AFRICAN TROUBLES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1831, 20 December 1888, Page 1

AFRICAN TROUBLES.

Zanzibar, December 16. The natives under the rebel leader Bushire, are plunderingthe country along the coast. The work of spolilition has greatly increased Bushire's influence, and the rebel ranks are reported'to b° daily augmented. British residents are reported safe. Suakim, December 16. The enemy are answering the shelling from the forts by a hot musketry fire, but go far little harm has been done. Two military aeronauts have started from the city to reconnoitre the enemy's position and ascertain his strength. December 17. It is stated here that the Mahdi, in a letter to Ostrian Digna, writes that the officer in reporting the capture of Emin JBey, mentioned that the white 1 traveller' iwas Stanley. Natives of Suakim utterly jdiscredit the story. Cavalry who' reconnoitred the enemy's trenches to-day rejport them to' be very : strong, and that !the folloWers of the rebel leader are 'numerous. The country is 1 open and Ifree from bush; 5 ' '

I The Mahdi says' that Emin Bey 'and Stanley were fettered and delivered captive by Oman SalekV the Mahdi's (lieutenant. Fade, another'white traveljler, escaped,'but it was expected that he [might be recaptured. London, December 15. I la his statement regarding the intensions of the British Government, Mr said that in any event Suakim ;would have to be relieved without delay. General Grenfell'e discretion was quite junfettered. December 17. Lieut,-General Sir Andrew Clarke, in a letter to the Times, denounces tbe Egyptian war party. -■■•;«< • The Government are doing their utmost to ascertain 'whether there is any truth in the statement that Emin Bey and Stanley have been captured by the Mahdi's adherents, ' If they are convinced that Osmao' Digna's letter is not ! merely a false boast, they : propose to ascertain whether 1 tbe'rfl is any hope of effecting their release'by negotiation.