New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-01
4 MODEL EXPEDITION.

The Srdar is nearing Khartoum. He was nj
I'mtcrif on Tuesday. only thirty miles away.
Yesterday he advanced ten miles nearer To-
day may see the remaining distance halved.
and tomorrow the grand attack. and the Cross
| of 81. George planted above the scene of Cor
,ons martyrdom. That there will be serious
resistance at Omlurman IS not TO be antici-
patcd. It is true that Osman Digna IS there
with the Khalifa. But that interesting cut
throat has long been known as the Grand
Master of the Art Of Flight" He has sent as
many Of his wives ms he cares 10 keep ana all
of his valuabcs across 10 Jcidah. and has all
preparations made for his own fight thlther;
which will doubtless bc executed At signal
from the Slrdars guns. Shortly afterward we
may expect news Of renewed rGctions in Ye-
men. As for Ab1ullah tho Taaisha. he has
brought himself 10 the verge Of paresis. and
his once superb army 10 the depths of democrat
ization. That no and his 10000 to make n
liberal cstimnic-can stand for moment be-
fore tho Slrdar and his $1,000 is simply incon
ccvable. II will he repetition Of the Athara,
If no; Of Donyola. Thus tardily. after more
than thirteen years, will the prophecy of Cor
don be fulfilled. The British will have gone
In and smashed the Mahd. or his successor
Of one transcpndont Christian hero,
The rcconquost of the S0udan Is now so near
~ effected and so well assured that it is. IN
Itself no longer the most interesting cOnsid-
Grafton of the casa The latter distinction must
belong to the manner Of It's execution which
will. we are inclined 10 think. form perpetual
landmark in the annals Of warfare. For many
n year the unreadness. laundering and delay
81
Napier could tell MS. and truly. with what might
and majesty the British soldier fights. II would
take the scathing pen Of Voltalrc to char
actcrlze httingly the disastrous mbccility and
incompetence with which the transportation
and commissariat OF more than campaign
have been conducted. In tho Crmea. in Ash
nntee. and thirteen years ago On the Nile. II
was always tho same story But to-day tho
record is redeemed The Slrdars campaign
from Cairo TO Khartoum stands as n model for
all time Of that perfect preparation. that I'M
hating execution and that supreme funlmont
which arc wont to associate with tho rc-
morscless processes Of fate rather than with
the falbc enterprises of mankind.
Every step in the campaign was carefully
planned In advance. and every one hns been
taken WITHOUT delay or stumbling. Tho cy
petition has moved schedule time. with the
precision Of a well-regulatcd railroad train: or
II Il has departed therefrom II has been mere
ly 10 make more rapid progress. \ year ago
tho early part OF October was the time set for
tho arrival, at Khartoum. Three months ago
September 20 was named. To-day IL Scptcm
Dor II and tho Srdar and his army are within
a days march Of their goal and ready 10 strike
tho blow AZ any moment. And there has not
been 4 defeat bunder nor failure Of
supplies nor n single untoward incident In the
whole two years campaign for the rcconqucst
Of an empire. In perfect preparation may
compare II with Moitke's campaign 10 KONG
griitz. and in successful execution with NapicrS
10 Magdaa. a third comparable example does
not come 10 mind. In Charles Gordon Great
Britain lost one who in old times would
worthy have been crowned as hero and canon
lied saint. In Herbert Kitchener she has
found one who proves that the race Of Wofcs
and Wcllescys, Of Napiers and NIcholsons, Ia
not extinct.