THE WAR IN EGYPT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 646, 22 September 1882, Page 2

THE WAR IN EGYPT.

[NEAVS I3Y THK MAIL.]

The Standard's correspondent gives an account of a novel reconnaissance made on July 28 towards Arabi's lines. He says : —"I have just returned from a reconnaissance on an armour-clad train. General Sir Archibald Alison and Colonel Duncan embarked in the train, and the advance to the eneu y's line Avas ordered hy Captain Fisher. The train was a singular one. In frolit was an empty waggon. This was intended to shunt on ahead—the train stop, ing suddenly from time to time—to exp'ode any mines which might have been aid benedh the lines. Then came the first ironclad, with the Nordenfeldt. barr.-ls projecting in front like the hoiizontal pipes of an organ. This I ruck was fol'owed by three others crammed with blue-jackets ensconced behind sand bags. Then came the engine, behind which were three more ironclad trucks filled with men. Close behin 1 the ir.-iiri followed another with iho reserves. G id ing along the margin of L ike Mareotis, disturbing clouds of wild fowl among its shallows, the train soon reached the point where the engine left the liieiu the morning, and then came to a halt. Everyone was intensely disappointed, as all had hoped to steam right into the enemy's lines to s illite them with machine aud field guns, and to effect a regular lodgement. However, there was no help for it. The General determined, however, to utilise the valuable base for a reconnaissance afforded by the ironclad train. The mounted riflemen, under Captain Hulton, confronted tho enemy's videttes and a score of blue-jackets moved out to their support. General Allison, accompanied by Colonel Dormer and Lieutenants Lambton and Erskine, advanced with the riflemen to within 800 yards of the entrenchments, and from the embankments took notes of the enemy's position. The enemy's infantry now began to show in force on our left. A battalion of infantry in extended order then cine on. They advanced very slowly, either fearing that we were laying a trap for them or wishing to lay a trap for us. Had they advanced rapidly, the position of the General and his 111 tie escort would have been very critical. So slowly, however, did theen niy's infantry advance, that all tlie notes required were taken, the General's party began to fall back, and our hopes that tho enemy would follow and come within striking distance were disappointed As the reconnoitring party approached the train, a white coud of smoke and a sharp report overhead, fobowed by the whizz of bhrapnel bullets, showed that the enamy's artillery had at last woke up. Then a rocket flew harmlessly overhead. Then they were silent. As the train started on its way b;.ck a sudden boom from Ramleh heights showed that a 40 pounder there was taking the affair in hand. The range, which was over four thousand yards, was too long for accurate shooting, and after three essays with percussion shell our gunners obtained the distance, a knowledge which m y 1)0 useful hereafter. From the train in the darkness now coining on, we could see the Hash of the bursting 40-pounder sheila as they followed the retreating Egyptians back to their lines."

Considerable excitement was caused at Home by a report from a correspondent to rue Daily Telegraph that " a company " of the GOth Rifles, which occupied an advanced post near Ramleh, had fallen back in confu.-ion upon the approach of about 100 Bedouins. The conespondent gave a circumstantial account of the matter, and said that some of the men threw away their rifles, which were secured by the Bedouins. Questioned upon the matter in the House of Commons the same night, Sir A. Hay tor said that they were then without any information, but through the courtesy of a member of the House, he had seen a private telegram from Alexan dria, which staled that in tho middle of the night the foiemost picket at Ramleh, consisting of a " corporal and six men," when attacked by the Bedouins, fell back upon their company, firing at the enemy as they retired. After this the company moved up, and found that the Bedouins had disappeared. It seems, however, from the telegram received next day by the Sec-

retary of War from Alexandria, that the left front picket lines were driven in "by a body of Arabi's cavalry," but the picket maintained its position eighty yards in rear of its original post. Firing, it appears, continued for s-ome time, but Arabi's troops withdrew, and the post was reoccupied without any casualty on our side. According to the correspondent of the Standard, who says he had the account from the officer commanding the '' picket," the enemy came up stealthily, and under cover of the mist, and that four men who would have broken away from the rompmy and made oil hive been put under arrest.