Sir Robert Napier quitted Bombay for Annesley Bay on the
evening of December 21, and would probably arrive about New Year's Day. The accounts of the expedition are so far satisfac- tory, but bitter complaints are made of want of discipline in the Transport Corps. The expedition is heavily burdened by its own size, the crowd of animals carrying provisions, ammunition, and forage being so great that it will take 42 days to march the 400 miles to Magdala. We presume Sir Robert will establish a depot on the plateau, and then march forward with a force much more lightly equipped, but meanwhile the correspondents are unconsci- ously exaggerating difficulties which will disappear as we leave the deadly coast. The chief of these is water for the baggage train. Nothing further has been heard of Theodore, who has not reached Magdala, or of the prisoners, except that they are cafe. The pith of the information as yet received is that the expedition is likely to occupy two campaigns, as General Durand predicted, a delay which will quadruple the difficulties of retiring.
