, Kassala
is not necessarily relieved, and the cap
ture of the latter place by the dervishes
would threaten Suakim and Tolzar.
The possession of Dongola, is is ex-
planned, is necessary in order to defend
Egypt against dervish raids 1t consists
of a fortified town in district of the
same nome. Locally the place is known
as El Ordeb, and it was the headquarters
of Sir Herbert Stewards troops IN 1884
An advance from there in the direction
of Beaber can hardly be made until Au-
gust or Septembe