THE EXPEDITION VIA SUAKIM.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 93, 14 March 1885, Page 6

THE EXPEDITION VIA SUAKIM.

London, February 11.— The Cabinet today approved Geneial Wol.-eley'« plan for an eaily advance from Suakim to Berber, bv a natrow-gauge railroad, to bo laid to Ariab, thirty miles west ot Suakim, where an entieuched camp is to be formed, with the central depfii for stores. Leaving Aiiab, the troops will proceed by forced marches to Beiber it is calculated the advance will begin about the third, week in March, and it is ho{.ied that Berber will be reached in six weeks Ariab is on the road from Suaknn to Berber, and is described as " the i bimling oasis," where there is good paoturuge ami plenty of water. Gwneial Graham has been appointed to the command ot the Suakim and Boiber expedi tion. General Neemanble will command the Guards. General Grieves will bo Chief of Staff. Lojs-uon, February 15fch.— General Graham and staff leave London on Saturday next for Cairo, going by way of Bnndisi. Upon his arrival at Uano he will meet in counsel General Stevenson, General Dolmer, and other officer?, and will then go to Suakim. Three battalions of guards and four battalions of infantry, including two from Malta and two from Gibi altar, have b^en ordered to Egypt. Two battalions of iniautry and a regiment of cavalry have been ordered to proceed from India to Egypt. The nm6 battalions of troops ordorod trom England, Malta, Gibraltar and India are sent ac the request of Wolseley, The grarde leave England at the end of the present week. Two battalions ot English infantry at present in Lower Egypt will proceed immediately to the Soudan. A naval demonstration on the sea, to co-operate with the land movemei t has been arranged, and several British men ot-uar have been despatched to that locality. The number of re-enforcements already ordered to Egypt is 8,000. The V\ ar Department has completed preparations for the transportation of the Commissary and Ordnance Service Vessels are already loading with stores at Woolwich. Suakim, February 11. — Five piers have been erected here for the landing of the supplies for the Berber Expedition. r l hree ct the piers will admit large steamers alongside a railroad built to tho British camp, two miles inland.

Mahdi's Minister of War. Pauis, February 11.— The " Figaro" says that Mahdi's Minister of War is M. Viret. He was tormerly a captain in the French army, joined Mahdi in 18S2,and taught the Arabs the way to break squares when formed by troops in battle.

Radical Opposition. Leonara H. Courtney and John Morley, members of Parliament, are ananging for a conterence ot all the Liberal members of Parliament who are opposed to the continuance of the war in Soudan. They have already been assured of the adherence of forty members. The Radical members are asking an independent line of action against the Government. These movements may imperil the existence of the Government if the Tories propose a vote of censure. Many of the Liberals urge that the Soudan and the Egyptian muddle be handed over to the Sultan All alliance with the Turk would be humiliating, but it is maintained that Abdul Hamed's move would be more potent than British arms in dealing with the fanatical rebels. Much concern is caused bv the heavy losses bus tamed by Wolseley's command, and the Kadicals are alarmed at the terrible vista of boundless expense.

Osman Digna Active. Suakim, February 15th. — New batteries are being erected for the protection of the railway. There is great activity in Osman Digna's camp, women being armed and drilled, and every possible preparation making for an obstinate resistance to the British advance.

Italian Co-operation. Rome, February 11th. — Negotiations between the British and Italian Governments, with a view to Italian co-operation in the Soudan, still proceed. Chevalier Negfa, ttie Italian Ambassador at London, has been instructed to assure Lord Granville, British Foreign Secretary, of the confidence that Italy has in the power of England to crush the rebellion in the Soudan and re-organise Egypt, and to state that Italy is willing to occupy with her troops strategic posts so as to enable England to mass her forces against those of the Mahdi.

Berlin, February 10.— Italy's movements on the Red dea littoral have thoroughly irritated Germany. In consequence ot this new and unexpected movement by the Italian Government, there has been a closer knitting of the entente cordiale between France and Germany.

De Lesseps says the English are Doomed. London, February 11. -De Lesseps, in an interview, considered the English ex pedition doomed to failure. It may reach Khartoum, but the Soudanese will not submit to the English. The English will fall prey to hundreds of thousands of frantics who are ready to die.

A Fierce Battle Fought. Massowaii, February sth.— Abdul Kader, sheikh ot the Beniamer tribe, arrived here with excellent news of the besieged garrisons in the interior. He says the convoy of grain pent to Kassala will enable the garrison to hold out a long time. Abdul Kader hopes with the assistance of the Government, to keep the road to Kasaala permanently open. _ The tiadendowas, who have been blocking it, have crone to reinforce Osman Digna. It is reported from Ghira, on the Settit River, that the garrison made a successful sortie upon the Takroori tribe, under Sheikh Saleh, aided by three Abyssinia" chiefs and thtir followers A great battle was fought in the Gallabat country with alar^efoice of Baggara rebels detached from Senaar. After a severe struggle the Baggaras were utterly routed, losing 6,000 men and four emirs, one of whom was the nephew of Mahdi.