THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1154, 20 March 1884, Page 1

THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

London, March 15. Sir Charles Dilke, President of the Local Government Board, in the House to-day made a statement to the effect that if the Opposition succeed in forcing dissolution of Parliament, the Government will take care to appeal to the country, not upon their Egyptian policy alone, but upon their policy generally. In the House of Commons to-day, Lord Hartington, Secretary of State for War, in reply to a question, announced that intelligence had been received that the telegraph wires between Shendy and Khartoum had been cut, and that a steamer from Khartoum had been fired upon. It was assumed, his Lordship added, from these facts that the tribes inhabiting the country between Shendy and Khartoum were now in rebellion. Lord Edmund Filzmaurice, Political Secretary to the Foreign Office, replying to a question in the House of Commons, stated that orders had been issued to General Graham not to advance to Berber. It is rumored that Earl Granville has received information that the rebel tribes at Khartoum bare risen in rebellion.

March 36. Lord Hartingtoa has implied that Major-General Graham may possibly advance as far as Berber. It is hoped that Abyssinia- may bo induced to withdraw the Kassala garrison. Anxiety is being felt in Cairo regarding the safety of General Gordon. March 17. It is announced that the British Government have expressed disapproval at the action of General Graham in placing a price on the head of Osman Digna. The majority in the Cabinet, it is understood, desire to declare a protectorate over Egypt for a fixed period, but Mr Gladstone and Lord Derby are opposed to such a proceeding. The struggle between the two parties is said to be of an acute character. Cairo, March 15. Telegrams from Souakim announce the return of General Graham to that place. His forces are now arriving here also. Before leaving the scene of the recent battle all the villages in the neighborhood of Tamaneb occupied by Osman’s followers were burned to the ground, March 16. Telegrams to hand from Souakim state that Admiral Hewitt and General Graham have conferred with the leading shiekhs of the local tribes, and that a reward of one thousand pounds has been offered for the rebel leader Osman Digna, alive or dead, March 17. A detachment numbering 1000 British troops is about to start for Handak, a town on the Nile, midway between Assouan on the Nubian frontier and Khartoum. The troops will fortify a position there, with a view to check any advance of the rebels in that direction. Telegraph communication has been restored between Shendy and Khartoum. Telegrams from Souakim states that it has been ascertained that Osman Digna continues in active hostility to the British, and is endeavoring to reassemble a force of Arabs with a view of renewing the contest.