THE GLOBE. FRIDAY AUGUST 25, 1883. THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2616, 25 August 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY AUGUST 25, 1883. THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN.

We have now before ns, in a tolerably complete form, the plan of the Egyptian campaign. Sir Garnet Wolseley’s start for the scene of action was somewhat delayed, bnt, when once there, he has set about operations with his nanal energy. He certainly does not trouble himself about the diplomatic aspect of the question. He cuts telegraph wires to tho rage of the Sultan, he uses the Canal as his base of operations, and so on. His business, he evidently holds, is to conquer Arabi Pasha, and he intends to do so as completely and as swiftly as possible. The Conference of Powers may settle the question of the control of the Canal and tho arrangement of Egyptian affairs at a later date, bnt for the time being Sir Garnet Wolseley has no time to attend to anything but immediate military operations. He has determined, we are told, to make the main attack on Arabi from the westward, after securing the Canal as his base of operations, while General Hamley will advance from

Alexandria to attack the enemy from th< north with three regiments. Genera! McPherson, who commands the detachment of the Indian troops which have already landed at Baez, will no doubt join Sir Garnet, while the remainder of the 6000 Indian troops will, when they arrive, be hurried towards Kafradowar as quickly as possible. There is decidedly one advantage about the scheme adopted. It will certainly, if successful, crush the enemy most completely. Unless Arabi leaves his entrenched position at Kafradowar, he will find the whole of the country behind him in possesion of the English; in front of him he will find General Hamley’s force, and to the west of him the desert. There will be no danger then of a long and protracted campaign. Moreover, it is very possible that this change in the plans of the English may have had something to do with the declaration of tho Governor and troops of the Soudan that they will adhere to the Khedive. This item of nows is particularly satisfactory, because if the Soudan had revolted and Arabi had retreated there, the difficulty of forcing him to a decisive engagement would have been enormous. But for the very reason that Sir Garnet’s plan is complete it will take seme time to work out. The march from Ismailia across Egypt and northwards to Kafradowar will bo no light matter, particularly at this time of the year, for we

see by the telegrams that the floods of the Nils have commenced. As, however, these floods recur annually at exactly the same time of the year they will have bben taken intd-the plan of the campaign. I&deed, the very length of time to be consumed in working out the plan will probably tell heavily against Arabi. Already we see that his officers are deserting him, and when his rear is occupied by the English, it is difficult to see where he will draw his supplies from. Of course he may not allow the English plans to mature, and may move out of his present position, but then he will lose the advantage of choosing his own battle-ground. If the English manage to make s success of the whole affair, it will be much to the credit of the leaders and force. The population of Egypt is now much larger than it was in the days of Napoleon, and ho found it rather hard work with his 30,000 men. Certainly, the nation was more unanimously against him, and the 12,000 Mamelukes he had to engage with, amongst the rest, fought like wild cats. But, taking all things into consideration. Sir Garnet Wolseley may be said to he struggling against greater odds than the great French commander. His force is smaller and his enemies more numerous, while many of the latter are seasoned soldiers. As for the other invasion of Egypt in modern times, it will not be . advisable to drag it in as an illustration. St. Louis’ expedition in the thirteenth century was a complete fiasco. He set sail on the seventh crusade—in which our Prince Edward, afterwards Edward I, was engaged—-with 40,000 men for Cyprus, and from thence went to Egypt.. thinking by the conquest of that country to open out the way to Palestine, He, however, wasted months in Alexandria, and, although he took Damietta, he was finally taken prisoner by the Mahomedaus, and his countrymen had to pay 100,000 marks of silver for his release. Sir Garnet Wolseley at least does aot intend to let the grass grow nndei his feet. The movements of his army will be watched with intense interest and anxiety during the next few weeks.