THE WAR IN EGYPT.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2638, 21 September 1882, Page 3

THE WAR IN EGYPT.

[eeutee’s telegrams.] Received September 21st, 1 a,m. ALEXANDRIA, September 19, Abdullah, tho rebel commander at Damietta, who previously refused to surrender to the British forces, sent a communication to-day to the English commander, offering to submit. The Khedive, accompanied by the members of his Ministry and Sir E. B. Malet, British Consul-General, will leave this city for Cairo on Thursday next, the 21st inst. A strong foico of British sailors and marines has been despatched to occupy the forts at Aboukir, recently surrendered by the rebel troops. We taka the following extract# from papers to hand by tho Bin Francisco mail : For many a long year London has not fait such a thrill as that which stirred it on July 30. h. Tho Wellington barracks were forcibly invaded long before daylight by a mob of friends, relatives, and tho sympathising public, who sought to take farewell of brave men. Fifty thousand people lined tke Embankment at an early Lour to cheer the steamers that boro their gallant freight along tho groat silent highway, and at the point of final embarkation there was no cessation of enthusiasm or of proofs of the anxiety of the multitude. On board the Orient the Scots Guards were joined by their future BrigadierGeneral, the bake of Connaught, His Royal Highness arrived in company of the Prince and Princess of Wales and other great personages. When the Orient started on her swift voyage the cheers that rent the air must have made the brave fellows vow to bo true to the traditions they represent, whilst giving them assurance that the heart of the country goes with them. The squadron of the Ist Life Guards, and a portion of the Horse Guards Blue, headed by their bauds, marched to the docks from Loudon on August Ist, and were got on board the ship Holland with rapidity, after which the Duke of Cambridge assembled the officers and addressed them on the quarter deck. The squadron of 160 men of the 2nd Life Guards, ordered for active service in Egypt, marched on the same day from Windsor to Knightsbridge barracks, en route for the Albert Dock, where they embarked on August 2nd, on board the transport Calabria. The men were paraded at half-past seven o’clock at the Windsor Cavalry Barracks, in marching order, with white helmets and pngreei, but wearing their Hessian boots, which will be exchanged on board for brown leather bluchers and serge leggings. All the troopers were in their ordinary scarlet tunics, and had discarded their cuirasses, but in addition to their ordinary accoutrements each carried a largo jack-knife attached to a lanyard, and behind his saddle was his waterproof sheet, containing white jumper and highlows and a picketing peg. The officers carried revolvers and field-glasses attached to their brown belts. As they marched through Windsor there was a large turn out of the inhabitants, who wished the departing troopers a hearty good-bye. Shortly before one o’clock the Princess of Wales, with her throe daughters, drove up in an an open carriage drawn by a pair of ponies to tho officers’ quarters of tho barracks, where her Boyal Highness remained in conversation for a moment or two with Lord and Lady Down, Lord Templeton, and one or two other distinguished visitors. When the trumpets announced that the troopers were approaching the Princess drove across the road and took up position alongside tho Prince of Wales, who bod just arrived, on horseback, attended by Major-General Sir Dighton Probyn. The Prince were the nndrees uniform of Field Marshal. Her Boyal Highness having alighted with the young Princesses from tho carriage and taken up a place on the steps leading t o the soldiers’ quarters, the Prince of Wales gave tho word for the men to march past in file, that being the only formation practicable in the limited space at disposal. This was done to the regimental tune of “ The Men of Harlech, ’ the Guardsmen, after marching past, again forming in line and giving a Boyal salute. Tho Prince of Wales then shortly addressed the troops. His Boyal Highness said ho was very pleased to have the opportunity of seeing them before their departure for Egypt, of wishing them God speed, and expressing his hope for their happy return. It was now a long time since they had had the opportunity of performing any foreign service, bat he felt convinced that the discipline and marked conduct that had distinguished them on former occasions would not be diminished on this. Ho trusted they would have the chance of distinguishing themselves, and if they did he was sure they would uphold the oredit of the regiment, of which they were all proud. The men were then ordered to dismount and were dismissed to quarters, and the officers had the honor of shaking hands with the Prince and Princess before their Boyal Highnesses left. A consultation having taken place between Sir William Jenner and Sir James Paget on Sir Garnet Wolseley’s case, it was decided that it would be best for him to travel to Egypt by sea, and thus to avoid the fatigues of a land journey to Brindisi. Sir Garnet therefore left on August 2nd in the Calabria. Surgeon Major Hume Spry, M.D., the doctor attached to the Household Cavalry, will be in attendance on him during the passage. It is hoped that the repose of the sea voyage will materially benefit him, and every hope is entertained that ho Trill fully recover his health before reaching Egypt. Captain Wardress, A.D 0., accompanied him. Sir Garnet drove to the docks in a close carriage, and walked on board. His head was muffled in a hood, and he looked far from well. Tho “Standard’s” correspondent gives an account of a novel reconnaissance made on July 28th towards Arabi’s lines. He says — “I have just returned from a reconnaissance on an armor-clad train. General Sir Archibald Alison and Color"! Duncan embarked in tho train, and tho advance to the enemy’s lino was ordered by Captain Fisher. The train was a singular one. In front was an empty waggon. This was intended to shunt on ahead —the train stopping suddenly from time to time —to explode any mines which might have been laid beneath the lines. Then came the first iron-clad truck, with the Nordenfeldt barrels projecting in front like the horizontal pipes of an organ. This truck was followed by three others crammed with bluejackets ensconced behind sandbags. Then came the engine, behind which were three more ironclad trucks filled with men, _ Close behind the train followed another with the reserves. Gliding along the margin of Lake Mareotis, disturbing clouds of wild fowl among its shallows, the train soon reached the point where the engine left the line in the morning, and then came to a halt, Everyone was intensely disappointed, a* all had hoped to steam right into the enemy’s lines to salute them with machine and field guns, and to effect a regular lodgment. However, there was no help for it. The General determined, however, to utilise the valuable base for a reconnaissance afforded by the ironclad train. The mounted riflemen, under Captain Hutton, confronted the enemy’s videttea, and a score of bluejackets moved out to their support. General Alison, accompanied by Colonel Dormer and Lieutenants Lambton and Brikine, advanced with the riflemen to within 800 yards of tho entrenchments, and from the embankments took notes of the enemy’s position. The enemy’s infantry now began to show in force on our left. A battalion of infantry in extended order then came on. They advanced very slowly, either fearing that wo were laying a trap for them or wishing to lay a trap for us. Had they advanced rapidly, tho position of the General and his little escort would have been very critical. So slowly, however, did the enemy’s infantry advance, that all the notes required Wire taken, the General’s party began to fall back, and our hopes that the enemy would follow and come within striking distance were disappointed. As tho reconnoitring party approached the train, a white cloud of smoke ■nd a sharp report overhead, followed by the whizz of shrapnel bullets, showed that the enemy’s artillery had at last woke up. Thou a rocket flew harmlessly overhead. Then they were silent. As the train started on its way back a sullen boom from Eamleh heights showed that a 40-pounder there was taking the affair in hand. The range, which was over four thousand yards, was too long for accurate shooting, and after three essays with percussion shell our gunners obtained tho distance, a knowledge which may bs usefu 1 hereafter. From the train, in the darkness now coming on, we could see the flash of the bursting 40-pounder shells as they followed the retreating Egyptians back to th« ir lines.”

The first real fight of the war took place on August sth outside Alosandria, the engage* ment lasting jtut two hoar*, and resulting in a complete defeat of the enemy, whoie losses ire estimated at 800. Our losses are font killed and twenty-eight wounded. The reconnaissance wr.s determined upon by General Alison in order to ascertain whether Arabs Pasha had retired upon Damanhour j and we may aa well say at once that the principal objaot attained was the discovery that the mutinous Pasha (till held his position or consecutive positions in front of Kafr-el-Dower. No attempt was made to oseupy any post beyond the lines already taken up by the garrison, After a brisk combat of small ami and artillery, in which the British lost four killed, including Lieutenant Howard Yyse, a “most promising young officer," and some twenty-eight wounded, chiefly Marines and seamen, the troops returned to their quarters. “ As a reconnaissance,” General Alison telegraph* to the War Office, “the success of the move was all that I could wish j” but beyond that he claims nothing. The operation itself, simple in its conception, wsa vigorously carried out. The site of the movement was the narrow space between the bo called lakes, no great distance south of Mahala Junction. Along this strip of ground the Mahmoudieh Canal and the Cairo railway run nearly parallel, the waterway lying to the eastward, and the iron track to the west. In order to cover the advance an ironclad train armed with a fortypounder took its station ath T tho junction. There 1000 marines, commanded by Colonel Tuson, and two nine-pounders, dragged by the bine jackets, disembarked, and hidden by the permanent way marched forward. These formed the right, the left being composed of half a battalion of the 33th and half a battalion of the 46th, and the centre exclusively of the 60th Bflss, all nnder the command of Brigadier-General Thaokwell. The loft and centre columns received orders to advance simultaneously upon a bond of the canal that was held in some strength by the enemy, and beyond which, at a distance of nearly threequarters of a mile, stand White House and a jumping station with a high chimney, these alter ccustituting the extreme right of Arabi’* lines. Shortly after the three infantry regiments had commenced their forward movement, the 38ch and 46th got slightly in advance of the Bifles, but were themselves outstripped by their mounted comrades under Captain Parr and Lieut. Yyse. Suddenly the enemy opened fire from a rocket battery at White Home, and from a field battery hard by tho pumping station above referred to. Immediately upon this followed a discharge of musketry so vigorous

and well sustained that the colonel of the 38ch spoke of it as one of the heaviest fires he remembered to have witnessed. At this moment on the bank of the canal wore the mounted infantry, fifteen in number, ten of whom had alighted from their horses, and were eagerly returning the enemy’s fire. Just as the rebels made a rush at them they were ordered, so it is said, to retire; but, if so, they probably did not hear the recall, for they continued firing with all possible assiduity. Whilst this small-arms encounter was at its briskest, Lieutenant Yyse took a rifle from his servant’s hand, and stood erect on the canal bank to take a shot at the enemy. As he was in the act of aiming a bullet struck him in the left proin, killing him almost immediately. Almost at the same moment his groom was killed, and three men were wounded. Piggott, Parr, and poor Vyse’s servant bore him off the ground under a very heavy fire. Thus ended the brief military career of one who, in the Brigadier’s own words, was one of the best your* officers in the brigade. Meanwhile the 38th and 46ih continued their advance under a fire of rocket?, shells, and rifle bullets, which, although extremely heavy, fortunately inflicted no loes upon these gallant troops. One shell fell within twenty yards of Colonel Byre’s reserve companies, but penetrated so deeply into the sandy bed of the dried-up Isk- that it hurt nobody when it exploded. O i the whole the Egyptians’ fire was indifferent. Our troops fired upon them from both sides of the canal, and taw many fall. The enemy now foil into some c»o----fusion, which was greatly ir.cretard when the rifles came up and opened fire. Advancing simultaneously, the three British regiments, or, rather, portions of regiments, sore, polled the enemy to withdraw his field rums and rocket battery, and presently the i»S h and 46th passed close to the pumping station with the large chimney referred to above. All the troops engaged with the enemy behaved extremely well. When the 38th arrived at the tall chimney Major Alexander took a long look at the enemy’s positions, and having thus gained all the information to obtain which the reconnaissance was executed, he re v ired his command to a part of the plain about half a mile to the rear of the pumping station. General Alison, however, determined to push the reconnaissance farther, and, using the artillery in his train on the right attack pretty freely, sent on the marines straight towards the enemy’s lines. During their advance they sustained a heavy fire, and, ae it seamed, viewed from the other side of the canal, suffered severely. Nevertheless, they steadfastly thrust the enemy back, killing many of his men. Twelve rebels were found dead in the first line of entrenchments, nine in the second, and a large number still further on. The Marines eventually halted a little beyond the tall chimney, near which the left and centre columns had previously concluded their for ward movement, and lay down along the right bank of the canal. Whilst General Alison was surveying Arabi’o positions, the enemy continued shelling the train, and throwing rockets at the trucks in which the Marines had bean conveyed. About 630 p.m. the enemy showed in greater force than theretofore, causing the 38th to advance again, bringing with it a 9 pounder, which throughout the previous engagement had covered their attack and done good service. Manned by sailors, it sgsin shelled the enemy with renewed vigor. The latter feebly replied with rockets, rhioh did no harm whatsoever, but led to the inference that the rebels had exhausted their ammunition for the field guns they had brought into action. The armed train replied to the enemy’s rocket fire, and as darkness cams on the Marines were withdrawn along the railway line, firing briskly as they retired. The enemy kept at a respectful distance, evidently experiencing no desire to make closer acquaintance with the Marinos. About this time the whole British force engaged in the rcoonnaitsance began falling back, headed, of course, by the reserves in extended order whilst crossing the plain. The mounted infantry retired along the left bank of the canal —tho Rifles along the right bank. The trains returned at a slow pace, and by 8 p.m, all the British forces emnloyed during the day were out of action. Tho enemy did not rooccupy during tho night the positions he had abandoned, but fired at intervals into their own entrenchments, apparently under the impression that those latter were occupied by the British.

According to the latest intelligence from Alexandria (says the “ Mail ” of August 11th), the enemy continues to work incessantly at his entrenchments on all sides ; the works which are being thrown up between Ramleh and Aboukir being evidently designed for the reception of heavy guns. On August Bth Admiral Seymour inspect, d the crew and marines of the ironclad train, and congratulated them in a few sailor-like sentences on the good work that they had done, after which he read to them the Queen’s message regarding the action of August sth. The train then proceeded to reconnoitro the enemy’s position. The enemy’s infantry could be seen in force ell over the ground actors which the Marines and Rifles advanced the other day. The train wont very quietly forward, enabling those in charge to make a very complete and careful inspection. The inspection being ended, the engine was reversed, and then steamed quickly to the rear. The instant the movement was observed the enemy opened fire from nine guns and throo rocket tubes. For a minute or two it was somewhat hot. One shrapiulehell, with a time fuse, burst high overhead ; percussion shells shrieked by, and bursting in the swamp threw up inarms of mud mingled with the smoke; rockets whizzed overhead, some of them ascending high into the clear blue of the evening sky, and falling very wide of the mark. As long as the train was in range the fire cf the gun-i followed. The enemy had evidently reserve!! his fire, intending when tho train approach'd to concentrate such a volley of shell as would disable the engine or knock a truck eff tho line. They had, however, waited tco long, expecting, no doubt, that the train would go still closer. Captain Fisher, however, nn too wary, for their long silence was omit,oar <.f some concerted plan. The sudden ohau,;i' of direction of tho train disconcerted tin gunners, whose pieces had probably been laic up on some point in advance of that at whit I. too train stopped j their aim, therefore, was wild and hurried- and no damage whatever

(was done. Arabi is, without doubt, preparing to fight a general action on tho ground in the immediate front of the Ergliah troops, which up to the time of the reconnsfitet.ee of August 6th, was held only as an advanced post.

A recent number of tho “ Daily News ” contains the following remarkable paragraph:—“lt is stated that the three majorgenerals of the Guards over whose heads the Duke of Connaught has been promoted to the command of the Guards’ Brigade on active service had each paid a sum of £4OOO to secure the chance now lost to them." If this statement is correct it is open to more than one remark. What was the payment said to have bean mads by the officers in question? People generally are under the impression that purchase has been abolished. Is it creditable that, though it is now impossible to purchase an ordinary commission, an officer is still able to buy a command of special importance and difficulty P CONSTANTINOPLE), August 14.

The following is the concluding portion of tho statement drawn ap by order of the Sultan and given to the New York ‘‘Herald" correspondent. In speaking of the Alexandria massacre, it saye:—“Everybody agrees that there was no premeditation on the port of the Egyptians; that the Arabs only fought with sticks, and that the Egyptian army, considered a rebellious body, energetically acted in suppressing the massacre. It has also been proved that among the Egyptian dead and wounded msuy bore the marks of bayonet wounds. As soon as the news of this disaster reached the Khedive at Cairo, hia Highness, together with the Commissioners of his Majesty the Sultan, and the Egyptian Cabinet, hastened to Alexandria and took the neoetsiry steps to re-establish order and arrest tho guilty. The Khedive convoked a tribunal to judge those implicated in the disorders, but the Consuls of Prance and England having refused to be represented in this tribunal, the other Consuls were also obliged to follow the same lias of conduct. This refusal cannot be explained, unless by their evil intent Arabi Pashaoffieially declared that ha would submit to the orders of his Majesty the Sultan and his Highness the Khedive, and all the Notables. Tho chiefs of the tribes and tho Oleum* and Doctors of religion declared that they would submit to the orders of the Khedive. In the meantime the Khedive entrusted Eagbeb Pasha with the task of forming a now Ministry. The President of tho Council announced in his programme the maintenance of the sovereignty of his Majesty the Sultan. In tho programme a full amnesty has been granted to all persons except those who had been implio-tad in the affairs at Alexandria. Although the necessary measures had been taken to maintain public order, and although Arabi had declared that he was ready to obey the orders of his Majesty the Sultan, and of his Highness the Khedive, the foreigners had commenced to quit and continued to quit the country. The Consuls who understood tho efforts of the Khedive ana Cabinet to preserve order, were unable to prevent this emigration, and it is even believed they aided it, and recant events strengthen this belief. We thus see that the Khedive and his Cabinet managed to establish order a d prevent emigration, but certain instigators and the refusal of the Consuls to take a part in judging of the guilty, proves the existence of a determination not to allow the Egyptian question to be closed. When all was over and the army had submitted, Admiral Seymour assumed a threatening attitude. At first be insisted that the fortifications were being repaired. The Khedive declared that although England made military preparations in England, and even on board the ships of war in Alexandria harbor, yet the Egyptian Government and army, who only desired to mainiain the status quo, made no preparation* whatever. After this assurance Admiral Sejm.our returned to the same theory—that is to say, ho declared that unless preparations had ceased ait bin twer.ty-feur hours he would open fire on the forte. The Khedive and tho Cabinet again r-'itsralrd their declarations, and proposed to Admiral Seymour that they should go together over the fortifications in order to prove that no preparation* were being ms.de. The Admiral refused, and after twenty-four hours had elapsed sent nr. ultimatum in which be required that the fortifications should he uumaotled and uurrtudered to him within. t.seoty ft,or hour*. The Khedive faastqgH fc» show that he could rot accede to

taiiou, for he did net cndentafi%*MHHnm for it, and the Admiral, four the expiration of the period of cWf fixed by himself, trampled nndcr foot the principles of individual rights, and began the bombardment. There is even another fact which ia moat remarkable, Not only did the English ar.d French refuse to send delegatee to the tribunal, in order to judge the pereoni implicated in the Alexandria riot, but during the bombardment, the English Admiral Sred upon the boat that contained the prisoners arrested after the Alexandria riot. This resulted in the death of some of the prisonert and the flight of the other*.”