22 DECEMBER 1883, Page 2

No intelligence has been received this week from Egypt, General

Baker having been delayed in his departure for Suakim by want of money. He has, however, started at last, with full powers from the Khedive, but written orders to be as little enterprising as possible. It is expected that he will only hold Suakim until he can collect 2,000 of the Black Regulars still left in Suakim and other places in the south. Some applica- tion al pears to have been made to the British Government, for all correspondents report that it has finally refused to interfere in the Soudan, and will protect Egypt Proper only. The Khedive is said to be afraid of a religious movement in Egypt, and to be asking assistance from Turkey ; but nothing is accurately known, except that the Egyptian Government feels its new army to be quite incompetent to its work, and talks of " stiffening " it with 2,000 Turks or Circassians. The Cireaa- mans, however, will be an element of trouble, as they would speedily overmaster three times their number of Egyptians.