We regret to record an attack on British officers in
Egypt which occurred on Wednesday at a village near Tanta, in the Delta, and resulted in the death of one of them, Captain Bun, and the infliction of severe injuries on two others, Captain Pine-Coffin and Lieutenant Smithwick. The officers, who had been invited by the village officials to shoot pigeons, were attacked by a mob of men with bludgeons. It is possible that the attack was due to the ill-feeling which grew up among a section of the natives during the recent pro-Turkish agitation, when persistent efforts were made to inflame Mohammedan feeling against the British. We recently received a letter from a correspondent residing near Tanta, who drew attention to the restlessness visible in that district. There is no reason to believe that the officers did anything to offend native opinion, as pigeon-shooting is a sport commonly indulged in in Egypt on the invitation of the villagers. The incident is to be deeply regretted, but it would be easy to exaggerate its importance.
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