THEE WAR IN EGYPT.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2631, 12 September 1882, Page 3

THEE WAR IN EGYPT.

BY CABLE.

[eETJTBB'S TELEGBAMB. | LONDON, September 9,

A despatch has been received to-day from Sir Garnet Wolseley, timed noon, regarding the engagement fought this morning near Kassasain. Sir Garnet reports that the onemy in great force were observed reconnoitering the British outposts at daybreak. The order was at once given for them to be attacked ; and after a somewhat brief engagement they were repulsed with very heavy loss, and four guns were captured. The loss on our side was slight. After their defeat the enemy retired to lines at Tel-El-Kebir, their artillery meanwhile firing at leng ranges upon the British force. The latter have since returned to Kassasain, where the head quarters of the army now are.

ALEXANDRIA, September 3,

An Arab mob to-day attacked and overpowered the guard, and forcibly removed from the gallows the bodies of the murderers of Messrs Dobson and Richardson, who were publicly hanged here yesterday. [" ABGTJS " SPECIAL.]

LONDON, September 10, 8.-44 a.m. In the engagement on Saturday, the contingent from the enemy's garrison at Salakieh, numbering 1500 men with a battery of Krupp guns, attempted to outflank the British forces at Kassassin, but were routed after an exceedingly stubborn contest, during which our forces managed to capture a green standard. The total casualties on the British side numbered sixty-four.

["age" special.] LONDON, September 10.

A mutiny is rampant in Arabi's camp at Kafradowar. Pour officers who have deserted have reached the British lines. Baker Pasha and Dervish Pasha, with the Turkish troops, have been ordered net to advance from their camp at Port Said until the Convention between England and Turkey is absolutely signed. Arabi is expelling all the Turkish and Circassians from his camp. rPer ftoto-ma at the Bluff. J The Indus brought files up to 28th July. The following extracts are taken from the Melbourne papers : After the bombardment, according to the correspondent of the "Standard," whose testimony is supported by others, at least one-half of the European portion of Alexandria is destroyed, not oounting cotton, wheat, warehouses, and the extreme suburbs. Strange to say, not one Bank has been burnt or seriously pillaged. These buildings were known to be strong, and the managers had taken excellent precautions. The oourts, clubs, Bourse and Eastern Telegraph building are saved, although they were bo surrounded by fire that they were at first reported to be burnt. Among the buildings whioh escaped fire was the Anglo-Egyptian Bank. Gossioh, the manager, who remained with his wife throughout the bombardment, has given an account of the scenes be witnessed, and whioh helps more vividly to picture the state of the city during those terrible hours. It appears that the exodus of the inhabitants began before a shot was fired. During the preceding night the native population had fled screaming with terror into the interior. The excitement increased when the ships opened fire, and all day long the people were fleeing with frightened faoee. At an early hour the soldiers paraded the town to make sure that no communications were passing with the fleet. Officers mounted the terraces and houses and out the telephone wires. A few shells were observed to fall in the town, but many passed over. Towards the evening there was a sudden revulsion of feeling. The orowd paused in its flight, and the people shook each other warmly by the hand, embraced, and congratulated eaoh other, and the Arab women made their poculiar guttural cry of joy. Eire had ceased, r.cd the rumor had gone round that the forts had sunk two of the ironclads and disabled five more. This delusion was soon scattered. Next day still greater numbors fled, and by the afternoon the fright had beoome general, At three o'olock the soldiers gave the signal for pillaging. Pieoes of calico were cut into pieces and handed round, while albums, watohes, and fancy goods were oarried off, and frequently pulled to pieoes after having been retained for a few moments in the hands of men who did not understand their use. Officers frequently oarried two or more guns, so as to leave free the hands of the soldiers who were carrying off the booty. A colonel mounted on a horse, had a pair of shoes under his arm, another threw down and broke into a thousand pieoes a clock whioh he found too heavy to carry. The property destroyed was of greater value than that whioh was actually carried away. As soon as the shop was empty the paper and all the debris that could be hastily collected were thrown into it. Then small explosive pellets were added, and in a moment the whole was in a blaza. At 5 o'clook the Egyptian heroes, loaded with booty instead of laurels, retreated in the greatest disorder. By six all the European quarter was in flames, and the town presented the appearanoe of a huge furnace. Here and there we oould see men of sinister appearanoe and some disbanded soldiers coming like shadows into the open shops, and going out loaded with inflammable plunder, having fed the fire with inflammable material with whijh they were provided. In order to defend the back, whioh the fire enolosed in a cirole momentarily beooming smaller, I was bound to make the rounds of the adjoining streets all night, and fire on all inoendiaries and marauders. In this way the immediate neighborhood was kept clear. In the morning, Thursday, finding that no soldiers were ooming to relieve us or save the town, we determined to go to them. We set out together, some seventy persons, and put women and children in the middle of our troop and surrounded them with Greeks and Montenegros, and then all started for the Custom House. On our way there, thirty-five people in the same oondltion as ourselves joined us, and the_ 105 marohed without encountering any opposition through, and over the masses of burning ruius. We ourselves broke open the doors of the city. We seized some abandoned boats which were fortunately at hand, and pulled I out selves to Admiral Beymour, who reoeived 1 as with kindness on board the Helioon. j Another Bank was also successfully defend id I by a small garrison of civilians, 3he offioeis of some Egyptian troops twioe tried to gain

admission, deolaring that they had orderi to massacre all Europeans, but would spare the inmates if they would give up the money. This Bank contained £16,000. The little garriion refused, strengthened by the barricades, and poured from between a biting fire.

There is no longer any doubt aa to the origin of the corJUgration. It was first feared that the guns of our ships might be to some degree responsible. The " Times" correspondent says the town fires were undoubtedly the work of the soldiers, at the direct instigation of Arabi himself and his prominent supporters. The hoisting of the white flag and all negotiations which fallowed were simply to gain time to enable the soldiers to leave Alexandria and fire the town before doing so. Arabi, during the engagement, was at Fort Napoleon, whioh neither fired nor reoeived a shot. About half past eleven, when the ships had ceased firing, he rode through the town, accompanied by Mahommed, Samy, and others. It was in the afternoon that the party of soldiers oame down to the square and deliberately set fire to the French Consulate. Another party of soldiers took the opposite side of the square and treated it the same way, while the party whioh had began with the Consulate separated and burnt the remainder of that side. The English Church, standing a little way off the pathway, and surrounded by a garden, was aaved by its palings. Other statements allege that petroleum was used, and that combustibles were distributed. It is oertain that convicts were let loose, and that they had a hand in the work of destruction. A mixed multitude followed Arabi Pasha into the open oountry. The first accounts stated that in the general flight his soldiers had rapidly deserted him. It was not long before he was known to have encamped near Kafradowar, whioh is the first station on the Cairo line. Several successful attempts were made by individuals to reconnoitre his position. Stragglers brought reports that he had together about 6000 men with guns. One of his first aots was to endeavor to seiae the locomotives at Alexandria, and steam was already up by his instigation before his projeot was discovered and cheoked. The Khedive was strongly urged to declare him a rebel, and for some days he hesitated to take openly suoh a hostile oourae. He first sent for him to return to Alexandria, but Arabi waa too prudent *.o put himself within reach of arrest. Admiral Seymour received a letter stating that Arabi had orders to stop all military preparations, and had been dismissed from hia functions , but fearing disorder at Cairo and elsewhere, the Khedive deferred announcing the fact. This protracted delay was the more unsatisfactory as several personages had still free aocess to the palace of the rebellious chieftain. Moreover Dervish Fasha, the Sultan's oommiisiouor, was suddenly summoned baok to Constantinople, and left abruptly. Arabi himself took bolder action, He sent to Cairo Yaboub Fasha, ordering him to assemble the Notables. About seventy or eighty then oame together, who were told that the Khedive was aboard an English man-of-war and the Ministry all in prison at Alexandria. There was a tumultuous discussion, some recommending the deposition of the Khedive and the declaration of a holy war. The more moderate counsels cf the Koptio Patriarch prevailed. Finally a Commission was appointed to proceed to Alexandria and inquire into the fast. Of this Commission only two—Ali Monbarek, formerly Minister of Publio Works, and another—reaohed their destination. They were stopped by the soldiers and taken before Arabi, who treated them well, but tried hard to dissuade them from going further. Ali Monbarek brought the news that Arabi had actually proclaimed a holy war, and was doing his utmost to arouse the people. From other sources we learn that the false news was freely circulated to stimulate both their hopes and passions. Already scattered Bedouins were flocking to his camp, and every day brought fresh recruits. One account estimated that his total force had swelled to 50,000 men, all armed. Some even said he had 100,000. A contemptuous proclamation was Arabi's answer to the order to cease all military preparations. This document addressed the Governor of the Frovinoes. He represents the Kho dive as in league with the enemies of the oountry, and declares the Khedive remains with his women afloat among the English at night, and by day returns to the shore to oontinue the slaughter of Mahometans in the streets of Alexandria; and announoes that the entire country is now under military, aud that hia own orders must be carried out on pain of death. In the seoond proclamation Arabi declares that all messages and telegrams from the President of the Ministry ordering the discontinuance of preparations are extorted from him and are to be disregarded. " War," be adds, " irreoonoilable between us and the English exists, and all those who prove traitors to their oountry will not only be subjected to the severest punishment in aeoordanoe with martial law, but will be for ever accursed in the future world."

The proclamation in which the Khedive dismissed Arabi is curiously worded. There is apparently a wish to justify the Egyptian feeling, and amongst the charges Alleged against the rebellious soldier is one that he did not oppose the English landing. The proclamation commences—" Arabi Pasha, for your departure for Kafradowa, accompanied by the army, thus abandoning Alexandria without our order, and your stopping the railway traffic, and your preventing our aohieving any telegraphic communication ; also preventing our communications through the post, and your impeding the return of the nfueees to their homes at Alexandria, and your persistacoe in war preparations, and your refusal to come to us after receiving our order : for these reasons we dismiss you from the office of Minister of War and Marine, and we send you our order to this effect- for your information. After the destruction of the Alexandrian ports by the British fleet within ten hours without any damage having been caused it except the death of five persons, and without damage of any kind having been caused the ships, and having, to our regret, lost about 400 guns and the best part of our artillery, the said Arabi Fasha came to Ramleh Palice and informed ns that all the forts had been destroyed and become useless. That at the time the Admiral of the British fleet demanded us to surrender Forts Adjemi Deokler and Base in order that they might be occupied by his own men immediately. A Council of Ministers was held under our presidency, at which Dervish Fasha and Arabi were present, and it was decided that the forts should not be surrendered without an order from the Sultan, and that the force at present existing should be strengthened to repulse any landing of whatever power. A telegram to this effect was immediately dispatohed to his Imperial Majesty. The said Fasha then returned from Bamleh without taking any military notion. We then dispatohed an order to him to reinforce the forts, to whioh he replied he would never do so, and after a while left for Kafradowa, and ordered the troops stationed at Alexandria to follow him. They left in oonsequenoe, and left Alexandria without any military force. On the following day the British troops were landed, and entered Alexandria without a single shot being fired on them, taking possession of the town of Alexandria, whioh is one of the most important towns in Egypt. This proceeding brings shame to the Egyptian army, but the army is not to blame; the whole blame falls on the said Fasha. The shame of retreat will not be effaced for generations." The document, after this somewhat dubious identification of the Khedive with the polioy of resistance, goes on to narrate oases of intervention, and to oorreot some misstatement as to the conduct of the English. The practical conclusion is thus expressed : —" All powers, especially England and Franco, have an immense interest in Egypt, and for this reason intervened for the deposition of the ex-Khedive, and for the control of the finances established by the law of liquidation. Therefore it is evident they could not leave Egypt in a state of anarchy, and the intervention would take place but with no other object than to abolish anarohy and restore the normal State Government. Whoever, therefore, follows Arabi's opposing force beyond his power to resist is exposing himself and his country to ruin, and snoh persons will have committed sis. Unless I was certain it was the object of England and Franoe was not to take possession of Egypt, but merely to restore order, I should have been the first to give my life in defenoe of my oountry." A circular addressed to the cclonbla of the army is issued with this proolinißlion, and informs them that henoeforth Anita 'will have no authority over them and c&Ti gire no order. They are further warned >.»ot to participate in his crimeß, but be wise in time and aot for the welfare of their country.)