THE CRISIS IN EGYPT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1060, 11 August 1882, Page 3

THE CRISIS IN EGYPT.

( p rom our contemporaries ) ALEXANDRIA, August 2. The Naval Brigade has been landed from the British fleet, and has occupied |Mex, near this city, in force This movement has been taken in consequence of the attitude of the Bedouin Arabs, who are massing in the neighbourhood of Lake Mareolis, and threatening the city, and whose advance it has been found necessary to check. Apaity of Bedouin irregulars has advanced against the British lines at Ramleh, and succeeded in surprising the picket. The outposts were driven in, and retreated {in dimrder, hut returned on the arrival of reinforcements from the camp, when the Arabs fled. The aff dr proved a bloodless one. Constantinople, August 2 The question of the neutrality of the Suez Canal is now being discussed by the Conference of European Ambassadors. Atto-day s sitiing the Italian represenlive proposed that the Great Powers “hould co operate wich a view to the establishment of a collective naval protection. It is not known whether this course has been adopted by the Conference. The natives at Cairo are re-opening their shops and apparently ignoring Arabi. London, August 2. The report of the repulse of British picket is unfounded.

It is reported that Arabi Pasha is shooting the loyalists at Cairo. Official information states that Russia deprecates isolated action, and hopes that England will co-operate with the Conference, SirG iinet Wolseley has started for Egypt. London. August 3.

Two regiments of the Household Cavalry and the First and Second Life Guards sailed to-day for Egypt. iSir Garnet Wolseley embarked to-day at Marseilles for Egypt, to assume the command of the British forces in that Country. The Conference of European Ambassadors is continuing its sittings.

The Porte has sent a communication to tne Conference asking its approval of a proposal that the issue of the proclamation declating Arabl a rebel against Imp “rial authority should be deferred until the Turkish troops have landed in Egypt. Lord Duffenn, in replying to the communication, reiterated the declaration that the aims of England in Egypt wore entirely unselfish, and stated that the British Government insisted that A raid should be proclaimed a rebel by the Sultan prior to the debarkation of the Ottoman troops. The British Ambassador further declare 1 that unless the Porte agreed to their terms the British Government would adopt measures to prevent the landing of troops in Egypt. Further accounts to hand regarding the recent attack of Bedouins upon the Bid ish position .it Ramleh, says that the statement that the ou'post retreated in disorder is incorrect. Toe phket, as previously stated, was taken by surprise and fe ' back, but in perfect oah r. Toe, Arabs fled upon the arrival of reinforce men's from the camp. It has transpired that the proposal transmitted to the Confe enci by the Italian Ambassador, that the neutrality of the Suez Canal should he secured by the collective naval protection, has been discussed by the representatives of the Powers. The plenipotentiaries of Germany, Austria, Russia, and Tin key have accepted the proposal, but the British and French Ambassadors have not, it is understood, yet given any definite decision on the point. A considerable force of British troops has been despatched to Suez and has occupied thatplace. The Turkish papers have been officially warned against attacking Arabi Pasha, as an amicable solution of the difficulty will probably follow the landing of the Turkish troops in Egypt. It is announced that Arabi threatens an attack on Alexandria. The British troops are massing in front of Alexandria, expecting Arahi’s attack. Germany, Russia, and Austria have consented to join in preserving the neutrally of the Suez Canal, as agreed to by the conference. The British troops have occupied Suez. The first detachment of Turkish troops will sail for Egypt on Saturday next. Dervish Pasha, who is in command of the expedition, will accompany this detachment. Rumours are currentthat there are serious dissensions in Arabi’s camp at Kafradowar August 4. Major-general Sir Archibald Alison, in command of a large force of British troops, to-day made a reconnaisance of A rain’s position. The information previously received, that Arabi had withdrawn from Kafradowar to Uemanhur, a place on the railway between A exandriaand Cairo, and 38 miles from this city, was fully confirmed by the reconnaisance Arabi’s outposts were seen some distance from Demanhur. Count De Lesseps, on behalf of the Canal Company, has made a vigorous protest to Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour against the passage of H.M.S. Orion through the Suez Canal, that vessel having recently landed a force of marines at Ismalia Count Be Lesseps protests against the Canal being used by England for military or naval opera, tions.

Owing to false and defamatory reports having been sent by representatives o f certain sections of the Press from the seat of war, the number of correspondents permitted to watch the operations is strictly limited, and stringent conditions have been imposed on them. Ara'd’s force is now estimated at 79,000. The Q men has gone to Portsmouth to inspect, the troops prior to their embarkation for Egypt. The report 1 hat a surprise attack was contemplated by Arahi on Alexandria has proved to he a false alarm. A special mission from the Porte to Arahi is regarded ns possible. A Pnnjaub chief has offered to assist the British Government in Egypt with either men or money. Alexandria, Augusts. A fter a reconnaissance in force made yesterday of the enemy’s position and outposts

near Demanhur, Sir Archibald Alison returned to camp. Shortly after the British had retired Arahijadvanced from Dcmanhu’ - with a large f u'oe, and had renched the neighbourhood of Unml di, live miles from this city, when Hem nil Alison gave orderfor an attack. British roopa thereupon advanced,and opened a vigorous assault upon the enemy on three sides. A serious encasement is now proceeding, but] no particulars are yet to hand. August C. The accounts to hand of the battle botween the British and Arabi’s forces at Ramleh show that after some severe fighting the enemy’s advancedlposts on the left were driven in and fell back. Arabi was then compelled to deploy the whole of his available forces in front of Krafradowar. The British artillery and infantry followed him up, and the former were soon able to silence the enemy’s guns at Krafradowar ; but the infantry in taking up their positions had very difficult ground! to cover, and were unable to take full advantage of their gain. Sir Archibald Alison’s marines on the anemy’s right behaved splendidly, and drove the Egyptians’back to tneir second lines. The marines suffered somewhat during the engagement. The object of the reconaissance having been gained, the British troops withdrew from their position at nightfall. The British loss'during’ thej engagement was one officer and three rank and file killed Twenty-nine of the rank and file were wounded. The enemy's loss has not yet been ascertained, but it is known to have been very heavy. A number i f prisoners were taken. Intelligence is to hand that a further force of British troops is being lauded at Ismadia in the Sues’Canal. Tnesfirat’detachment of the Indian troops have Sailed for r gypt. August 5 The Powers represented at the Conference profess annoyance at the British occupation of Suez regardless of the Italian proposal for a joint guarantee of the Canal’s neutrality. Sir Beauchamp Seymour pleads the Khedive’s authority to defend the Canal. Id has been decided to lav a telegraphic cable between Suez, Port Said, and Alexandria. The T/ascars in the Indian ports sympathise with the Moslems in Egypt, and refuse to serve on the English transports. Fifty-seven additional vessels have been chartered in England for the conveyance of troops to Egypt. Arabi is state 1 to have saved the lives of several Europeans during .the massacre in the interior. August 6. The obj ct of the British attack on Arabi Pasha was to ascertain his strength. Arabi’s force was dispersed, the Bedouins being sent to defend the coast. The Natives believe that Arabi is victorious. The British occupation of Suez has surprised and irritated Europe. One vessel has from Bombay fur Egypt with reinforcements. The reconnaisauce of Sir A. Alison, to ascertain the number of guns and the strength of Arabi's position, was entirely successful. A force consisting of 1000 marines, tbeOOlh and two regiments engaged the enemy, and used artillery fre ly. The Nile is rising rapidly. London, August 7. The latest intelligence to hand from Alexandria confirms the nrevious report of heavy 10-s -s on the enemy’r side. It is now definitely known that, Arabi’s force suffered severely from the British fire, and that 200 were killed, besides wounded and prisoners, of whom fifteen were taken by the P>ntish. The prisoners state that Arabi’s entire force only amounts to 16,000 men of all classes, and that serious discontent prevails among them. It is reported that the English Government has instructed Earl Dufferin to deliver an ultimatum to the Porte setting forth that unless Arabi is proclaimed a rebel prior to the arrival of the Turkish troops steps will be token to prevent the latter landing in Egypt. In answer to further inquiries. Sir Charles stated that the Conference of European Ambassadors now sitting at Constantinople had no control over any military action that may be taken by England in the Suez Canal August 7-

Lord Dufferin, on behalf of England, lias accepted Italy’s proposal to the Conference in reference to the Suez Canal. France lias reserved its decision, pending the present

crisis. The pashas are urging the appointment of Baker Pasha to the command of a division. Three thousand Turkish troops have sailed from Salonica for Egypt. Arabi is preparing to make a determined resistance at Ismalia. Russia is mobilising her forces in Asia Minor as near Stambonlas possible, in case of an Anglo Turkish war. The Black Watch (42nd Rojiment) has embarked at Portsmouth for the sent of war. Desultory fighting is taki-'g place at the outposts in front of Alexandria August 8. It has transpired that instructions have been sent by the Government to Earl Dutferin, at Constantinople, that he should only consent on behalf of England to the proposed collective protection of the Bur z Canal by the whole of the Powers being odopted as a temporary measure. The instructions further n quite that Earl Dufferin should decline to give an unqualified assent to che proposal of the Italian delegate to the C inference for the collective protection of the canal. Constantinople, August 7.

It has now transpired that the Turkish troops under orders for Egypt will at present only proceed to Crete, where they will await furtho- instructions from the Porte.

Further communications have passed be. tween the British Ambassador and the Ottoman Government regarding the demand of the former that Arahi should be proclaimed

a rebel before prior to the rlebaikation o' .my Turkish troops in F.gyp ; mid it line mw been ascertained that the Porto has finally promised Ea r l Diillorin fiat A rnbi shall be proclaimed a rebel before the landing of any Ottoman troops, iu accordance with the demand of England,