The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-03

DISPATCHES from Cairo announce that
the Anglo-Egyptian expedition has at
last met the Dervishss In force. 1t has
been evident for q week or two that
before long q conflict was inevitable.
The DeryisheS had been forced back
give UP the fight. Whether this Is to
be decisive cannot be predicted. because
IL Is not known whether Mahmoud has
with him the bulk OF the army Of the
Khalifa. which was last heard OF at
Metemmeh. It Is more than probable,
however. that q determined resistance
will be made. because the British troops
are now within two hundred and fifty
miles Of Omdurman. where the Khalifa
resides. II the impending battle should
take place on the Nile where the river
Atbara enters 1t. the Khalifa will have
time to escape into Darfur. should the
Dervish army be defeated.
Gen. Kitchener is supposed to have
with him q force Of 10000. consisting Of
Englishmen, Soudanese and Egyptians
with Arab auxiliaries. Besides this he
has a considerable force In Dongola. at
the end Of the Bayuda desert route
leading from Metemmeh to Korti. There
are also about $500 men left at Kassala
and the other positions in front OF Kas-
sala recently captured. SO that alto
gether he may be able to concentrate
force Of from $4,000 to $4,000 men with
which to meet the 10000 Dervishes who
are supposed to have been gathered by
the Khalifa for a last desperate on
slaught
The Anglo-Egyptians have EXTENDED
the railway southwark toward Berber.
so that the latter place will In a short
time have a through connection by rail-
way with Cairo. This enables the Brit
ish to receive reinforcements and sup
plies very promptly. which is great
advantage over the conditions existing
a short time ago. when everything had
to be carried by eamels. It Is also to
the advantage of the British that the
Dervishes are far from their base of
supplies. The capture of Shendy few
days ago win further tend to harass
the Dervishes. because IL has cost them
food and ammunition upon which they
had relied for the battle they were
preparing for. On the other hand, the
English are at a disadvantage because
the Dervishes have forced the fighting
while the Nile is low. so that the British
gunboats will not be able to cooperate
as effectually as had been planned. In
spite OF low water, gunhoats have been
sent up the river and have reached a
point twenty miles beyond Metemmeh,
but after reconnoitering they returned
20 join the main body. 1t is realized
that they could not be handled very
we'll during the conflict while the water
is SO low.
Whether the entire Dervish army is
engaged or not. the strategic import
ance Of the place gives the impending
battle very serious aspect. IL the
British are successful the Khaiifa must
break up his establishment. and with
his wives. slaves and treasure must
seek safer headquarters. The moral
effect az this will be very great. as IL
will be an indication TO the Dervishes
that their leaders have ralsled them.
They will realize that they are practi-
caiiy beaten and the remainder OF the
war will be merely chase. the result
Of which. although marked by occa-
sionai rallies and lighting, must end in
their being driven far hack from the
Nile. II the Dervishes succeed In max
Ing stand and checking the advance
q the British II viii give the Kha,Ifa
renewed prestige. and the British will
he compelled to wait untfl considerable
achievements come to their aid.