(Télégraphique.) Inclosure in No. 21. Hussein Khalifa Pasha to Nubar Pasha. Berber, le 21 Avril, 1884. NOUS n'avons reçu aucune réponse à ce que nous vous avons exposé concernant l'état critique des employés du Gouvernement ainsi que celui de ses sujets. Nous craignons d'être bloqués et voir les communications interrompues aujourd'hui ou demain. Nous ne vous soumettrons pas cet état de choses par pure pitié pour nous-mêmes mais bien par pitié pour le peuple tant employés que sujets, et de peur que les routes ne soient prises et les communications interrompues. Nous apprenons qu'il se trouve à Assouan deux bataillons de soldats: si on leur donnait l'ordre de partir tout de suite en continuant à les faire suivre par d'autres troupes, peut-être parviendront-ils à faire évacuer les routes ou à nous débloquer; de cette manière on pourrait secourir le Soudan. Prière donc de venir à notre aide par les ordres nécessaires avant l'interruption de la ligne télégraphique. (Telegraphic.) (Translation.) Berber, April 21, 1884. WE have received no answer to what we laid before you concerning the critical state of the Government employés as well as of its subjects. We fear that we shall be blockaded, and that we shall see our communications interrupted to-day or to-morrow. We do not represent this state of things merely out of pity for ourselves, but rather out of pity for the people, employés as well as subjects, and out of fear that the roads may be occupied and communications interrupted. We learn that there are two battalions of soldiers at Assouan: if orders were given to them to leave at once, and other troops were made to follow them, perhaps they might succeed in opening the roads or in raising the siege here. In this way they might help the Soudan. Our prayer therefore is that you should come to our aid by the necessary orders before the telegraph line is interrupted. No. 22. My Lord, Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received May 6.) Cairo, April 23, 1884. WITH reference to my despatch of yesterday, I have the honour to inclose herewith copy of another telegram which has been received by the Egyptian Government from Hussein Pasha Khalifa, the Governor of Berber, stating that that town is in great danger, that an emissary of the Mahdi is raising the populations of the southern part of the province, and that on his approach he is joined by every village, while a party of rebels on the west of the town only await his approach before attacking Berber. The telegram concludes with an urgent entreaty for ammunition, of which there are but sixty cases at Berber, and for the immediate dispatch of troops, as the only chance of saving the town from falling into the hands of the rebels. I have, &c. (Télégraphique.) Inclosure in No. 22. Hussein Khalifa Pasha to Nubar Pasha. Berber, le 22 Avril, 1884. J'AI eu l'honneur d'exposer à maintes reprises la situation actuelle. Je regrette profondément de n'avoir pas reçu de reponse à mes dépêches; nous sommes en grand danger, car la personne désignée par Mohammed Ahmed pour la Moudirieh de Berber a réuni autour de lui les combattants et les populations des parties méridionales des limites de la Moudirieh. A son arrivée à chaque village la population se soulevait avec lui. Une partie d'eux se trouve ramassée en regard de Berber, du côté ouest; ils attendent son arrivée pour investir Berber, et nous livrer bataille. S'il arrive anjourd'hui ils viendront certainement à Berber. Nous ne possédons plus à l'heure qu'il est soixante caisses de munitions; cela ne suffit pas à leur tenir tête un seul jour, si la bataille devient sérieuse. Je vous prie de nous faire la grâce de nous envoyer une grande quantité de munitions sur celles qui existent à Assouan pour qu'elles nous arrivent vite, par voie de Korosko, avec les soldats qui se trouvent également à Assouan et que j'ai demandés par ma dépêche d'hier, car la position de Berber est la plus importante et si l'ennemi venait à s'en emparer il n'y aurait plus d'espoir pour le Soudan. J'attends la réponse avant la rupture du télégraphe aujourd'hui même, comme ils en ont l'intention.* (Telegraphic.) (Translation.) Berber, April 22, 1884. I HAVE repeatedly had the honour of calling attention to the present situation. I regret profoundly not having received any answer to my despatches; we are in great danger, for the person appointed by Mohammed Ahmed for the Mudirieh of Berber has collected round him the fighting men and the populations of the southern districts of the Mudirieh. On his arrival in each village the population rose in his favour. A portion of them are collected to the west of Berber; they are awaiting his arrival to invest Berber and to give us battle. If he arrives to-day they will certainly come to Berber. We at the present time possess only sixty cases of ammunition. That is not sufficient to hold out against them a single day if the battle becomes serious. I beg you to do us the favour of sending a great quantity of the ammunition which is at Assouan that it may arrive quickly, by way of Korosko, with the soldiers who are at Assouan, and whom I asked for in my despatch of yesterday, for the position of Berber is of the greatest importance, and if the enemy were to take it there would be no more hope for the Soudan. I await the answer this very day, before the interruption of the telegraph, which they intend to cut.* No. 23. (Extract.) Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.†—(Received May 6.) Cairo, April 23, 1884. I HAVE consulted Nubar Pasha, General Stephenson, and Sir Evelyn Wood in reference to your Lordship's telegram of the 21st instant. They are unanimous that negotiations without force to back them were useless. Nubar Pasha then expressed his personal opinion that, in view of the pressing appeals which have been received from Hussein Pasha Khalifa, the two Egyptian battalions now at Assouan should be sent on at once to Berber, with 500 of the Ababdeh tribe, as soon as they can be collected. General Stephenson and Sir Evelyn Wood strongly object to sending Egyptian troops alone. With reference to this subject I have the honour to inclose copy of a Memorandum, in which Sir Evelyn Wood has recorded certain explanations which he gave in the course of this conversation. * Cette dernière phrase pourrait aussi signifier que l'ennemi a tenté déjà à couper le télégraphe. (This last phrase may also signify that the enemy has already attempted to cut the telegraph.) + See "Egypt No. 13 (1884)," p. 14, No. 33. Ibid., p. 14, No. 30. The two Generals, however, consider it possible to send a mixed English and Egyptian expedition to Berber. If it should be found impossible to obtain the requisite supply of camels, a very large number of which would be necessary, or if the difficulties with regard to water should render the desert route from Korosko to Abou Hamad impracticable, then the troops might proceed along the Nile viâ Wady Halfa and Dongola. At the most favourable computation, the actual time of transit from the date of starting would not be less than eight weeks by the desert route, and about double that period by the long river journey through Dongola. Inclosure in No. 23. Memorandum of Conversation at British Agency, Cairo, on April 23, 1884. IN discussing the appeal made by Hussein Pasha Khalifa for reinforcements generally, and for the two battalions now at Assouan in particular, Sir E. Wood read a copy of a letter addressed by him on the 31st January to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, expressing his views based on the reports of the senior English officers. These views negatived the advisability of engaging in action the young Egyptian soldiers without British support. General Stephenson concurred at the time. Sir Evelyn Wood then explained that since that letter was written the refusal to employ even a representative force against Osman Digna, the taking away of horses and guns, and the employment of the Egyptian soldiers as servants only in the Tokar expedition, has disheartened the officers. He pointed out the action of the Finance Committee in paying widows who are by the existing Pension Law entitled to 41. per annum for life, 51. gratuity as a final settlement; and the daily threats of impending disbandment had tended to impair the efficiency of the army. That it is alleged the soldiers at Assouan declare they will not fight the Mahdi. This last allegation Sir Evelyn Wood thinks is unworthy of credit, being attributable to interested traders and timid copts who desire the presence of English soldiers. Without attaching importance to this point, nevertheless General Stephenson and Sir Evelyn Wood consider that recent events have not improved the fighting value of the Egyptian army, and that they object strongly to its being sent to Berber without British troops. No. 24. My Lord, Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.*—(Received May 6.) Cairo, April 25, 1884. ON receipt of your Lordship's telegram of the 23rd instant I telegraphed its purport to General Gordon, and sent one copy to Berber to be forwarded by messengers, and other copies to be sent from Suakin and Massowah. I have now the honour to inclose herewith translation of a telegram from Mr. Cuzzi, informing me that it is impossible to send letters or telegrams to General Gordon at Khartoum, as the last messenger that was sent returned, being unable to proceed. The Moudir of Dongola reports that he has sent on the telegram I forwarded by that route. (Telegraphic.) Inclosure in No. 24. Signor Cuzzi to Mr. Egerton. Berber, April 25, 1884. YESTERDAY (24th) I received two telegrams, one for me and the other for General Gordon. It is impossible to send letters or telegrams to Khartoum now to General Gordon.. The last messenger sent has returned, and says that it is impossible to go to or come from Khartoum with letters or telegrams. The situation is more desperate than ever. They say also, amongst other things, that the Korosko road is not safe. This, however, I give under all reserve, as it is not official. Troops have arrived from Shendy. They say that they lost 55 soldiers-3 soldiers is the official (news). To-morrow I will give you details about this. My Lord, No. 25. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received May 6.) Cairo, April 26, 1884. WITH reference to a statement in Sir S. Baker's letter to the "Times" of the 15th instant, which has been quoted by Lord Salisbury and others to the effect that seventy-four cases of brigandage occurred in the Delta in one month, I have the honour to give an extract from a communication I received yesterday from Sir Benson Maxwell, Procureur-Général of the Native Courts. "This is a repetition of a mistaken assertion made early in this month that seventy-four such cases had occurred in March. A Return showed, indeed, seventyfour cases, but it was not observed that it was a Return of brigandages, meurtres et attentats de meurtre.' My Returns from my deputies give but nine cases of brigandage for March, or ofvol avec effraction.' Of these one was dismissed as a false charge, and another was remarkable as being an attack on a village by some of its own inhabitants, including three of its watchmen." Sir Benson Maxwell further explained to me that what are mere village quarrels are often termed brigandage. The present distress and poverty of the peasants, owing to the stagnation of affairs, the result of temporary uncertainty as to the financial and political prospect, would be a sufficient explanation of any increase in crime. I have, &c. P.S. April 27, 1884.-I inclose extract of a further communication received from Sir Benson on this subject. Inclosure in No. 25. Sir B. Maxwell to Mr. Egerton. E. H. E. (Extract.) Cairo, April 27, 1884. I FIND, in the last weekly Return from Tantah, just such a case as I mentioned. A brigandage, which turns out to be a simple "rixe de village." So also "meurtres" means simply homicide. One case is returned as "meurtre" where the death was accidental. One of my delegates remarks to me that we must expect much heavier Returns of crime in future for two reasons. One is that in former days money bought off prosecutors and authorities, especially authorities. Another is that the authorities had reason for hushing up crimes; if they did not maintain order they were liable to dismissal, and so they kept down, if not crime, at least the Returns of crimes. (Extract.) No. 26. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received May 6.) Cairo, April 27, 1884. I HAVE received a telegram from Sir C. Ashburnham expressing a wish that the present native Sub-Governor of Suakin, Ali Bey Wahdi, should be removed, and that instead of replacing him by another native, Mr. Brewster should be appointed as Deputy Civil Governor. I understand, however, that the Khedive would prefer to retain a native as Sub-Governor, and I have reason to believe that this would also be in accordance with your Lordship's wishes. My Lord, No. 27. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received May 6.) Cairo, April 28, 1884. I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a despatch from Captain Hastings, at Massowah, forwarding letters from Kassala, stating that the rebels are closing round the town, and asking for assistance. I have, &c. (Signed) EDWIN H. EGERTON. Inclosure 1 in No. 27. Sir. Captain Hastings to Sir E. Baring. 66 Euryalus," at Massowah, April 17, 1884. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, for your information, two letters dated the 28th ultimo, one from the Governor and the other from the merchants of Kassala, stating that the rebels are close to the ramparts, and asking for assistance. It was my intention to have forwarded the contents of these letters by telegraph, both to yourself and to the Admiralty, but on the arrival this afternoon of the Khedivieh steamer "Mansoorah" I have received a copy of a Reuter's telegram, dated Aden, 5th instant, by which I observe that the pith of their contents is already known. I have, &c. The People of Kassala to Major-General Graham. Excellence, Kassala, le 28 Mars, 1884. NOUS, Soussignés, Chrétiens et Musa.mans de Kassala, avons appris avec le plus grand bonheur l'envoi des glorieuses troupes de Sa Majesté Britannique pour pacifier le Soudan. Des nouvelles parvenues ici indirectement nous ont appris les premiers succès des troupes Anglaises près de Tokar et leur marche sur Kassala. Cette nouvelle, Excellence, nous a comblé de joie, car elle nous fait espérer de voir bientôt nos maux terminés et la mort imminente qui nous menace conjurée. Cette mort est à deux pas de nous, car les rebelles sont presque sous les remparts de la ville et déjà plus d'une fois ils ont tenté de les escalader. C'est dire à votre Excellence dans quelle détresse terrible nous nous trouvons. Si les secours sont retardés, des milliers de nouvelles victimes seront à ajouter à la liste déjà effrayante des victimes du Soudan. Nous nous permettons en outre d'informer votre Excellence que des émissaires du Mahdi ont fait leur apparition chez les Dabaina et dans la tribu des Choukri et tâchent de les pousser à la révolte. S'ils réussissent notre malheureux position deviendra désespérée et il faudra alors des flots de sang pour abattre l'insurrection. Nous prions done fermement votre Excellence de prendre notre exposé en sérieuse considération, car de la seule apparition des troupes Anglaises dépendent nos vies, nos familles, et nes |