I So EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

from its base and sending it to march in an enemy's country without provision for perfect communications. I am, therefore, surprised at the extreme facility with which honourable members opposite adopt the proposal that it would have been wise to send a small force of cavalry across 200 miles of desert — 100 of which arc without water — without any provision for communicating with its base, and with the absolute certainty that whatever might befall it, no reinforcements could reach it for months. And what was the object to be accomplished in return for this extraordinary risk. No one could suppose that a small force of 200 or 300 cavalry would have been sufficient to undertake any considerable operation for the practical assistance of General Gordon. What he relied upon was the moral effect that would be produced by sending any British soldiers at all; and I do not deny that it is possible that if this risk had been run, and if this force had successfully arrived at Berber, a moral effect might have been produced; but that is entirely a matter of supposition, and is utterly incapable of proof."

Lord Hartington was by no means impressed with the probable moral effect of the operation of British soldiers in the Soudan.

He thought that it had been over-estimated, and that the experience at Suakim had not been in favour of it, since it did not save the garrison of Tokar, nor prevent the followers of Osman Digma from showing fight in a manner which proved that the fanatic savages were at all events not impressed with fear. He did not think that an expedition should be made to " smash the Mahdi," as General Gordon expressed it; and to form such an expedition for the purpose of giving a satisfactory government to the inhabitants of the Soudan was a task which was beyond the responsibility that the British government ought to undertake. Such an expedition should not be made, even to enable the garrisons of the Soudan to march out with the honours of war. The government ought to be satisfied, as far as it was possible to satisfy themselves, that such an expedition was necessary to secure the safety of General Gordon, and of those for whose safety he had made himself responsible. It was necessary that they should be satisfied