Major Marchand arrived in Cairo on Thursday from Eashoda. No
reasonable explanation of any kind is offered of this unexpected event, but the official account in Paris is that he acted entirely without orders, on his own responsi- bility Captain Baratier, his second in command, who had preceded him and reached France, will carry back to him peremptory instructions, the tenour of which is not known, but which will, it is reported, direct him to return to Fashoda, and thence proceed with his followers in the direction of Abyssinia, the British giving him food, cartridges, and, let as hope, medical stores. As Major Marchand is one of the bravest men in the world, and risked death from disease in order to await orders from Paris, the transaction is something of a mystery. Perhaps, however, he was bored to death, and being French, found ennui more unbearable than either malaria or bullets. The French papers are wild with excitement over him, and threaten the British with all manner of penalties, Which, however, we notice, are to be exacted by Russia, by the Sultan, by Menelek, even by Germany, bat not by France. Apparently the Dreyfus case has diminished the sense of humour in Paris.
