HC Deb 07 August 1884 vol 292 cc120-3
LORD JOHN MANNERS

I wish to ask the Secretary of State for War a Question of which I have given him private Notice. In the morning papers there appears a telegram from Major Kitchener, giving the text of a letter from General Gordon to the Mudir of Dongola, as follows:— Khartoum and Sennaar are still holding out up to the present, and the messenger who brings this, Mohammed Ahmed, will give you news of me. When he arrives give him all the news you have, and tell him at what place the expedition coming from Cairo now is and the numbers coming. Can the noble Lord inform the House as to the nature or position of the expedition which General Gordon is evidently expecting from Cairo?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I cannot tell what reports may have reached General Gordon, or what he refers to as coming from Cairo. It is possible he may have received reports of the movement of troops both of the Egyptian and British Army up the Nile, and it is also possible that he may have heard something of the movements of the Bedouins under Major Kitchener. It is impossible for me to more than conjecture what rumours and reports have reached him. The noble Lord and the House have been informed of every movement of troops that has taken place, and I can add nothing to what is already within the knowledge of the House.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

Is it the intention of the Government to send any answer to that letter of General Gordon which, I understand, the noble Lord states has been already reported in the public Press; and, if so, whether the Government will inform General Gordon that it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to make preparations for his relief?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I was under the impression that the right hon. Gentleman would place that Question on the Paper for to-morrow or Saturday, and I think that course would be more convenient.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

I will give Notice for Monday; but, in the meantime, will the noble Lord tell us whether the Foreign Office has received a copy of that letter; and, if so, whether he will lay it on the Table?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Yes; the Foreign Office has received substantially the same information as that which appears in The Times this morning in regard to General Gordon. There are four telegrams, which I will read to the House. They are all from Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville. The first (received on August 6, 1.28 P.M.) is as follows:—

"Cairo, August 6, 1884, 11.35 A.M.

"Pilgrims at Suakin report Gordon and Khartoum all right 27th June. Shendy and Damer in Government (Turkish) hands with two guns."

The second (received August 6, 5.30 P.M.) says—

"Cairo, August 6, 1884, 3.40 P.M.

"The following from Kitchener 3rd August:—The messenger who brought Gordon's letter says Gordon, Stewart, and Power are all well; no news had come to Gordon from outside. Provisions were cheap in Khartoum, and the besiegers had retired from their first positions, but still kept up the siege. The besiegers' force consisted of, on east, 5,000 men, under Sheikh El Obeid, from Halfayah to Gabet Hogali on Blue Nile. Eabourgergah, Sheikh of El Getainah, with 2,000 men, and Wad-el-Busir, with 3,000 men at Gereif, between Niles. Sheikh Fudleh south on White Nile, at Segerer Mahabeh, with 3,000 men. Sheikh Mustapha at Endermen, with 3,000 men—total, 16,000 men. Gordon has seven armed steamers and goes out in different directions and fights the enemy. Gordon sent letter to Hussein Pasha Khalifa, at Berber, by some messenger. Hussein Khalifa told him to wait for reply; while waiting there Berber fell. He says Berber fell by treachery of Hussein Pasha Khalifa, who placed his Arabs on part of fortifications and let enemy in that way. The soldiers fought well; after the enemy entered many people were killed. Hussein Pasha Khalifa did not appear during fight; he saw him afterwards, and asked for letter for Gordon. Hussein Pasha Khalifa would not give one. He said:—'The town is taken, tell Gordon what you have seen, I will write to him no more.' He was not wounded. This account is corroborated by 13 soldiers from Berber, who came over to Mudir of Dongola from Heffar last battle. Messenger went from Berber to Khartoum to tell Gordon. After three days he was sent again to Dongola, he passed by east to Shendy, and thence across to Debbeh. He says all the people want the old Government back, but are afraid of the Mahdi's Arabs. After messengers returned to Khartoum from Berber Gordon heard that the enemy had brought 7,000 ardebs of doura to Gereif from Mesalimieh with 11,000 men; he took three steamers to bring boats, killed a great many of the enemy, and seized all the doura. Gordon's men did not fire till the enemy had expended ammunition; they then landed and defeated them. News has come to Sultan of Darfour that people there have given up the Mahdi and have elected Ibrahim Bey, cousin of Sultan, to be Sultan. Mahdi's Vekil asked for men, but was recalled. It is also reported that force round Khartoum have asked for support and have been refused by Mahdi."

The third (received August 6, 4.20 P.M.) says—

"Cairo, August 6, 1884, 4. P.M.

"On the 4th Kitchener telegraphed he had forwarded Gordon's letter by post on the 2nd. Following is translation of text:—'To the Mudir of Dongola.—Khartoum and Sennaar are still holding out up to the present, and the bearer of this letter, Mahomed Ahmed, will give you news of mo. When he arrives give all the news you have, and the place where the expedition coming from Cairo is, and the numbers coming. We have 8,000 soldiers in Khartoum. The Nile has risen. Give 100 dollars to messenger from the Government. Dated 28th Shaban, 1301, signed 'C. E. Gordon' and sealed."

And the fourth—

"Cairo, August 6, 7 P.M.

"Pilgrims from Timbuctoo arrived at Suakin, say they were some time at Khartoum, saw much of Gordon, and tall, yellow-bearded Englishman. Firewood and vegetables dear at Khartoum, and meat [? expected] after expedition. Bread and doura in plenty. Gordon prevented his clerk giving them letters, as this might bring them into trouble. People can go half-a-day from Khartoum, but two days impossible. At Shendy troops are few, and rebels opposite numerous. At Daman Egyptians. Very few pilgrims were at Khartoum about middle of June. Do not tell Chermside when they left."

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

I notice that in one of the telegrams reference is made to the desire of the people to have the old Government back. Can the noble Lord inform us what is meant by that—whether it is the people of Khartoum and neighbourhood who desire the old Government back, or whether it is the desire of the people generally?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

This is, as I read it, an expression of the opinion of the messenger who brought this message. It appears to be general in its terms, and to relate to the places through which, I suppose, the messenger passed.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

I will ask on Monday whether Her Majesty's Government will consider that desire before deciding that Khartoum and the district shall be evacuated?

In answer to Mr. W. E. FORSTER,

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

said, the date of the Mahomedan month Shaban was given, and it corresponded with the 25th of June, which tallied with the date of the first telegram he had read to the House.