25 MARCH 1899, Page 3

The Sirdar's despatch to Lord Cromer, published on Thursday, blows

into still minuter atoms the already ex- ploded charges of Mr. Bennett in regard to the massacre of the wounded at Omdurman. Lord Kitchener also declares that the action taken in regard to the Mabdi's tomb was only after due deliberation, and for political reasons. Lord Cromer, in a further despatch, quotes tele- grams sent him by Lord Kitchener. from which it appears, (1) that Lord Kitchener was advised by Mahommedan eaters to remove the Mandi's body and destroy the tomb lest it should become a place of pilgrimage, (2) that the Mandi's bones were thrown into the Nile. The skull alone was preserved, and has now been buried at Wady Haifa. Lord Cromer adds that he considers the destruction of the tomb and the removal of the body were political necessities. Nothing more need be said on the matter except that Lord Kitchener and Lord Cromer acted quite properly throughout.