1 36 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

CHAPTER VII.

A Stir at Assouan. Reinforcements. Explorations. Active reparations in England. Proposed Expedition to Rescue Gordon. By Rail or River? The Nile Route. Boats and Cataracts. Wady Haifa. Debbeh. Wolseley reaches Korti. The Camp. Plan of Campaign. Sir Herbert Stewart. Sir Charles Wilson and the Desert Column. General Earle and the Nile Column. The Story of Massacre of Stewart and Power. Across the Desert to Metammeh. Gakdul Wells. Battle of Abu-Klea. Battle of Gubat. On the Look-out for Khartum.

It had become evident before the end of May, 1884, that some expedition for the relief of General Gordon had been decided on, and everybody was inquiring to what extent the preparations which were being made might be interpreted to mean the despatch of British forces towards Khartum. After the experiences with Egyptian troops it was thought exceedingly unlikely that they alone would be sent, and it was believed that their sole employment, even for the protection of the frontier, would be a mistake should the Mahdi attempt to move by Dongola and towards Cairo. Colonel Fred. Burnaby wrote to the Standard on the 23d of May on this subject, saying: — "Many Cairo-inspired paragraphs have recently appeared calling attention to the efficiency of the Egyptian army. I am well aware that General Wood's English officers, who are very gallant and able men, are longing to take part in a military movement in the Soudan. By all means let them be employed, but for Heaven's sake do not imperil a Gordon Relief Expedition by making use of their Egyptian soldiers — men who look well on parade, have handsome uniforms, and cost the unfortunate fellahs two hundred thousand pounds per annum — men who can do everything but the one thing essential, viz. fight. They were not sent to the Soudan to relieve Tokar and Sinkat for reasons which Sir E. Wood may perhaps explain. The gendarmerie, it is to be presumed, was considered in January last a better force than the Egyptian army. We all know what became of Baker's troops. Let us not endanger a British expedition to Khartum by employing Egyptians in order to gratify the vanity of English officials at Cairo.'