THE WAR IN SOUDAN.

Kumara Times, Issue 2332, 18 February 1884, Page 2

THE WAR IN SOUDAN.

[REUTER’S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ARRIVAL OF MAJOR-GENERAL GORDON AT SHONDY. MASSING OF ARAB REBELS NEAR TOKAR. EXPECTED ATTACK BY THE REBELS. INVESTMENT OF CASSALA. FRENCH AND ITALIAN GUNBOATS. THE MASSACRE AT SINKAT. FOUR HUNDRED WOMEN AND CHILDREN SLAUGHTERED. (Received February 18, 11.40 a.tn.) Cairo, February 15. Major-General Gordon has arrived at Shondy, an important caravan station in Nubia, and within one hundred miles from Khartoum. Telegrams from Souakim state that the rebels are massing in the neighborhood of Tokar, and it is fully expected that an attempt will be made to capture the town before the British force, which has been despatched to its assistance, can arrive there. Increased activity is being manifested among the followers of El Mahdi in the south-east; and Cassala, an important town near the northern frontier of Abyssinia, has been invested by the rebels. (Received February 18, 2 p.m.) February 16. From inquiries which have been made into the circumstances attending the fall of Sinkat last week, it has been ascertained that besides the garrison of the town and the male inhabitants, 200 women and the same number of children were massacred by the rebel fanatics. [special to press association.] London, February 12. Admiral Hewett, who has recently been appointed to the command of Souakim, has refused permission to the marines of the French and Italian gunboats to land there. In consequence of the critical state of affairs in the Soudan, the English Government are preparing for a large shipment of ammunition to Egypt. Reports have been received from Col. Gordon, in which he states that there is a quieting appearance throughout the country which he traversed. The Liberal members are urging the Cabinet to use energetic measures with respect to the Egyptian policy. February 13. Further information frum Egypt states that only four men and thirty women escaped the massacre at Sinkat. The garrison at Sinkat had for a considerable time repelled all efforts of the rebels to break their ranks, but at last, weakened by privations, they had to give in.