§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government have any confirmation of the rumoured capture of Debbah and of the massacre there; whether the pilgrims who gave at Suakin the information of the safety of Berber on the 7th June are emissaries of the Mahdi, and have been arrested; whether the Emir Shemaun, who stormed Berber, has been encountered by Major Kitchener in the desert 200 miles north of Berber; and, what steps are being taken to save Dongola?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEHer Majesty's Government have no confirmation of the rumoured capture of Debbah. They have no reason to suppose that the Takruri pilgrims who left Khartoum on the 23rd May and Berber on the 7th ultimo were emissaries of the Mahdi. The last news of Shemaun, dated the 21st ultimo, from Major Kitchener, was that he was retiring south from El Heimar. He was at one time in the desert to the east of Korosko, where Major Kitchener expected to attack him. The Mudir of Dongola has been urged that, while giving facilities for departure to those who wished to leave, he should himself remain with the garrison and hold the place.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTThe noble Lord did not say whether these pilgrims had been arrested or not, as 27 was stated at Cairo. I assume, from his answer to the third paragraph, that the Emir referred to has not been met by Major Kitchener in the desert 200 miles north of Berber.
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEIn regard to the first inquiry, I wish it to be understood that the Foreign Office have not had that information with regard to the pilgrims which the hon. Member says he has read in the news papers—
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI did not say that.
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEIn regard to the further Question, it depends on what the hon. Member means by "encounter." In the military sense he may rather be said to have touched the Emir Shemaun.