712
EGYPT
[military operations.
hoped that the garrisons of the Sudan could be extricated force was to be conveyed in special whale-boats, by which without fighting. The latter, judging from the tenor of “ the difficulty of transport is reduced to very narrow some of his telegrams, believed that to accomplish this limits.” The mounted force was to consist of 400 men work entailed the suppression of the Mahdi’s revolt, the on native horses and 450 men on horses or camels. The strength of which he at first greatly underestimated. He question of routes continued to be the subject of animated had pressed strongly for the employment of Zobeir as “an discussion, and on 29th July a committee of three officers absolute necessity for success ” (3rd March) ; but this was who had served in the Red River expedition reported:— refused, since Sir H. Gordon advised at this time that it We believe that a brigade can easily be conveyed in small would be dangerous. On 9th March General Gordon boats from Cairo to Dongola in the time stated by Lord Wolseley ; proposed, “if the immediate evacuation of Khartum is and, further, that should it be necessary to send a still larger force determined upon irrespective of outlying towns,” to send by water to Khartum, that operation will present no insuperable down the “ Cairo employ6s ” and the garrison to Berber difficulties. with Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, to resign his commisThis most inconclusive report, and the baseless idea that sion, and to proceed with the stores and steamers to the the adoption of the Nile route would involve no chances of Equatorial Provinces, which he would consider as placed bloodshed, which the Government was anxious Lord under the King of the Belgians. On 13th March Lord to avoid, seem to have decided the question. seiey sent Granville gave full power to General Gordon to “ evacuate On 8th August the Secretary of State for War out; Nile Khartum and save that garrison by conducting it himself informed General Stephenson that “ the time route to Berber without delay,” and expressed a hope that he had arrived when some further measures for adoptedwould not resign his commission. obtaining accurate information as to his (General GorBy the end of March 1884 Sir E. Baring and the don’s) position, and, if necessary, for rendering him British officers in Egypt were convinced that force would assistance, should be adopted.” General Stephenson still Relief ex- have f° he employed, and the growing danger urged the Suakin-Berber route, and was informed on 26th peditioa: of General Gordon, with the grave national August that Lord Wolseley would be appointed to take question responsibility involved, began to be realized in over the command in Egypt for the purposes of the of route. Great Britain. Sir Henry Gordon, however, expedition, for which a vote of credit had been taken in who was in personal communication with Mr Gladstone, the House of Commons on 5th August. On 9th considered that his brother was in no peril, and for September Lord Wolseley arrived at Cairo, and the plan some time disbelieved in the need for a relief expe- of operations was somewhat modified. A camel corps of dition. Meanwhile it was at least necessary to evolve 1100 men selected from twenty-eight regiments at home some plan of action, and on 8th April the Adjutant- was added, and the “ fighting force to be placed in line General addressed a memorandum to the Secretary of State somewhere in the neighbourhood of Shendi ” was fixed at for War detailing the measures required for placing 6500 5400. The construction of whale-boats began on 12th British troops “in the neighbourhood of Shendi.” The August, and the first batch arrived at Wadi Haifa on battle of the routes began much earlier, and was con- 14th October, and on the 25th the first boat was hauled tinued for some months. Practically the choice lay through the second cataract. The mounted forces probetween the Nile and the Suakin-Berber road. The first ceeded up the banks, and the first half-battalion embarked involved a distance of 1650 miles from Cairo along a river at Gemai, 870 miles from Khartum, on 5th November, ten strewn with cataracts, which obstructed navigation to all days before the date to which it had been assumed but small boats, except during the period of high water. General Gordon could hold out. In a straggling proSo great was this obstruction that the Nile had never cession the boats worked their way up to Korti, piloted by been a regular trade route to the Sudan. The second Canadian voyageurs. The labour was very great, and entailed a desert march of about 250 miles, of which one the troops, most of whom were having their first lesson section, Obak-Bir Mahobeh (52 miles), was waterless, and in rowing, bore the privations of their unaccustomed the rest had an indifferent water supply (except at Ariab, conditions with admirable cheerfulness. By 25 th about half-way to Berber), capable, however, of considerable December 2220 men had reached Korti, of whom about development. From Berber the Nile is followed (210 miles) 800 only had been conveyed by the whale-boats, the last to Khartum. This was an ancient trade route with the of which did not arrive till 27th January. Beyond Korti Sudan, and had been used without difficulty by the lay the very difficult section of the river to Abu Hamed, reinforcements sent to Hicks Pasha in 1883, which were which was quite unknown. Meanwhile news of the loss accompanied by guns on wheels. The authorities in of the Abbas and of the murder of Colonel J. D. Stewart Egypt, headed by General Stephenson, subsequently sup- and his party on 18th September had been received. A ported by the Admiral Lord John Hay, who sent a naval letter from Gordon, dated 4th November and received officer to examine the river as far as Dongola, were 17th November, stated that his steamers would await the unanimous in favour of the Suakin—Berber route. From expedition at Metemmeh, and added, “We can hold out the first Major-General Sir A. Clarke, then Inspector- forty days with ease; after that it will be difficult.” In General of Fortifications, strongly urged this plan, and his diary, on 13th December, when his difficulties had proposed to begin at once a metre gauge railway from become extreme, he noted that “ if the expeditionary force Suakin, to be constructed by Indian labour under officers does not come in ten days, the town may fall.” skilled in laying desert lines. Some preliminary arrangeIt was clear at Korti that something must be done at ments were made, and on 14th June the Government once; and on 13th December 1100 men, with 2200 camels, sanctioned certain measures of preparation at Suakin. under Colonel Sir H. Stewart, were despatched Stewart,s On the other side were the Adjutant-General (Lord to occupy Jakdul wells, 96 miles on the desert Desert Wolseley) and a small number of officers who had taken route to Metemmeh. Stewart returned on Column; part in the Red River expedition of 1870. The memor- 5th January, and started again on the 8th, with ba?tIeK°*a andum of the Adjutant-General above referred to was orders to establish a fort at Abu Klea and to weuSM based on the hypothesis that Khartum could not hold out occupy Metemmeh. The “Desert Column,” 1800 beyond 15th November, and that the expedition should men, with 2880 camels in poor condition and 153 horses, reach Berber by 20th October. Steamers were to be found the enemy in possession of Abu Klea wells on the employed in such reaches as proved practicable, but the 16th, and was desperately attacked on the 17th. The
