The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1885.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5014, 6 February 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1885.

The Soudan news received by us to-day; and published in another column, will awaken Bad feelings in the hearts of many readers of it. From our cablegrams it will be ascertained that Khartoum has fallen into the hands of the rebels, and that General Gordon, who has for so long maintained his position^ within it, has been, at the least, made a prisoner. Our latest information is that the fate of Gordon is as yet uncertain, and therefore we can only hope for the best, and that is that he is merely detained as a prisoner by the Mabdi. It is now of little avail to bewail the fact of the war baring been commenced ; many and divided opinions are held on this point; all that can now be done is to make the best of what has undoubtedly proved a very bad bargain, and endeavor to repair the enormous damage done by the pursuance of this Egyptian [ business. It is equally unsatisfactory to } regret that General Gordon did not avail j himself of one of the opportunities he has had of getting out of Khartoum, and although he may have displayed as great a lack of discretion as he did an abundance of courage,- there is no use in reflecting sadly on what cannot be undone. One more item has been added fo the list, already sufficiently large, of Arabian treachery and cowardice. If our telegrams are correct, it will be seen that some of Gordon's followers have been the cause of the disaster, and thu investment of the town by the rebels, which took place eleven days ago, was discovered by Sir Chnrles Wilson, who with a, detachment of the Royal Sussex Eegiment arrived at Khartoum from-Metemneh two days later, and returned forthwith under a. heavy fire from tho river banks. The steamer which conveyed them was afterwards wrecked below the Sbehukli Cata* ract, but all Lands were saved, and a steamer despatched to rescue then! from an island to which they escaped. It is indeed a Had turn for affairs to take when everything seemed to be in such excellent training for a satisfactory termination to this most disagreeable Egyptian imbroglio. The situation at present is one of au- uncertainty of a most perplexing churaotcr, and it is almost shocking to, for a moment, raise the horrible thought ttut the fanatics who

have entered Khartoum should Vent their malignant rage on the defenceless General, who, unarmed, has so long maintained possession of the place. It is possible that his.life would be spared, and a heavy ransom demanded by the rebels for his delivery into English hands. We await anxiously farther intelligence from the scene of the trouble. There are three branches of the British Army now ap proaching Khartoum from various points, and'their descent on it will be awaited on every side with eagerness. All we can now do is hope for the safety of General Gordon, and if his life has been spared, for bis speedy release from captivity.