INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3544, 17 November 1882, Page 4

INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.

(Gleaned from tho letters of the Special Avar

Correspondents.)

The Fate of tho Rebel Leaders.—Whatever clemency it may be desirable to show to an ignorant people, both justice and policy imperatively demand the exemplary punishment of eleven men who stand prominently forward as the cause of all thafc has happened in Egypt, as the instigators of the atrocities, and the principals in crimes for which their tools havo already been executed. These are the three original Colonels, Arabi, Ali Fehmi, and Abdelal; their later colleagues, Toulbi and Roubi; the leading and most hostile members of the Ministry, Mahmoud Samy, and Mahmoud Fehmy ; together with Abdallah Nedim and Hassan Moussa-el-Akad, and Sheiks Esad and Eladrassi. The severest punishment of these men, wifch lesser penalties inflicted on perhaps 100 more, will alone prevent the recurrence of similar disasters.

How Zagazig was taken by the Bengal Cavalry.—Among the most brilliant and spirited incidents of this brilliant little war, the capture of Zagazig takes a foremost place. It was effected by the acting Commandant of the Gth Bengal Cavalry, with Lieut. Murdoch, of the Engineers, and five troopers of tho Bengal Cavalry. The rest of the corps had all been thrown out in the headlong gallop from the battlefield. The little party dashed through tho crowd assembled round the station, and there found four trains laden with soldiers wifch the steam up, and afc the point of departure. They reined up in front of the first engine, and, with levelled pistols, ordered the engineer to dismount. He refused, and was at once shot; the rest bolted, as did the passengers, including some Pashas, whoso luggage was taken, and thousands of troops fled across the country. The British cavalry came up half an hour later.

A Narrow Escape.—Trooper Bennett, of the Blues, who was lost on tbe night of the famous cavalry charge, August 28, had to run a terrific gauntlet. His -horso bolted through the rebel infantry, and he was surrounded by a troop of Bedouins. He had already received three slight wounds, when he dashed at a regiment of cavalry. There he was surrounded, lassooed and pulled out of the saddle. He would have been cut to pieces but for an officer who rushed to his rescue. Thus saved, he was led with a rope round his neck to Arabi Pasha, who, after examination, told him the English were fools to fight, and that he had 400,000 men. The English, he added, would never return home ; they would be completely cut up. Bennett was sent on to Cairo in chains, but otherwise treated kindly. His fetters were afterwards removed, and he was confined in the citadel with De Chair. When taken through the streets he was rudely insulted and reviled by the mob, who threw sand at him and swat in his face.

Mahmoud Pasha Baroudi —This officer, who was arrested at Cairo, was Arabi's Prime Minister. He is of Turkish origin, and spent some years in the offices of the Porto at Constantinople, but he was born at Cairo, and was President of the Council in the National Ministry, which took office in February, 18S2. The following is a brief outline of his career :—On his return from Constantinople Ismail, tho late Khedive, made him colonel of a calvary regiment. On his marriage with the daughter of Ismail's nurse he was mado aide-de-camp. Discovering his wife in a compromising situation with a musician, Mahmoud killed the co-respondent and obtained a divorce from the Khedive, 'after which he married a sister of Mansour Pasha. Under the Nubar Ministry he was made Prefect of Police at Cairo, and created Pasha. Mahmoud, then, in concert with the army officers and the Khedive, got up the emeute of February, 1879, which upset the European Ministry and marked the beginning of the ' National Movement.' He was then named Minister of Public Works in the Cherif-Ragheb Ministry. When Cherif placed his resignation in Tewfik's hand Mahmoud was made Minister of Vakoofs, or Ecclesiastical Domains. In 1881 he was forced upon the Khedive as Minister of War by the army ; but in July, Riaz and the Khedive compelled him to retire. In September he had his revenge, for when the military revolt occurred which upset Biaz and placed Cherif in office, Cherif was compelled to accept Mahmoud Samy as Minister of War at the dictation of Arabi. When Cherif fell and Arabi became War Minister himself, Mahmoud Samy was made President of the Council, and ever since he has been Arabi's right-hand man. Arabi has done nothing without Mahmoud, and after Arabi Mahmoud is the most dangerous leader of the revolt in Egypt.

The Truce at Aboukir. —The white flag is flying over Aboukir. Water is entering the canal. The earthworks are being rapidly destroyed by the natives. The railway and telegraph lines are being repaired. Alexandria will become the base, and General Wood's brigade will go to Cairo by rail, the Khedive and the Ministers following. Alexandria will be sufficiently protected by the Derbyshire and Manchester Regiments. With the earthworks destroyed, Ramleh will only require sufficient force to keep in check the Bedouins, who threaten to become one of the most troublesome incidents of the pacification. They have entered into war solely with the idea of plunder ; they have revived all their naturally predatory instincts ; they have suffered little, and would swoop down on towns and villages unless kept in check or given a very severe lesson.

After the battle of Tcl-ePKebir.—A correspondent of the Daily News who travelled from Zagazig to -Cairo, says:—'At En Chass, where we passed one night at the house of a Greek who had remained shut up therein since the bombardment of the Alexandria forts, I learned some interesting particulars as to what occurred after the capture of Tel-el-Kebir. Arabi, accompanied by a superior officer, and about twenty horsemen, reached the station on horseback at half-past twelve on the day of the fight. Tho horses could hardly stand, and man and beast looked as if they could go no further. They waited at tho station for the usual train coming from Cairo, and immediately it arrived the engine was reversed and Arabi and his party proceeded by it to the capital. During the next hour about 150 horsemen in sorry plight passed by in groups of five or ten. For tho following few days a number of stragglers, all of whom were without arms, came along and dispersed among the villages. A good many were sick or wounded, and were helped along by companions. My informant told me that as the stragglers passed along the line they chanted the praises of the Q.ueen, who had dispersed Arabi's army and allowed them to return to their homes. When it was known thafc Arabi's army had been defeated there was quite a panic among the peasantry. Women went about screaming that the Nazarcnes were coming, crying and wringing their hands. All the cattle were driven into the villages, and the inhabitants remained shut up witli them for the whole day. When, however, they saw that our soldiers did not interfere with them, they went out and resumed their usual occupations. Most of tho people seemed perfectly indifferent as to who governed them, and many told me plainly that they did not care to whom they paid their taxes, whether it was the Sultan, the Khedive, or the English, so long as they were left in peace to follow their agricultural pursuits. They seemed particularly to object to having their friends and relatives torn away from their midst to swell the ranks of the army, and to be compelled to furnish contributions- of straw and barley. Arabi's Surrender. — When Cairo was surrendered, the Prefect of Police was at once ordered by Colonel Stewart to invite Arabi to attend him at the Abbassieh. He at once came, accompanied by Toulba, and was received by General Howe, who had meanwhile arrived. Turning to Colonel Dullier Bey, an officer in the Khedive's service, Arabi asked him what he was required to do. Dullier told him to surrender his sword. He was then asked whether he understood that he was to surrender uncon-

ditionally. He replied 'Yes;' that h« surrendered to tho clemency of England. He then began a speech to the effect fchiifc all men wero brothers, but was stopped by General Lowe, who stated that his only mission was to receive his surrender. He then asked to be allowed to send to his palace for some of his servants. This was allowed. As he was leaving he started at the drawn swords of the escort, and whispered to Dullier, ' Tell fche general I treated his prisoners well.' He was assured that he should be treated with all consideration until he was handed over to Sir Garnet Wolseley. On the arrival of Sir' Garnet, he was taken by Sir Charles Wilson in a carriage to the placo prepared for him in the Abdin Palace. On the way he began making the usual salaams to fche crowd, bufc finding the natives did not respond, he threw himself back in the carriage with disgust. He is well lodged, but suffering from dysentry, and attended by Dr Jackson. Sir Garnet Wolseley declined to see him.

The Wounded Egyptians at Cairo.—The Cairo correspondent of the Standard gives an account of a visit to the Arab hospital, where 200 wounded Egyptian soldiers were then lying. The greater portion of these, he says, were wounded at Tel-el-Kebir, but some were brought down here after the fight at Kassassin. ' The hospital was admirably clean, and its general order leffc nothing to be desired. The doctor told me thafc most of the cases were serious, as the vast majority of wounded managed to make their way back to their homes, and only those unable to move were after the fight collected and sent in here. A large number of the cases were wounded by shrapnel shell, and an Egyptian officer told me that ifc was impossible to stand against our shrapnel when the artillery obtained tho proper range, ' which,' he added, ' fortunately for us, was not often the case.' He remarked that the guns abandoned afc Mahuta, and in the fight afc Kassassin, were deserted owing to our shells bursting at the right range. Certainly our victories havo been due in no slight degree to the terrific effect of tho artillery fire, and ifc is clear thafc other conditions being equal, victory will in future be with the army whose gunners are the most accurate judges of distance. I conversed with many of the wounded soldiers. It was singular how absolutely ignorant fchey were of tbe incidents of the fight in which they were engaged. Lady Strangford has arrived with staff and appliances for nursing 150 wounded. The Khedive has placed Arabi Pasha's house at her disposal, a very suitable use for it, and will at once lake our severely wounded there from the Arab hospital, which will relieve fche strain there.'

An M.P. in tho Cavalry Charge. —Intelligence has been received from Colonel Milne-Home, M.P. Berwick-upon-Tweed, stating that he is now with his regiment, the Royal Horse Guards Blue, at Cairo, after having been seriously ill. He describes the charge in the dark at Kassassin : —' Nine guns were flashing in our teeth ; and, worse still, there was the greeting of the musketry of infantry, in what formation we know not. The regiment dashed up against all this with a cheer and at a gallop. After this Colonel Home can recollect nothing but a whiz of bullets close to his helmet, a terrific duststorm hiding even his bridle hand, and then after the charge finding himself alone in utter silence, and with nothing alive near him except one of his own men, dismounted and slightly wounded. He gave him his stirrup to hold on by first, and then found a riderless horse for him, the Colonel being all right except that the seal of his helmet was shot away and part of his scabbard strap gone. For what seemed a long time they went about searching for the rest. At last they found some more stragglers of their regiment, and after cautious scouting got back into camp cheered and welcomed by everyone, from the General to the troopers. It seems, from another source, that Colonel Home was shot through the finger.

A Train Captured by the Bengal Lancers—Did I tell you how* the first train was captured upon our arrival at Zagazig after the celebrated march ? I think not, and it is worth recording. Colonel Macnaughten, of the 13th Bengal Lancers, who was with us, perceived a long train ready to steam out of the station, and, poor as we comparatively were in rolling-stock, even after capturing the large number that lay at Tel-el-Kebir, ho resolved at all hazards to take it. The idea of a man on horseback pitting himself against a locomotive ! Up to it he, however, rode, accompanied by his orderly and a few troopers, and commanded the driver to stop his engine. The reply was a bullet from a first-class carriage window, which killed the unlucky orderly. The engine steamed contemptuously away, leaving the Colonel nonplussed. But here the luck stepped in which has so conspicuously followed us. Lo ! a train of stray camels appeared crossing the line. The leader ran a muck against the locomotive, was tumbled over by the cowcatcher, and was speedily reduced to a dead lump of bones and flesh which, squeezed between iron and earth, completely stopped all progress, the engine going- slowly at the time. It came to a dead standstill—the hero of the bullet was dragged out of the carriage, the driver was cast shrieking from his place, and the booty was fairly won.

Arabi and the Fakir. —When Arabi constructed the big dam across, the canal at Tel-el-Kebir, which was to complete tho wonderful Arabian Plevna —guaranteed to stand six months' seige afc least—it was considered absolutely necessary to obtain the approval of the saint. As Balak did wifch Balaam, so did Arabi with the holy sage. He conducted him everywhere ; showed him tho Christian, and bade him curse him ; led him over his works, displayed his army, and demanded a blessing on his arms. When they came to fche wonderful dam, the saint frowned ominously, and cried, 'What, my son, is this?' 'Holy father,' replied the rebel chieftain, ' this is to cut off all water supply from the odious enemy.' ' This may not be,' retorted the Recluse, sternly ; ' know that the hateful Christian, though lamentably benighted and besotted, and grievously arrogant to boot, is, after all, .an erring child of Allah. Water is given for all creatures. lie has a right to water like the rest. Open a way, thafc afc least some of tho precious stream may moisten his parched throat.' And actually we found, on arrival at Tel-el-Kebir, that reluctantly enough, no doubt, Arabi had obeyed the sage's mandate. Through the centre of the dam an opening had been made, aboufc six feet wide, by way of which the muddy stream was percolating slowly. Our water became low enough and foul enough, but, thanks to the Syid, ifc was never completely cut off.

The Attack on the Trenches. —Arabi's men fled the moment our soldiers appeared above the parapet of the trenches ; but it is not less true that such-a solid, steady, and plucky advance, under a terrific storm of bullets, Avithout firing a shot in reply, is probably unparalleled in warfare. For the space of a mile and a half the ramparts presented the spectacle of one sheet of flame, so rapid and incessant were the volleys discharged, and it is 1 now known thafc each man was supplied with 300 rounds of ammiuiifcion. With no desire to disparage the valour of our young soldiers, it luust be recorded fchat success would never have crowned their efforts had it not been for the officers' heroic conduct. The truth is the men required an immense amount of ' leading,' which is proved by the fact that no less that 20 per cent, of the killed were officers —a very unusual proportion.

Arabi's Tents. —In surveying the camp, the tents of the chiefs were eagerly sought after, and very beautiful some of them were with costly household stuff, scattered in profusion such as reminded one strongly of Vernet's celebrated picture of the ' Smala.' There was ono exceedingly lofty tent, tho front completely open, raised on immense poles of exquisitely carved bamboo. The inside of this desert dwelling w*as ornamented with rude figures, flowers, and birds, effectively coloured, cut out of variously hued stuffs, sewn on a white ground. Arabi's tents, of course, drew much attention.

There were two ; one lined with crimson damask silk, the other embroidered with forget-me-nots, pomegranates, and other fruits, in a manner which would put some of our fine art needle-work associations to the blush. If one had only been in a waggon, instead of on a terrified horse, what a collection of treasures might have been made ! Such beautiful silk cushions there were, and mats —trophies that would have won for us the smiles of British beauty. Bufc as we— the Indians—were ordered forthwith to. occupy Zagazig, there was nothing for ifc but to groan and pass onward. Glory, we Are told, is better than spoil, and, really, I think, we may be pleased with ourselves looking back to that memorable march. Thirty miles, a battle, and an occupation of a big town, all done straight off the reel, ought to win for the force plenty of kudos. But there! Virtue will probably be its own reward, and they will have no more chances of loot. Talking of loot brings me at once to Zagazig, where, I regret to say, a good deal of looting went on despite the efforts of our General.

Treatment of the sick.—The correspondent of the Times, who travelled from Cairo to Alexandria, mentions the following circumstances which came under hia notice wifch regard to the treatment of some sick soldiers who were in the same train. There were ninety-seven of them suffering from dysentry and diarrhoea. ' Now, at eleven the day before, it was known at the railway station that no train would leave for Alexandria before six, yet at two o'clock the men were brought down, and had to be exposed on the platform until six ; then they were placed seven or eight in a carriage under the charge of one doctor and one attendant. They were without any provision except the loathsome water (alone sufficient to produce their complaint) which could be had at the stations. They were without any rug or covering, and at three or four o'clock in the morning the men, too feeble to stand, at an hour the worst and most dangerous in Egypt, would get owt of their carriages and throw themselves at full length on the damp, pestiferous ground during the long stoppages at the stations in order to stretch their limbs. It was six in the morning before we arrived —a fifteen hour's journey. While at Kafr-Zayat we passed a special train carrying the Khedive's brother, which would probably do the journey under the five hours, and the ordinary train takes little more than the same time.'

Hanging an Egyptian Murderer. —The Alexandria correspondent of the London Standard, writing on the 7th. September, says:—Punctually at six this morning, under the superintendence of Colonel Clealand, Chief of the police, Attia Hassan, the man who was convicted of the murder of Messrs Dodson and Richardson, was marched out to execution with a placard on his breast saying that he had been found guilty of the murder of Europeans on the llth of June. Two half-companies of the 96th, with a detachment of Egyptian police, surrounded the prisoner and marched through the Arab quarter of the town to Pompey's Pillar, where the escort was strengthened by three companies of the 95th. A largo crowd, composed mostly of Europeans of the lower classes, followed the procession, openly exulting at the punishment about to be inflicted. The gallows was erected in an open space near the Mosque of El Shagafch under Fort Caffarelli. The troops drew -up in the form of an open square with its back to the gallows. The execution was carried into effect by tho Egytian police. The prisoner, from the moment of leaving the Zaptiah guard-house to the end evinced no sign of fear or weakness, calmly asking for a glass of water when the rope was round his neck. At a signal by the Egyptian bugler, the table on which he was standing was jerked from under him. In a few seconds life was pronounced to be extinct, the man having died without the smallest struggle. As the fall was not sufficient to break his neck, it is probable that he fainted as he felt the table move. The Arabs from the neighboring village, who remained upon the sm-rounding sand-hills, viewed the spectacle with apparent indifference, although I overheard some express surprise that the sentence should have been carried out by the Egyptians. I saw only one man make a threatening gesture ; but there can be little doubt that an Arab lad was only expressing tha general sentiment, when he exclaimed, ' To-day it is Christians who hang Mussulmans ; "to-morrow it will be Mussulmans who will hang Christians.' The body remained hanging until sunset, under an Egyptian guard. Concerning the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, and the method of English fighting, an officer in Arabi's army gives the following account: —"We were informed that a general attack would be made that night. We were all under arms and at our posts shortly after sunset. During the night Bcouts were sent out with orders to fire in the air as a signal if any force of troops was approaching. They three times reported all quiet. We had given up all expectation of attack; we were tired, and the officers were beginning to lie down, when three scouts were sent out as a last reconnaissance. We had expected that the attack would begin at about two thousand yards. Our guns were sighted for this range. Arabi exhorted his officers to wait ten minutes for the result of this last reconnaissance; but hardly had they leffc fche camp when the signal sounded. Instead of two thousand yards, however, the English must have been only two hundred off. We fired, but most of our shots went over their Leads. Almost at the same moment, it seemed so quick, they were scrambling over us, first upon our right, and then rolling over all down the line like a wave. We never expected war like this. Our soldiers Btood fire at a distance very well. On the sth of August many were killed, and they were not afraid of shells ; but these men came close up to us, and the only way to save life was to run away. The native soldier has never exercised this close way of fighting. No soldiers but the English could fight like that."

The circumstances surrounding the death of Captain J. C. Wardell, of the Koyal Marines, afc the storming of Tel-el-Kebir, are particularly distressing. His third child was born on fche day on which he was killed, and the news was not broken to Mrs Wardell until some time after. Captain Wadell's mother, who is the widow of a major in tbe army, has to mourn the loss of a second son who has lost his life in the service of his country, her elder son, Captain George W. Wardell, of the 24th Kegiment, having been killed afc Isandula.