CABLE NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 60, 9 February 1884, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

* THE SOUDAtf. Details of Bakers Defeat. Cowardice of Egyptian Troops. The Division on Mr Bourke's Amendment. The Victorian Gunboats. mutiny of Egyptian Troops. Gteneral. (by electric telegraph— oopybight.) (special to united press association.) Lr ndon, February 7. . ' Oa Monday morning last Baker Pasha's force, consisting of three thousand six hundred men engaged a forceof three thousand Arabs at a place about .seven miles 'from ! Trinkitat. The Arabs exhibited the most desperate bravery, and charged the cavalry, who iled before the onslaught. -The Egyptian artillerymen fired one round on the enemy, and then abandoned their guns. Colonel Sarfcorious ordered the infantry to form a square, but owing to the panic prevailing "the movement was incompletely executed, and the Arabs, charging into the gap left, completely routed the infantry, who threw away their arms and implored mercy. The slaughter was terrible. The Massorah black troops alone maintained a firm resistance, and General Baker, failing to rally his forces on them, a general flight took place, the Arabs pursuing the fugitives until they took refuge behind the earthworks near Trinkitat. General Baker has since embarked the remnants of his army on five ships, and proceeded with them to Souakim. The enemy's loss was small, but the Egyptian Arniy lost two thousand men, and all tlieir baggage and guns were captured. General Baker and Colonels Sart6rions and Brundley, narrowly escaped being taken prisoners. Seven English and ten foreign officers aremiasing. The immediate result' 'of the defeat has been massacres at Sinkat and Tokar. Gordon Pasha's safety is doubtful, and the fall of Khartoum is likely to tollow. A force of marines have been landed at Souakim. .This further Egyptian disaster is likely fo seriously damage M-r G!ad§tbue's~creflit m the coming general election. The division on the Right Hon. R. Bourke's amendment on the Address m Reply was entirely a catch one, being taken during the dinner hour, when Sir Stafford Northcote, instead of speaking as was expected, astounded the House by calling for % division. The amendment was lost by 77 to 20. The only notable feature m the debate was ' Mr Bourke's condemnation of the sys« tern, of protectorates, The Victorian gunboats have reached Spithead. They behaved splendidly during a very rough passage, making an average of eight knots an hour. The Egyptian troops m Soukim are reported to be mutinous, and inclined to fraternise with the townspeople. A general rising* is feared, ; Jn the appeal oase before the Privy Council, Union Company v. Melbourne Harbor Trust, the appeal has been dismissed. The Government has absolutely refused to restore Cetewayo. The transport department at the Admiralty is busily engaged m preparing for possible 'requirements for the conveyance of troops, - Jt is pepqrled th,at. H^nlqn is. about visiting England. ; Obituary.— Alpheus Tad, the well, known Parliamentary- writer. ] Dr Moran, Bishop of Ossory, has been oOioially notified of his promotion to the archijnsonpal see of New South Wales, and is how awaiting the filial orders from the Vatican. 1 ... The Admiralty .are. i?<jyiiijQ,g <oi% |nto the legality of the Victorian gußboats proceeding 1 to their destination, $$ m.en-of-war, , ■■'■■-„ :•■.-. ;