The treasury defaulted, so they decided to stop paying the installments for the treasury's debts on time. They stopped them, and at that point, the owners of foreign newspapers, especially the French and German ones, rose up and cried out, "Revenge for the debt holders!" Minister Nubar Pasha wished he could show the treasury's inability to pay the interest on its debts, hoping the powers would help him reduce them out of mercy for the country and its people. On that day, the members of the Public Debt Commission stood against him, objecting to this at the instigation of the German and French powers. They presented arguments against the Minister of Finance and the directors of the mortgaged revenues for debt repayment. Then they filed a lawsuit before the Mixed Courts. The minister had no choice but to abandon his intention and ordered the payment of installments on time. This calmed minds and reassured hearts, and people returned to discussing Sudan and Wolseley's army, paying no attention to the hardship and successive calamities the country was facing due to the enormous expenses resulting from that sedition. While they were in this state, news arrived from Wolseley, who was at that time in the town of Korti, that the vanguard of his army, marching on the desert road, had encountered the Dervish vanguard at a point with wells, about fifteen miles from Metemma. He said: "The two sides fought fiercely and mingled together. The fighting was intense, and the stabbing was deadly. They remained in this state of striking and clashing for several hours until the Dervishes were defeated, and many of them died, as did many of the English. Many soldiers and officers were wounded, and the remaining Dervishes were scattered. After this fierce battle, the English advanced towards Metemma. Then the news arrived in detail, indicating that while the vanguard of Wolseley's army was advancing towards the wells of Abu Kalba, near Metemma, returning from the wells of Ghadgul and intending to reach Metemma, a vanguard of cavalry advanced to scout the enemy's position. They saw the enemy in great numbers at the wells of Abu Kalba, so they turned back and reported what had happened. The army could not engage the enemy due to the onset of night, and they spent the night on alert, with three miles or so between them and the enemy. They had uprooted the trees and stones they found in their positions and built a stockade where they placed provisions and war equipment, and erected a fort in front of it for protection. There were some of the enemy on a nearby hill observing the campaign's march and movements. They sensed the army's arrival and informed their comrades, who then began firing on the army. They continued this throughout the night. The right flank of the campaign also fired three cannons at them. In the morning, the commander of the army called for the advance. They moved towards the enemy and engaged them in battle, but the enemy did not move nor did they initiate an attack on the English as their commander had hoped. The army then advanced towards the enemy in a strong square formation. The enemy then moved and began observing the rear of the square, and most of them disappeared from sight. They had left their banners planted in the camp where they were stationed, which was a trick they had employed to lure the English into some difficult terrain so they could attack them and defeat them. And so it was, for the English were deceived and advanced. It was only a moment until the enemy's vanguard returned and began firing upon them.