THE SOUDAN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1201, 6 March 1885, Page 3

THE SOUDAN.

Loudon, February 27. In the House of Lords to-day the Marquis of Salisbury proposed a vote of censure on the Government in connection With the Egyptian policy, declaring that the abandonment of the Soudan would be dangerous to the safety of Egypt and the British Empire. The debate on the motion wa t proceeded with for some hours, and then adjourned. February 28. The House of Commons rejected Sir Stafford Northoote’s motion of cohiure on the Egyptian policy of the Government by a majority -of 14 ,;. ‘. In the House of Lords the Marquis of Salisbury’s motion condemning the Egyptian policy of the Government was oarriia by a majority of 121. Sir Stafford Northooto received 248 votes in, support of his motion, which wait to censure the Government on their Egyptian policy. Among those who voted with Sir Stafford were 14 Liberals and 42 Parnellites. The Times considers the result of the division a* a crashing blow to (hj« Ministry. ... Sir Saul Samuel, the Agent-general for New South Wales, is inviting colonists in England to subscribe to the patriotic fund. The Agent-general will on Tuesday next confer with the Marquis of Hartington, Secretary of State for the War Department, on the question of the expense of the Syd» ney contingent. Mr Forster, speaking on the .offers made by the Colonies to send troops to the Soudan, said it was an example which ought to be looked upon with credit by the world. March 1. General Wolseley holds Korti and Gakdul. 6000 rebel Arabs are in the neighbourly id of Abukla, Owing to an accident,the expedition under Lieutenant-general Sir Gerald Graham has been detained at Cairo. The result of the division on Sir Stafford Northcote’s motion of censure in the House of Commons and on Lord Salisbury’s in the House of Lords will not cause the Government to resign. The Parnellites supported the motion of censure. Gaiko, February 28. Telegrams are to hand announcing that tho British column under Major-general Bailer reached Gakdul from Abukla yesterday. The retreat was made without moles tation by the rebels. Latest news from Snnkm states that the rebel tribesin that neighbourhood are making nightly attacks on the British - advance works, which have in several places been wrecked by the attackers. Wellington, February 28. Referring to the offer of various volunteers for the Soudan, 1 may state that after a conversation with the Defence Minister I think there is no possibility of those offers befog accepted by the Government, although, of course, it is a matter for the Cabinet to determine. Should it be deemed desirable ultimately to offer the services of a New Zealand contingent in the Soudan, it is not likely that the indiscriminate offers recently made would be seriously considered. If a New Zealand corps were sent, the <Jovernment would first insist that it should be a corps creditabe to the Colony, and it would be composed of picked men from all parts of the Colony.—Press Association Correspondent Sydney, March 2.

A review of the Soudan contingent was held in Moore Park on Saturday. Fully 50,000 persons witnessed the evolutions. Special services were held in most of the ci’yjehurches yesterday in connection with the despatch of the troops. , - j : All arrangements for the despatch of the local contingent to the Sond.m to-morrow have been completed. The day is to be observed as a general holiday. Six hundred sailors and marines from her Majesty’s ships in port, wi hj their guns, will accompany the con’ineent to the Circular Quay, where the Governor will deliver a farewell address to tbe departing troops. The demonstration is expected to attract a vast concourse of people, Cairo, March 2.

Major-general Buller has arrived from Gakdul at the head quarters camp at Korti. Prince Hassan, the Khedive’s brother, who has been ; appointed Governor of the Soudan and commander ot the Egyption troops therein, has started for Korti. Intelligence is to hand f:om Kassala, in the Soudan, that the Egyptian garrison recently made a sorti from that place, when a large force ot rebels were encountered, and heavy fighting ensued. The Egyptians were finally repulsed with heavy loss, and compelled to fall back on the town. London, March 2.

A thousand Fenians are being equipped in Chicago for the purpose of assisting the Mahdi in the Soudan rebellion. Sydney, March 3.

To day was o’ served as a public holiday to celebrate the departure of the Soudan contingent. The streets forming the line of route, from the barracks to Circular Quay, were lined with an immense number of spectators from all parts, forming a dense mass. All the buildings and points of advantage were crowded. The troops were escorted by 600 sailors and marines from the warships, and all the available local forces, sc ompanied by the Governo-, Ministers, and official personages. The procession formed an imposing spectacle, and the popular enthusiasm as the contin gent proceeded along the principal streets was shown by loud cheering from the assemb'ed masses.

On reaching the Quay the men formed a hollow square, and were addressed by the Governor, who salt it was the first instance in the history of the Empire of a distant country sending at its own cost a completely equipped contingent of troops, who had volunteered with an enthusiasm of which those only who witnessed it could judge. They would be greeted in Egypt by a hearty welcome from thousands of chivalrous soldiers, and the news of their exploits would be eagerly read in all parts of the world where our flag floats. The country, he added, charges itself with the care of their dear ones left behind. All that generosity, tenderness, and gratitude could do for them would be looked upon as a labour of love by the nation. The contingent, numbering 800, then marched on board the transports, which were accompanied to the Heads by a fleet of small steamers. Melbourne. March 3. The Governor and the Premier have telegraphed their congratulations and good wishes to the New South Wales troops. THE VICTORY AT ABU KLEA.

The following is Lord Wolseloy’a telegram to Sir Evelyn Baring concerning General Stewart’s victorious engagement with the rebels at Abu Klca ;

“January 21, 3 p.m.—General Stewart had a most successful fight on the 17th inst., against Abu Klea Wells, which are about 23 mdes on this side of Metenm- hj. The enemy’s force was collected from Berber, Metemneb, and Ooderman, which place, 1 regret to ssy, was recently captured by the Mahdi’a forces, thus releasing the men from there to fight Stewart. On the afternoon of the 16th Stewart’s cavalry reported the enemy as being in position soma few miles on this side of the wells. It being too late to allow of. an advance an! a suoffepstal fight; Stewart bivouacked (or thy

night. The enemy kept a harmless fire all night, and threw up works on Stewart’s right flank. On the 17th Stewart endea* voured to draw the enemy on to attack, but they hesitated; so leaving all his impedimenta and camels under the guard of the Sussex Regiment and some mounted infantry, he moved forward in a square, all the men being on foot, and passed the left flank of the enemy’s position, forcing him to attack or be enfiladed. The enemy wheeled to the left, and delivered a well organised charge, under a withering fire from our men. The square was most unfortunately penetrated about the left rear, where the heavy cavalry and camelry regiments'stood; by sheer weight and numbers. The admirable steadiness of pur men enabled them to sustain 1 a hand-to-hand encounter, whilst 'severe punishment wis being inflicted on-the enemy by all the other parts of the square, aud the enemy was at last driven back under a heavy tire from all sides. Oh the 19th the HuSsars then pushed forward to the wells, which were in our possession at 5 p.m. The enemy left not less than 800 dead around the square, and the prisoners report that the number of their wounded was quite exceptional. Many are now submittiug. The necessity of obtaining water at the wells delayed for some hours Stewart’s advance on Me’emneh, for which place, however, the force was to push on. When the messenger leftJStewart, a strong post had been established at the wells, where tents had been pitched for the wounded, who were doing well. Stewart concludes this report thus : ‘ It has been my duty to command a force from which exceptional work, exceptional hardships, and it may be added exceptional fighting, have been called for, and it would be impossible for me adequately to describe the admirable support that has been given me by every officer and man of the force. I regret to say that our loss has been severe, but our success was so complete, and the enemy’s loss so heavy, that it may dishearten them so that future fighting may be of a leas obstinate character. General Stewart’s operations have been most creditable to him as a commander, and the nation has every reason to be proud of the gallantry and the splen lid spirit displayed by her Majesty’s soldiers on this occasion. Our losses; have been nine officers killed, nine wounded ; 65 non-com-missioned officers and men killed, and 85 wounded. General Stewart’s force was about 1500 all told.” _ The nine officers killed included Colonel Burnaby and Captains Viscount St. Vincent and the Earl of Airlie.

GAKDUL AND ABU KLEA. It has been stated in cable messages that General Sir Red vers Buller has retreated on Gakdul. The Gakdul Wells, situated in one of the torrent gorges of Gebel Gilif, about three miles from the camel track, consist of three large water-worn cavites, each at a different level, and shut in by precipitous cliffs. The lowest of these pools forms an irregular oval in plan, abut 120 ft long by 60ft broad, and for three-fourths of its length it is enclosed between perpendicular rooks. Whether any labour has been expended in m iking these excavations it is impossible to say, but it is evident that the cavities have been mainly produced by the torrents rushing through a small passage about Bft above the highest water level, and thus wearing away the softer portions of the roek to a considerable depth below the ground level. These reservoirs cent nn always sufficient water for two years’ supply of the existing demand, and are never dry. The lowest well is daily visited by large numbers of animals, and the water is consequently unfit for any other use.- .The second pool, about 10ft above the first one,; lies in the bottom of an almost inaocessjhle channel, the sides of the gorge rising in some places nearly perpendicularly to a height of about 60ft from the water. The appioximate leng’h of this pool i» 200 ft, and its width is 40ft. The quality of the water is excellent, and from this and the upper pool the skms used to carry drinking water are filled, a cord and bucket bring employed to raise the water. The third pool is about sft higher than the second, and lies in a direction nearly at right angles to it. Its size is about 80ft by 15ft. A very tortuous and contracted channel, about 20fc, long and 3ft wide at the bottom, forms the connection between the second and the lowest pool. Above this the gorge widens out, and by the construction of a dam a fine reservoir and ample water supply might be obtained. Nine miles from Gakdul are the wells of El Paar. They consist of a number of holes 3ft or 4ft in diameter, and a few feet in depth and are sunk in the usual manner in the channel of a large river bed. They are rudely excavated and are unlined. Their falling in, therefore, is a matter of frequent occurrence, and these accidents are repaired by the excavation of new ho'es. A basin with puddled sides is formed on the surface for the use of animals. During the r day season the holes are rapidly filled with deposit, and they have then to be remade. On the other hand, in the dry season, the wells are gradually deepened, as the water level falls through use, absorption, and evaporation. Cattle, sheep, and goats are driven here in large numbers. It is the custom, during the hot season, to water the sheep and goats once every four days, and the cattle every other day. In the winter season they are driven to the wells every sixth and fourth day respectively. The water at these wells is good, and the supply generally plentiful. Only once within the 30 years preceding 1872 had they dried up, and then only after a continued drought of two years. At Abu Klea, five miles' from Gakdul, there is another good halting place. Here the trosps of the Mahdi made their first stand when Colonel Burnaby was killed. These wells are sunk in the same manner of those of El-Faar, but as the soil dees not stand so well, they are constantly falling in, and have, therefore, very frequently to be reconstructed. The water is excellent for drinking, and the supply is good, having failed only once within the 30 years preceding 1872. These wells are directly in the camel track to Metemneh, and are constantly visited by caravans. They also form a favorite watering place for the flocks and herds of the Arabs Nearing Metemneh there is a long track without any water supplies, and through a country presentins some formidable difficulties. The drift sand is reported to be exceedingly heavy, while of the adjacent country it is said “ the ground is most fordidding the rocks surrounding the valley, seen from an elevation, having the appearance of a troubled sea.” There it was that the troops of the Malr'i made their second stand, when Sir Herbert Stewart was mortally wounded.