NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Standard of Friday published an important piece of intelligence, which will be differently regarded by different minds. Osman Digna has forwarded to the Governor ,of Suakin a letter stating that the Mandi, after severe fight- ing, captured Emin Pasha, and has taken with him a white traveller who is presumed to be Stanley. Both were betrayed by their followers. The letter is accompanied by evidence of its truth in the shape of a letter to Emin Pasha, which was given to Stanley by the Khedive, and must therefore have been taken from his person. If this is the case, Emin Pasha and Stanley are both safe, for the Mandi's intention must be not to kill them, but to sell them. The Government will, however, be placed in a position of much difficulty, for the dervishes may ask a price which it would not be consistent either with our honour or our interest to give. We could not, for example, retire from Suakin in order to save an explorer or a great servant of the Egyptian Government. It may, however, be possible to make the Mandi an acceptable offer of money, especially as he would regard the prisoners, and therefore their ransom, as his own property. The news, if confirmed, will, of course, terminate all expeditions, whether German or English, to release Emin, and may simplify operations in East Africa. It will, however, hamper General Grenfell.
