BOMBARDMENT OF ALEXANDRIA

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 626, 14 July 1882, Page 2

BOMBARDMENT OF ALEXANDRIA

London, July 10. In tho House of Lords, Earl Granvilla made a statement regarding the position of affairs in Egypt The noble Earl announced that the surrender of the Egyptian forts was required, so that they might be disarmed. Their existence was deemed a menace to English interests. Latest telegrams from Alexandria report that all European subjects and the foreign Consuls have gone on board vessels in port. The foreign Consuls have presented a joint note to Admiral Seymour, protesting against the bombardment, which, they state, is uncalled for. The French and other war vessels have taken up a position outside the harbor, and the British vessels alono remain inside. Admiral Seymour has shifted the vessels under his command lo a position directly confronting the forts and guns, and much nearer them than formerly. Everything is in readiness, and the bombardment is momentarily expected to commence. A panic prevails among the inhabitants of Alexandria, who are fleeing for safety. Great consternation prevails in the city. July 11. Intelligence has reached Reuters office that the bombardment of Alexandria by the English fleet commenced this morning at five o'clock, and is now proceeding. The cannonade is very heavy, and is principally directed upon the forts which wore erected by the Egyptians. The latest intelligence to hand from Egypt states that Admiral Seymour has blockaded the enfruire to the Suez Canal, ami stopped the passage of all vessels. The Canal Company has protested against the action of the British Admiral. Great excitement prevails in consequence of the serious aspect of affairs. July 12. Intelligence is to hand from Alexandria that the English ironclads have ceased the bombardment. So far as is known, the English casualties only amount to 40 wounded. Tho loss on the Egyptian side is known to be heavy, but no reliable estimate can yet be obtained. Later. AU the inland sea forts have been silenced by the Bii.ish guns. The iron" clads will resume the bombardment to-, monow, when the forts commanding the harbor will be attacked. A party wil short 1 )' be landed to blow up the guns in the _ileneed forts. The Khedive's palace, which stands near the sea forts, has suffered severely b) the bombardment, and is now literally in ruins. The statement that 40 have b.-en wounded on board the English iro.nYnls by the fire of th e _ i'.jlly eonhYned. Mv sunn l.ish., ihe Turkish Ambassador had an iuti!. .i.?\v with Mi. I G-r .nville, the Foreign Si.reiaiy, to-lay, at which, on liebalf of the Porte, he urgently demanded the cessation cf the bombardment of A'cxandria, and dilated upon the gravity of the siiuaiion. It is now authoritatively stated that, notwithstanding the protest of the foreign Consuls, a majority of the European Powers approve of the bombardment of the Alexandrian forts by England. Alexandria, July 11, 9 a.m. The forts have returned the lire of the English ironclads, and a heavy bombardment has continued on both sides. Two of the forts have been blown up by an explosion, and the guns of another have been silenced. The remainder of the forts are now slackening their lire. None of the ironclads have yet suflitsred any material damage. Later. The Egyptian fire has, so far, had no serious effect upon the ironclads. The explosion of the forts was due to the bursting of shells. The casualties on the side of the Egyptians aro not yet known. July 12. It has now bean ascertained that the Egyptians have suffered a loss of 5 killed arid 27 wounded. The English ironclads have sustained very little injury from the fire of the Egyptian guns. Some anxiety is felt for the safety of the Khedive, whose whereabouts is at present unknown. 1 p.m. A flag of truce has been hoisted in the city, and a boat with a flag of truce is now proceeding to tho English squadron. Later It is now known that tho bombardment

will be resumed in tho morning, as it has been ascertained that the Egyptians repaired some of tho damaged forts during the night. CoNSTANTiNorLrc, July 12. Slid Pasha has been appointed Grand Vizier, in place of Abdurrahman Pasha.