§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will now state to the House the instructions given to General Graham with regard to an advance from Trinkitat against the enemy?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI have no objection now to give to the House the fullest information in my power as to the instructions sent by Her Majesty's Government to General Graham. The first instruction was contained in a Paper already before the House, from which, perhaps, I may read an extract. It is a telegram from the Adjutant General to General Officer Commanding in Egypt, dated 12th of February, and the following is the portion to which I refer:—
Force to be collected at Suakin, with the object, if possible, of relieving Tokar garrison if it can hold out; if not, of taking any measures necessary for defence of ports.The telegram we have received from the General Officer Commanding at Cairo, and which will, no doubt, be laid on the Table, contains an account of all the steps taken in consequence of the telegram which I have just read. Among them is a Memorandum of the instructions given to General Graham, from which the following is an extract:—After making all necessary arrangements for maintaining your base at Trinkitat and securing your line of communications between there and Tokar, you will advance at once to the latter place and withdraw the garrison and others who may wish to accompany them. You will then return with these to Trinkitat, and telegraph to head-quarters, Cairo, for further orders. In the event of your ascertaining beyond doubt before leaving Suakin that Tokar has fallen, you will remain stationary, and telegraph as above for further orders. You will adopt the same course at Trinkitat should undoubted information reach you there that Tokar has fallen, despatching at once to Suakin such force as you may consider sufficient to hold the forts there and maintain the security of that place.On the 18th of February instructions were sent to Admiral Hewett to communicate, if possible, with the garrison at Tokar, and to inform them that they were about to be relieved by a British Force; also to give the Rebel Chiefs assembled near Tokar the same information, and also to intimate to them that, 357 unless they desisted from the siege of that place, a British Force would be despatched to relieve it. The following telegram was received from Sir William Hewett on the 18th of February, dated:—18th February, 11.5 P.M.: received 18th February 11.30 I In reply to letters to Chiefs outside Tokar, stating that English intend to relieve garrisons and protect Suakin, he (Osman Digma?) coolly informs me, after quotations from Koran, that all these that did not believe in the Mahdi would meet same fate as others, and says that after Tokar falls he intends coming to Suakin, and turning all into Sea. I, therefore, do not intend sending any more messages.On the 22nd of February the following telegram was received from General Graham:—Suakin, 22nd February, 1884.—Just arrived. Spies report that Civil Governor and commander of troops went to rebel camp Wednesday, and agreed to surrender on Thursday. Five men have come in from garrison, making same statement. Report of Tokar being actually surrendered not yet received. All preparations for landing at Trinkitat are, therefore, being pressed forward.On the 23rd of February I telegraphed to the General Officer commanding in Egypt—Telegraph following to General Graham. Assuming Tokar fallen, what course would you recommend? No sanction will be given for a distant expedition. Could you march to Teb, protect fugitives, bury English dead, and return by land to Suakin? If Suakin threatened you may take offensive, either from Trinkitat or Suakin. Report fully on position.I had received no answer to that telegram on the 26th of February, on which day I sent the following further telegram to General Graham:—Send news by every ship leaving Trinkitat of proceedings and prospects. Answer to my telegram of Saturday anxiously awaited. Tokar having fallen, the main object is now protection of Suakin from attack. Do not molest rebels if they disperse. Has Buller arrived?On the 27th I telegraphed again to General Graham, having received no reply to my telegram of Saturday, as follows:—Have received no reply to mine of Saturday and Tuesday, but Consul reports advance intended Thursday. You should, if possible, summon Chiefs to disband forces, and attend Gordon at Khartoum for settlement of Soudan before attacking. Tell them we are not at war with Arabs, but must disperse force threatening Suakin.On the 29th, which was Friday last, I received from General Graham a tele- 358 gram despatched from Trinkitat, but not dated, and from Suakim, dated 29th February, 6.20 p.m. It was received here at 5.50 p.m., and was in these terms—Telegram of 27th February received. Am sending letter to outposts with white flag in accordance with instructions. Shall advance to Teb to-morrow, and not fight unless compelled to do so.That is all I received until the telegrams from General Graham and from the Admiral, which have been published in the newspapers. I may, perhaps, add that there is no foundation whatever for the rumour which has found its way into some of the newspapers this morning, that instructions have been sent to General Graham ordering him immediately to withdraw from Tokar. A telegram has been received from General Graham this afternoon asking for instructions as to the disposal of the Egyptian men, women, and children, who are anxious to leave Tokar and to be sent to Trinkitat. Instructions have been sent to him with regard to that subject; but I think the same reason which induced me to be somewhat reticent as to the character of the instructions sent to General Graham before the happening of recent events would make it inexpedient that I should now go into details as to the additional instructions which have to-day been sent to General Graham.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTMay I ask where General Gordon is now?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONHis last telegram is dated from Tokar. Having had to make this somewhat lengthy statement to the House, I can hardly omit taking this, the earliest, opportunity of stating how much reason I think the Government and the country have to be satisfied with the arrangements which were made by the General Officer commanding the expedition, and the manner in which these arrangements were carried out by the Staff and everyone engaged, and also with the rapid and efficient organization of the expedition. I may also say how thoroughly judicious, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, were the dispositions made by General Graham, and how efficiently and admirably his instructions were carried out by the officers and men under his command
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI may, with the permission of the House, express on the part of. I am sure, the whole House the same sentiments which have been expressed by the noble Marquess with regard to this expedition. ["No, no!"] Having said that, I wish to ask the noble Marquess or the Prime Minister whether they can now inform the House as to the general principles on which they are now acting in regard to this business, and what are the intentions of Her Majesty's Government in the future? I do not ask for details which it may be inconvenient to give; but I think the House is entitled to information as to the general line of conduct.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI think it would be impossible for me to say more at present than I have already said. The main and immediate object of the policy of the Government is, in the first place, to secure the safety of the remainder of the Egyptian garrison rescued at Tokar; and, in the next place, to provide for the safety of Suakin, which appears still to be threatened by a considerable force of rebels who are in its immediate vicinity. Until we receive fuller Reports from General Graham and Admiral Hewett, I do not think it would be possible for me to make any further statement on the subject.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHMay I ask whether Her Majesty's Government have kept General Gordon informed as to what has been, and is, going forward in that part of the Soudan where General Graham is engaged?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONGeneral Gordon has been kept constantly informed of everything that has taken place from Cairo.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTWill the noble Marquess state to the House the date of the surrender of Tokar; and also how many Egyptian soldiers were found alive in the garrison?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONIn the telegram from General Graham, which has been published in the newspapers, it is stated that Tokar has been in possession of the rebels since the 16th of February.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTThat is not correct.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONThat is all the information we have received on the subject. General Gordon 360 telegraphed this afternoon that he found in the garrison about 350 men of Egyptian origin, and probably about the same number of women and children, for whose removal he will have to make arrangements.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONasked whether the noble Marquess was able to state what were the contents of the letter which he had alluded to as having been sent by General Graham to Osman Digna and the Rebel Chiefs?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONNo, Sir; I do not know anything more on the subject than I have stated. General Graham states that he sent on the letter according to his instructions.
§ MR. M'COANMay I ask if any steps are to be taken to relieve the important garrison of Kassala?
§ [No reply.]
§ MR. M'COANI will repeat the Question to-morrow.