New-York tribune., 1906-07-04
AFRAID TO SHOOT.
Hoo SIR auckland CoIUin SaUed the
Life of the KhediUe.

LBT6 or C1c hH603Cos
Sir Auckland COlvin who has just published in
London a book entitled THE Making OF Modern
Egypt is well qualified for the task. for during
the three years that preceded the bombardment OF
alexandria he was Controller General Of Egypt,
ana after the English occupation Of Egypt had be-
come an accomplished fact he served for a year as
financial adviser to the Khedive and representa-
tive OF the English government in the Egyptian
Cabinet until he returned India to succeed Lord
CrOmer as Indian Minister OF Finance There is
one sensational phase Of Sir Auckland's career in
Egypt which his modesty has caused him to pass
over in silsn2e in his book In the early stages OF
the Arab rebellion, when NEST Europeans fed from
Egypt Sir Auckland remained by Khedive Tewhk's
side. and the presence there OF the TALL thin, red
haired, red bearded EngIishman undoubtedly saved
the Egyptian ruler several occasions from be-
ing seized or murdered. The most dramatic OF
these episodes was when Arab Pacha and his fell
low mutineer officers marched at the head Of their
regiments to the palace OF Abdeen. with the inten-
tion OF making the Khedive prisoner. Fortunately
Sir Auckland heard Of the matter in time. and
hastened of to join the Khedlve. When the troops
arrived on the square Of Abdeen the officers. with
Arab at their head, made their way into the
presence OF the Khedive where the spectacle OF
Sir Auckland standing beside him visibly discon-
certed them In accordance with the advice Of Sir
Auckland. Tewik asked them the object Of this
military manifestation and requested to be en-
ightened as to the demands which it was obviously
intended to emphasize. AS soon as they were
formulated Tewfk declared that he would take
them under consideration. adding that they were
matters Of too great Importance to be decided on
the spur Of the moment. Some Of the officers were
Tor compelling surrender then and there, others
for selling the Khedive, and others. again, were
disposed to comply with the request for time.
While they were discussing this with
other, Sir Auckland fearing for the safety Of the
hhedive, suddenly suggested that he show the
troops his good will by reviewing them they
n rs1
with satisfaction by the officers, who held that it
would furnish demonstration to the soldiers and
to the people that they had secured mastery over
the Khedive, who would be much in their
power alone among the troops than in his palace,
surrounded by his small force of janissaries and
his few foreign retainers Accordingly the Khedive
with Sir Auckland by his side. walked down the
staircase OF the palace at Abdeen, and into the
square, passing up and down the lines Of the
troops. followed Immediately in the by the
rebel leaders, Arab Pacha and Sami Pacha.
AS Sir Auckland had suspected, the spectacle of
the Khedive in their midst served to revive all the
instructive loyalty of the rank and file to the OBJ
vious dismay OF the mutineer officers. The soldiers
hailed their sovereign with shouts Of "Efendina?
It then that Sir Auckland. in undertone
urged Tewhk to turn and blow out the brains Of
Arab the spot, adding that If he would do he
would thrust loaded revolver in his hand. I'm
fortunately Tewf1k, the son Of fellaheen mother
lacked the spirit, backbone and decision Of his
hesitated and again hesitated until It too late
The psychological moment had passed But. as Sir
Auckland has often since declared. IL Tewhk had
had the courage to accept his ready revolver and
to shoot down the rebel leader, the insurrection
would have collapsed then and there. like pricked
soap bubble: the troops would have been the first
hail the deed the act of royal justice, and TO
have turned upon the mutinous officers There
would have been no full hedged revolution, no bonn
bardment Of Alexandria, battle Of Tel-el-Kebir
and no seizure and military occupation by the Eng
lish Of the Land of the Nile. The entire course Of
Egyptian history would have been changed.
whenever one reflects upon the regeneration Of
Egypt since 1882 the restoration of its credit and
the revival OF it's oldtime prosperity. the old
French adage of Tout est bien qui hnit bien"
('AIFs we'll that ends well') occurs to ones mind.
Although the shooting OF Arab Pacha by the Khe-
dive would have saved hundreds Of lives and mill
ions of dollars Of property yet perhaps it Is bet
ter after all for Egypt and for England that
Tewfik should not have accepted the loan Of Sir
Auckland's revolver
Sir Auckland is one Of the best types OF that
splendid and picked body of men who compose the
higher oflciaIdom Of Great Britain's vast Indian
Empire. The son of an Indian Governor. he retired
himself from the service as Governor OF the North
west Provinces and is father-in-aw Of General
Sir Bindon Blood who commands the British forces
In the Punjab.
Sir Aucklands life has not been altogether free
from romance In fact it affaire de coeur
which led to his leaving India to enter the service
oF Rhedive IsmaiI in 1878. and it his brilliant
vzor. in Egvpt which restored him to the Indian
service. with the post OF Minister Of Finance, hve
years later, in 1883.