The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-01-21

ths last OF the old Egyptian garrison. IN
the Soudan had been externinated for
ward operations had all ceased and tho de-
fensive frontier OF Egypt had been estao-
nshed at Wady IIalfa, approximately mid
way between Cairo and Khartoum ry the
| straight line Of travel. Here the little army
was patiently drilled by British officer. and
noncOrnmissioned officers. The Egyptiaa
| hattalions were fe;lahin consCripts; thu
| Soudarese batta!i0rs were negroes. The
fellah has some hrst-rate qualities a. 4
soldier. He has n powerful and enduring
body. he Is frugal To- the last decree. he
never drinks. and he is duciie. Il would be
hard. perhaps impossible. TO match him AZ
a peace soldier. hut those familiar With
his military history knew that ne WIS a
fragrant coward. The negro tlttalions are
IMPROPERLY called Soudanese. they cor1s
from the lands south Of the Soudan. tho
country OF the naked, pagan negroes. Most
OF these men began life as stark savages,
and many had been such almost Up to tho
time when they took up their rife, and
put on clothes as the Khclive's OF ;ao
KhaIifl's black infantry. They are brave.
they dearly love to fight. they have 4 dog
Ike affection for q master who knows Row
TO treat them, but they are eKcitabls IL
action and dissolute in camp.
such was the material OF the new
Egyptian Army. Such was the material
which the Sirdars. Wood. Grenfeu and
finally Kitchener. had to make into Il force
that should stand before and at las; ami
hiiate those fearless spearTuen who had
swept from the face of the earth the army
OF Hicks Pasha, who had bes,eged Khar-
toUm for ten months and finally carried Il
by storm. and who had more than once
put IN deadly peril the stead!eSt soldiers in
the world. the British infantry. That the
S:rdars succeeded in making a reliable
Fighting force ont of these fellahin and ne
ErOes the battles OF Atbara and OmdGrman
testify Y. ma c1u say that +hae. bD-tF..
would have been won without the help Of
the British troops. but it IS almost certain
that the Egyptian Army alone would have
won the fight at tho Atbara. The outcome OF
the battle of Omdurman. had Il been fought
without the British troops, is more doubt
full. Macdonald and his Soudauess brig.de
on the right covered themselves with glory.
but the eXCitab.e negroes came very near
hniins themselves, with ammunition cy-
pended, IN the face Of 4 brave enemy. erin
Piled. but still advancing. The arrival on
their Hanks of certain British regiments
was timely. TO say the least. Had the RICH;
been broken. the Sirdar would probably
have won the battle still. but the loss Of |
life would have been great
We cannot stop now to tell OF tho na- |
tent and skillful work by which that liz |
tie army was prepared through ten wears
Gndeed. through fourteen years.. for tina |
advance on DOngo!a which began In
1886. 1t was a fine deed Of skill. Of sus-
stained patience, and OF economy. The mo,
were drilled and disciplined ana taught 10
shoot and scout, and occasionally they ma
a chance to try their nerves In a borIo1
fight.
The real difficulty was at Cairo. Thor.
were a lean treasury and a Jealous ana
Intriguing court. An incident not told hv
Churchill occurred in 1888 or 1891. Tho
young khedive made q Journey OF insnec-
ton TO Wady Halfa and took pains 70 Sow
his poor opinion OF the garrisons. Finally
his expressions were SO discourteous maj
Kitchener resigned. This made the na.to-
a diplomatic incident" and the young man
was promptly brought 10 book. He apollo.
Sized. explained that he had been egred on
by Mohammed Mahir Pasha. Under score
tary of State for War. and the Sirdar's
resignation was recalled. The whole AFFAIR I
only made visible one of the subteranean