THE FALL OF KHARTOUM. 387 join the main army under Lord Wolseley. With the view of facilitating these operations, a railroad was to be constructed with the utmost speed from Suakin to Berber, and for this purpose, the Government, previous to the meeting of Parliament, had secured the services of the well-known contractors, Messrs.

Lucas and Aird.

The announcement of the intended renewal of the campaign served, at any rate, the political purpose for which it was devised. After a protracted debate in Parliament on the Soudan, the Government barely escaped a vote of censure in the House of Commons by the narrow majority of fourteen. So long as the hot fever lasted, the preparations for the autumn campaign were pushed on with energy. Before February was over, the East Soudan expedition commenced assembling at Suakin under General Graham, who shortly afterwards, took the command in person.

During the course of the month there were several skirmishes between our troops and the Dervishes.

Marches were made into the desert to villages a few miles distant from the coast, where Osman Digma and his troops were reported to be located.

None of these skirmishes, however, had any serious effect on the prospects of the coming campaign, except in as far as they afforded proof that the daring of the Dervishes was still unimpaired, but that in the end they must succumb to the superior organization and discipline of the British forces. By the beginning of May the ardour of the British Ministry in the