The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-05
MARCHAND AND KITCHENER.
The Meeting ~ Fsshods Described by
the French 0moer.
From the London Dolly Mall.

| the French 0moer.
From the London Daily Ada
In the Figaro OF Aug 20. Col. Msrehand
! for the first time gives n detailed account OF
the incidents attending his meeting with LORD
| Kitchener at Fashoda In the autumn OF 1898
Some OF the dervishes repulsed In an as
sault upon the French post retired to khar-
tum which they entered the same day as Lord
Kitchener took the town, and were captured
| by his troops These men informed the
Sirdar Of the presence OF European mission
Rt Fashoda, and taking the letters n. b,
on tho bullets lodged In the dsrvishes boats
for Brussels. he believed that the white
men were Belgians. As matter OF TACT;
these letters sisnhed the French arsenal
OF Bourges.
| Some time after communication was es.
| ablished between the British and Colonel
| tthen Captain Marchands force. and at
length n fotilla Of ten steamers hlled Win
Egyptian troops appeared before Fashode,
and a British officer (Lord Edward Cecil
landed and invited Col, Marchand to pay
| visit to the General in command.
| Proceeding to the Sirdar's steamer. Col.
| Marchand found him standing on the bridge.
| and after sslutes had been exchanged LORD
Kitchener came forward with outstrstched
| hand and, begging him to be seated. con-
! graduated him on his achievement. Then.
| speaking slowly In French with strong
! he said:
| Major, ] am the Sirdar Of the Egyptian
| Army, commanding In the name OF his High
ness the khedive and Of the Sublime Porte.
| have come to regain possession OF the TERRI
tory bclon gng to his Highness the Khedive
General replied. I am Capt. Marchand
| of the French Army, have come here by
order of the French Government.
There la no English General here. Major.
am sirdar OF the Egyptian Army. J act
solely for his Highness the Khedive and the
Sublime Porte. who arc reconouering their
dominions. j have come to plant the Egyptian
flag here
General, Egypt had abandoned these
! territories and renounced it's sovereign rights
over them. France never recognized this
renunciation.
What are yonr plans, Major?
81 am awaiting instructions from my
Government. General
You do not wish to withdraw after your
magnificent eTplorations?'
NO. General, am waiting for orders
lit is long time since you had news from
"a FEW months. General. My orders are
TO- wait here u.u, ,,.o. mo ,o,,s .. YOUR
dirposal for you to return 10 Europe by the
General. ] thank you. but cannot &C
oept your offer. await orders from my
:. Many events have happened since you
Whatever may have happened. General;
her T sf nd HsSnes. the Kheves
'"s am ready TO hoist it myself. General.
over the fort, Major.
That cannot permit, General. for the
me to hoist his Highness's flag over the fortT
-, / should be bound to offer resistance.
Are you aware. Major. that this business
may produce war between France and Eng
sG%ed ktsReer fos. fTom e.
sSm He .e had He oe s "s
to the number Of at least two thousand. Then
ne turned toward our fort. above which
AZ the end Of this inspection the General
raised hs INV WITH SssITe
our ' tS1fi enc scso Major Msjor--.
"Mil s,IG. sq hH SnsfE General can only
tn: Major s"' You %' ds 'S a:s
IT cannot be, General: plant II above the
Wy think. Major. that, our Official inter-
view is at an end now
Then said he, suddenly returning to
hi. most most genial mood let us have "h''Eey
so We drank a whiskey and soda together,
i interrogating him on his Omdurman vic
Some moments later I left for the fort,
Kitchener came and returned my visit.
gave him champagne. and ne told me news
At this interview Col. Marchand learned
Of the fall OF the French Ministry and with 1T
had despatched him on his mission. Lord
Kitchener and Lord Edward Cecil found some
difficulty in giving the details for WHICH Col.
Marohand eagerly inquired, and. confessng
his inability to explain the Dreyfus case to
n man who had never heard Of it. the former
promised TO send some French papers. Then
tum
expla ins why ne thought he had good chance
Of successfully resisting the British force.
at Ia true he says. that had only $50
Sudanese rfemen and two guns. but we
were covered by stone and clay walls over
10 feet thick. and lay in an inaccessible
bank" he adds, would have been shot down
BY hundreds, and. as to the future. that was
far more mcnacing for Lord Kitchener than
for me,
Sudanese. but many Egyntian qf1cer in
Lord Ntsheners army o1e Tered. him their
advance guard of French force which was
coming to libernte the country.