196 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

General Redvers Duller at Abu-Kru, a strong force of all arms should be sent out to Suakim to crush Osman Digma. Thus the power of the Mahdi and of his lieutenant would be destroyed at about the same time, and a junction of the forces might be effected by the construction of the railway line to Berber and the complete clearance of the desert route.

The Hospital and Commissariat corps were to sail from Southampton on Feb. 17; 20th Hussars, from Portsmouth, probably Feb. 19; 5th Lancers, from Kingstown, Feb. 20; Royal Engineers and Commissariat, Feb. ]8; Woolwich, ordnance stores and provisions, Feb. 17; mules and camels were to start at once from Alexandria. Three battalions of guards from Albert Docks on Feb. i8th; medical stores and detachments of Army Hospital Corps, Feb. 18; Woolwich, ordnance stores, Feb. 18; Dorset Regiment, from Gravesend, Feb. 18; 2d Battalion Dublin Fusiliers were to leave Gibraltar early, and water-condensing machinery, and water-tanks were rapidly being prepared for immediate despatch.

Lieutenant-general Sir Gerald Graham, V.C, K.C.B., was appointed to the important command of the expedition to open up the Suakim- Berber route and to co-operate with Lord Wolseley's force. Brevet Major-general Fremantle was appointed to command the brigade of guards ordered to Egypt; and Majorgeneral Greaves received the appointment of chief of the staff, a position corresponding with that held by General Adye under Lord Wolseley in the Egyptian campaign of 1882. General Fremantle, who had held the command at Suakim for some time previously, had reconnoitred much of the ground to be traversed, and was considered eminently quahfied for the important command of the brigade of guards. Major-general Hudson had the command of the Indian contingent, and would have control of three thousand men.

On the 19th of February the 3d Battalion of Grenadier Guards were inspected by the queen in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle previous to their departure for the Soudan, and she addressed the officers in a short and encouraging speech, which was afterwards