The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-01-12
sLATIN PAoHA.

Vienna, portions Of lengthy letter
written by him in connection with
The campaign against the Mahdi in
tie Soudan, The following extracts
will be Of interest even here. Slatin
Pacha writes
"Tbe object Of the Expedition was
to punish the Mahdists for their
frequent raids into Egyptian terri
tory, and for the outrages COM
IN tied by them, and to reunite the
Province, which was abandoned in
1886, with Egypt. The date for the
commencement OF the Expedition
was decided by the situation OF the
Italians in Abyssinis, who we're hard
pressed by the Dervishes at Kassala,
since it was obvious that the advance
Of the Egyptian army on Dongola
would render it impossible for the
Khalifa to send further reinforce
ments to the East. Notwithstand
ing that the Expedition had to
struggle against many difficulties,
such as terrible sandstorms, the
cholera, etc, it was brought to
satisfactory conclusion, thanks to
the goodwill, perseverance, and adj
mirable energy OF the Egyptian
soldiers, and to the gallant assist
ance OF the North Stafordshire
Regiment, and OF all the native and
European officers. 1t may be re-
garded as a special dlspensation OF
Providence that the percentage Of
mortality amounted only to three
and two tifths."
On the subject Of the Battle of
Firket, he writes
at was decided to make night
march on Firket, so that the enemy
might not be informed by their
cavalry patrols of our advance and
strength, and retreat without offer
ing resistance, None of us dreamt
of describing the fight there as
decisive battle, or of boasting of it,
We were more than twice as strong
as the enemy, and were better arm
ed, and it was certain from the first
that we should get the better of it.
The enemy lost about nine hundred
prisoners, among them about four
hundred women and children. To
our regret two women were killed
and three wounded while fighting
with the Dervishes. The loot con-
sisted of more than six hundred
Remington rifles, sixty flags of
various Emirs, twenty war drums,
and quantities of swords and lances,
etc Our lost amounted to twenty
one killed and eighty wounded. The
male aud female prisoners were all
sent to Wady Halfa, placed apart ia
barracks, and guarded as prisoners
Of war. AT the conclusion of the
campaign all the prisoners, with the
exception of some notorious indi-
viduals, we're set at liberty. Those
women whose husbands are dead or
in flight will receive permission to
marry again after the expiration of
the term fixed by the Mobammedan
law. AS to the loot, it was sold by
auction, and the proceeds will be
distributed among the soldiers.
although the country has suffer-
ed severely under the rule of the
Baggaras, and the population has
considerably decreased, there is still
reason to hope that the land will
soon regain its former state of pros
perity, the more so as railway and
steamers now connect the Province
with Egypt, and products can be
: more easily disposed OF, and at bett er
prices. Whether the occupation Of
Dongola will be the last stage, or
whether the Mahdi's rule will be
altogether broken, depend on con-
siderations OF political nature, and
are subjects on which l, as a soldier,
can express no opinion. But there
is no doubt that, from humani-
tartan point OF view, it would be
better il the Powers whose political
interests are opposed to an occupa-
= ton would set those interests aside
g until complete order and an enlight-
: ened rule have been established in
Soudan. One thing is certain--viz.,
s that, just as the inhabitants OF
Dongola rejoice at being freed from
the tyranny of tho Bsggaras, who
i devsst ated the country and treated
: the natives like slaves, so the settled