The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-25

Cairo. July T. 1S97.-Before her Jub-
the throne, said that the way was clear
for further Anglo Egyptian advance
up the Nile. But since then things have
happened. In fact, events have been
so impolite as to contradict a lady.
For one thing, since the Victorian ut
terance alluded to, there has been
sharp but short European war; with
such a. general unsettlng of the East
ern question that it will take time for
matters to assume their normal condi-
ton; but the successful endurance of
a considerable strain by the Concert of
Europe is in itself not unfavorable to
Egypt's advance. Indeed, as Egypt is
still nominally part of the Turkish
Empire whose integrity the six Powers
have guaranteed as she has never re-
linouished her moral right to upper
Egypt, and as the Anglo Egyptian of
ficials are all directly responsible to the
Khedive. it will be seen that Turkeys
victories in Thessaly distinctly favor
the Nile conquest. Trouble would be-
gin promptly if Egypt were to overstep
her boundaries to the southeast and
time tried to take possession of Egypt
as a colony.
The failure of the Dhanis expedition
is a more serious matter. Although
not nominally an Anglo Belgian expe-
dition, the British colonial government
allowed some of the Haussas-the black
soldiers whose representatives met such
warm reception in the Jubilee parade
10
failure of this attempt will hearten the
Mahdists for a more vigorous resist
ance.
EGYPTIAN ARMY MAY GO ALONE.
European complications have as yet
prevented the English from authoriz-
ing the advance of white soldiers with
the Egyptian army. They should have
left Cairo by this time to reach Assouan
by high water on the Nile. But it is
reasonably certain that the Egyptian
army will go on without help, if politi-
cal considerations prevent the cooper
alton of British troops-and they may
not have that effect, after all. The
first objective will be Abu Hamed.
Whether the troops will press on be-
You'd that point is doubtful. The fur
Their advance on Berber might be made
this season; but it may be postponed
until next year. Berber will be taken.
however, sooner or later. 1t is the ter
minus of the old caravan route from
Suakin and near the mouth of the At
bara. This won, the cry will be, ION
to Omdurman!" This is the new town
built by the, Mahdists opposite Khar-
toum, containing the holy tomb of the
| Mahdi and commanding the White and
| Blue Nile at their Junction From that
! point the reconquest of the Soudan will
be simply a matter of detail. And the
capture of Khartoum is only question
| of time. 1t is sure to come.
EFFECT OF LAST YEARS VIC
TORIES.
One sees, even in Cairo, the wonder
full effect upon the Egyptians of the
victories gained last year over the
Mahdists, and the capture of Dongola,
the home of the Khalifa. For centuries
the Soldiers of lower Egypt had been
shipped up the Nile in chains and sent
into battle to the martial music of the
hippopotamus- hide whip on their backs.
But since an Egyptian army, supple
mented by a regiment of British troops
thrashed the Mahdists last year, the
service is becoming so popular that a
few volunteers are being enrolled, and
conscripts are better satisfied with
their calling.
Others who are not soldiers share this
new feeling of national pride. One sees
it in trifes. For instance, there is no
Egyptian athletic game; left to them
selves, the boys suck. sugar-cane, and
grin from ear to ear at the unbelievably
vile songs and dances of travelling
mountebanks. But through the army,
football and other games are being in
troduced. Last winter a company