THE WAR IN SOUDAN.

Kumara Times, Issue 2658, 16 March 1885, Page 2

THE WAR IN SOUDAN.

[REUTERS TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. MAJOR-GEN. GRAHAM’S FORGE FOR SUAKIM AND BERBER: 12,000 MEN, INCLUDING THE SYDNEY CONTINGENT. ARREST OF ZEBEHAR’S SON AND THREE OTHERS. (Received March 16, 0.50 a.m.) Cairo, March 14. Zebehr Pasha having been suspected of communicating with the Mahdi, has been arrested and conveyed on board H.M.S. Iris, at Alexandria. (Received March 16, 12.20 p.m.) March 15. Zebehar’s son and three others have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in communicating between Zebehar and the Mahdi. (Received March 15, 10.30,a.m.) Sydney, March 14. Government has received a telegram from the A.genb-General stating that nearly the whole of General Graham’s force has now reached Suakim, and that it will number altogether about twelve thousand men, including the New South Wales contingent. THE DEPARTURE OF THE SYDNEY CONTINGENT. [Per s.s. Tarawera, at Auckland.] Sydney, March 5. The departure of the contingent to the Soudan occupied all attention. Tuesday last was a great day in N.S. W. From early morning crowds assembled everywhere, and it is estimated that the departure must have been witnessed by nearly two hundred thousand persons. Everything was well arranged, and there was no delay. Indeed so promptly did the transports get away that four or five men who lagged behind to say the last farewell were left behind. Mr Dailey, who rode in the Governor’s carriage, was, next to the contingent, the hero of the occasion, and came in for liberal applause. A serious accident occurred on leaving the Heads, where the steamer Nemesis, crowded with people, got foul of the Iberia. Two women were killed, and one child injured. One woman was watching her husband at the time on board the troopship, and was holding up the child for him to see, when the crash came, and the mother was crushed to death. Several others were also injured, one rather severely. At an open air meeting of the laboring classes a vote of censure was passed on the Government. There is some opposition, but the majority of the opinions favor the expediton. THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS TO THE TROOPS. The following address was delivered by Lord Loftus to the New South Wales Soudan contingent immediately before their embarkation :—“ Soldiers of New South Wales.—l have deemed it my duty as representative of Her Majesty the Queen, to say a few words to you at this solemn moment, before your embarkation. For the first time in the great history of the British Empire a distant colony is sending at her own cost, a completely-equipped contingent of troops, who have volunteered with an enthusiasm of which only we who have witnessed it can judge to assist the Imperial forces in their bitter struggle for the suppression of unspeakable cruelty and for the establishment of order and justice in a misgoverned country. Countless as have been the occasions when the blood and treasure of England have been poured out freely to protect the feeble, to shield the defenceless, and to maintain the right, there has never been one in which humanity is more deeply interested in the triumphs of the arms of England than the cause which yon have heroically resolved to uphold by your valor. You will be greeted in Egypt by the hearty welcome' of thousands of chivalrous soldiers who have never yet looked upon such an action as yours. The eyes of your gracious Queen will be bent upon your exertions, and in every part of the world where our flag floats, men and women and children will eagerly read of yonr exploits and pray for your success. Soldiers, you carry in your keeping the honour of this great colony, which has made such splendid sacrifices to send yon to the front with an equipment of which nations most practised in war might have been proud, and you will have the glorious privilege of helping to maintain the honor of the Empire. In your ranks are numbers who are voluntarily leaving the paths of for- 1

tune, wordly advantages, the comforts home, and the sweetness of domestic life, for heroic service in a bloody war, in which already many brave men have been stricken down. You are doing this to show the world the unity of the mighty and invincible Empire of which you are members. Your country charges itself with the care your dear ones whom you leave behind. All that generosity, tenderness, and gratitude can do to care for them, to succour and console them, will be looked upon as a labour of love by the nation. Soldiers, you leave us amidst the acclamation of your fellow citizens, whose hearts will be with you iu your camps and your conflicts, amidst an enthusiasm of admiration and sacrifice unexampled, with the sympathies of every true citizen of the Empire, with our earnest hope that it may be your glorious privilege to share in the triumph as iu the service, and to come back to ns crowned with England’s gratitude, as you are now encompassed with her sympathies. Soldiers, on the part of your fellow citizens, I now say to you farewell, and may God ever have you in His holy keeping.”

Dr. Granville, who proceeds to the Soudan with the New South Wales contingent as Staff-Surgeon there, will be one of the officers who has recently seen some very active service both as soldier and pressman. Dr. Granville served in the Zulu war with Colonel Durnford’s column, consisting of nearly 1000 men, all of whom, including Colonel Durnford, and the Ist and 24th regiments, were killed, with the exception of some thirty survivors, at Isandula, in January, 1879, Dr. Granville escaped, having been ordered to march out the night previous with a party of reconnaisance. He was three miles away from the camp when it was attacked. His assistant-surgeon (Brice) was killed. Dr. Granville was then placed on the medical staff of Sir Evelyn Wood’s column. He served with the Flying Column, was present at the battle of Ulundi, and was mentioned in Sir Evelyn Wood’s despatches for distinguished conduct. After the battle of Ulundi the column was disbanded. Dr. Granville was then attached to the First King’s Dragoon Guards, Lord Wolseley’s military escort, proceeded with them through the Transvaal, and was present when the body of the Prince Imperial was found in Zululand. Dr. Granville is an artist, and has contributed to the “ Graphic ” some excellent war and other sketches.