The cloud has lifted from Khartoum. Mr. Power has found
means to send a despatch to the Times, via' Massowah, and has related in brief the events of the siege up to July 30th. The narrative is one to make Englishmen thrill with pride. The town was invested early in April, and half the population went over to the enemy. General Gordon, however, by issuing bills which the merchants bought, retained the means of paying the Egyptian garrison, and, by promising freedom to all negroes who joined him, secured some effective negro auxiliaries. The Egyptians were of no use for open battle, as two hundred of them, armed with rifles, would run from eight Arab spearmen ; but the negroos were brave, and General Gordon obviated the worst danger of cowardice. He prevented an Arab rush by protecting his lines with land torpedoes, covered his steamers with iron plating, and built forts on his six barges twenty feet high. The Arabs were then powerless, being re- duced to a useless fire upon the boats and buildings; while the General, who could move along the river, was able to make fre- quent and dangerous attacks upon the Arab positions. He had from the first four months' provisions, and he was able by rationing the townsmen as well as his troops to make this supply last to the present time, when, according to the latest accounts, the siege has been raised and Berber retaken.
Previous page
