EGYPTIAN CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1924, Page 2

EGYPTIAN CRISIS.

[Reuters Telegrams.] THE RESERVED POJXTS. I.OXDOX, Xov. 28. The Chief outstanding point in the Egyptian situation relates to the British demands in regard to three-high officials, in which connection it appears the Egyptian Government wants to know the exact meaning of the demand, and who shall euloreo authority over the three officials. It is declared that when the present crisis is over, the general situation will he considered, but meanwhile solution ol the tour reserved points, which the British Cabinet was ready to discuss with Zaghlul when he was in London, must not l>e prejudiced by any action by the Egyptian Government. CAIRO, Xov. 28. Lord Allenby will not attend the St. Andrew’s dinner, owing to illness.

AIUTIXY AT KHARTOUAI. CAIRO, Xov. 28. Two platoons of the Eleventh Soudanese at Khartoum, mutinied anil rushed the military hospital, killing a British and two Syrian doctors. British troops fired on the mutineers who suffered severely. ,

In- view of the continuance of the students’ strike the Alinislr.v of Education lias issued a statement that the schools he conducted irrespective of numbers. At present the ex-Premier, Riisluli Pasha, favours submission of the dispute to the League. He is surprised that the Government has so far taken no official step in this sense. Alanram understands Persia is ready to raise the question at the League, on behalf of Egypt.

FIGHTING REPORTED. I.OXDOX, Xov. 28. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Cairo correspondent says hitter fighting is proceeding in Khartoum streets. British troops surrounded and aie machine-gun-ning the Soudanese rebels, whose losses are heavy.

SOUDAN NEWS. LONDON. Xov. 28.

Reuter’s Cairo correspondent telegraphs that the Soudan down train from Cairo, connecting with the Soudan steamer from Malta is not departing to-night. ’1 here is no lurthei news from Khartoum.

Egyptian police elicited 35 arrests to-day. presumably as a precautionary irvasiirc, dictated hv the present circumstances. It is understud three of those arrested are suspected of conspiring against the lines of General Alienin'. and the present Egyptian .Ministers. The police arrested the student leaders at Alexandria.

SITUATION' IN HAND. CAIRO. November 29. In view of the protests raised against the arrests of the Deputies, the Government has issued a communique staling that a judicial authority is investigating the question whether Parliamentary immunity was suspondd during th adjournment of the session, emphasising the grave and exceptional motives necessitating the arrests and appealing to the public to await the decision calmly.

An official report states the situation at Khartoum is well in hand, the mutiny being confined to two j.latoons of the Eleventh Sudanese Regiment. the survivors of which surrender, ed after a bombardment of the compound at the Egvptian Army hr-spita!-Two British officers were killed arc. eight men wnundc 1.

NO KHARTOUAI NEWS. CAIRO. Nov. 28. Xo details of the .Ministry in Khartoum have yet been received. It was known that there was a certain restlessness among the Eleventh Battalion last August. THE LATEST Alt BESTS. SPECULATION' AS TO REASONS. CAIRO. Nov. 28. To-day's arrests include five deputies. They also include Alohuuiluedans. who were imt tried in the last conspiracy case, owing to their illness.

An ollicial of the Ministry >1 Agriculture has boon arrested. The remainder of those arrested are described as revolutionary Egyptian students. A rumour persists connecting the arrests with an alleged plot against Lord Allenby. and also with the murder of the .Sirdar.

MILITARY DEMONSTRATIONS. CAIRO. Nov. 28. A force of British cavalry paraded Cairo during this morning. Air leeiinnaissam-es have been carried out over the principal towns. All is quiet. STUDENTS’ MEET I NO. CAIRO. Nov. 28. There was a big meeting of Egyptian students at the Ala/.har University. It passed off without incident. NEARLY A CRISIS. CAIRO. Nov. 28. It appears that three of the new Ministers threatened to resign unless three Egyptians arrested on November 27th. were handed over by the British to the Egyptian Government. There was an immediate acquiescence by the British authorities. This averted a crisis. SUDANESE MUTINY. LONDON, Nov. 2:'i.

The “Daily Chronicle’s” Cairo correspondent says: The long-staiming insurrectionary movement in the ranks of the Egyptian Army has spread to a portion of the Sudanese forces, fanned bv Egyptian officers, who were plentifully supplied with Zaghlul propaganda funds. The trouble began at Khartoum by two platoons of disaffected Sudanese storming the hospital in

which two Syrian doetois were killed. A running, indiscriminate light was opened in the surrounding districts, between the mutineers and a few British troops, hurriedly rushed up. Soon all the British troops were out. The Sudanese. who had taken up sheltered positions, were effectively surrounded. A fiirht in the nature of a large

scale Sidney Street (London) affair followed. The British brought up their machine guns, which stopped the rushes of fanatical Sudanese, who were caught like rats in a trap, and the Britishers were soon masters of the situation.

Reuter reports the mutiny started on the evening of Thursday. Two platoons of Sudanese, with two Vickers mms. were encountered in Khodival Avenue, near tho Egyptian Army Hospital. liv two British platoons, both forces facing each other at a distance of lot) yards. A British officer unsuccessfully tried to persuade the mutineers to obey orders. A black officer acted as spokesman for the mutineers. Towards dusk the acting Sirdar arrived. He addressed the mutineers. Someone in the darkness shouted m Arabic that the mutineers refused to recognise the Acting Sirdar. Ihe latter again asked if the mutineers would take orders. An answer was returned in the negative. Orders were then given to round up the nullified.s.

Tho official details show the mutineers were intercepted near the Hospital by a platoon of Argyll and Sutherlands. whereafter the Acting Sirdar called on then, to return to duty. They refused, and, after every opportunity to surrender, fire was opened on the mutineers.

The mutineers replied with rifle and machine gun fire. They then withdrew under cover of darkness. On the morning of Friday, it was found necessary to bombard and demolish tho building wherein the main Itodv were located. The survivors surrendered. Ihe mutineers suffered heavily. Other units were not affected.

When addressing the mutineers, who were on route to Gordon College at the time, a British officer and Colonel Huddleston (Acting Sirdar), advanced alone i:i front of the British contingent, Huddleston emphasising

his identity. Tho behaviour of tlJtr of the Sudanese troops hitherto In been excellent, and remains normal. Diplomatic circles in London deseriho the situation as serious, but not critical.