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realise that； so long as there was an English army in Egypt they
could not avoid the responsibilities of supreme power； they
declared that the domestic policy of the Egyptian administration
was no concern of theirs。 It was a fatal erroran error which
they themselves； before many weeks were over； were to be forced
by the hard logic of events to admit。 The Pashas； left to their
own devices； mismanaged the Hicks expedition to their hearts'
content。 The miserable troops； swept together from the relics of
Arabi's disbanded army； were dispatched to Khartoum in chains。
After a month's drilling； they were pronounced to be fit to
attack
the fanatics of the Sudan。 Colonel Hicks was a brave man； urged
on by the authorities in Cairo； he shut his eyes to the danger
ahead of him； and marched out from Khartoum in the direction of
El Obeid at the beginning of September； 1883。 Abandoning his
communications； he was soon deep in the desolate wastes of
Kordofan。 As he advanced； his difficulties increased； the guides
were treacherous； the troops grew exhausted； the supply of water
gave out。 He pressed on； and at last； on November 5th； not far
from El Obeid； the harassed； fainting； almost desperate army
plunged into a vast forest of gumtrees and mimosa scrub。 There
was a sudden； appalling yell； the Mahdi； with 40；000 of his
finest men； sprang from their ambush。 The Egyptians were
surrounded； and immediately overpowered。 It was not a defeat；
but an annihilation。 Hicks and his European staff were
slaughtered； the whole army was slaughtered； 300 wounded wretches
crept away into the forest。
The consequences of this event were felt in every part of the
Sudan。 To the westward； in Darfur； the Governor； Slatin Pasha；
after a prolonged and valiant resistance； was forced to
surrender； and the whole province fell into the hands of the
rebels。 Southwards； in the Bahr…el…Ghazal； Lupton Bey was shut up
in a remote stronghold； while the country was overrun。 The
Mahdi's triumphs were beginning to penetrate even into the
tropical regions of Equatoria； the tribes were rising； and Emir
Pasha was preparing to retreat towards the Great Lakes。 On the
cast； Osman Digna pushed the insurrection right up to the shores
of the Red Sea and laid siege to Suakin。 Before the year was
over； with the exception of a few isolated and surrounded
garrisons； the Mahdi was absolute lord of a territory equal to
the combined area of Spain； France； and Germany； and his
victorious armies were rapidly closing round Khartoum。
When the news of the Hicks disaster reached Cairo； the Pashas
calmly announced that they would collect another army of 10；000
men； and again attack the Mahdi； but the English Government
understood at last the gravity of the case。 They saw that a
crisis was upon them； and that they could no longer escape the
implications of their position in Egypt。 What were they to do？
Were they to allow the Egyptians to become more and more deeply
involved in a ruinous； perhaps ultimately a fatal； war with the
Mahdi？ And； if not； what steps were they to take？
A small minority of the party then in power in England the
Liberal
Party were anxious to withdraw from Egypt altogether and at
once。
On the other hand； another and a more influential minority； with
representatives in the Cabinet； were in favour of a more active
intervention in Egyptian affairs of the deliberate use of the
power of England to give to Egypt internal stability and external
security； they were ready； if necessary； to take the field
against the Mahdi with English troops。 But the great bulk of the
party； and the Cabinet； with Mr。 Gladstone at their head；
preferred a middle course。 Realising the impracticality of an
immediate withdrawal； they were nevertheless determined to remain
in Egypt not a moment longer than was necessary； and； in the
meantime； to interfere as little as possible in Egyptian affairs。
From a campaign in the Sudan conducted by an English army they
were altogether averse。 If； therefore； the English army was not
to be used； and the Egyptian army was not fit to be used
against the Mahdi； it followed that any attempt to reconquer the
Sudan must be abandoned； the remaining Egyptian troops must be
withdrawn； and in future military operations must be limited to
those of a strictly defensive kind。 Such was the decision of the
English Government。 Their determination was strengthened by two
considerations： in the first place； they saw that the Mahdi's
rebellion was largely a nationalist movement； directed against an
alien power； and； in the second place； the policy of withdrawal
from the Sudan was the policy of their own representative in
Egypt； Sir Evelyn Baring； who had lately been appointed Consul…
General at Cairo。 There was only one serious obstacle in the
way
the attitude of the Pashas at the head of the Egyptian
Government。 The infatuated old men were convinced that they would
have better luck next time； that another army and another Hicks
would certainly destroy the Mahdi； and that； even if the Mahdi
were again victorious； yet another army and yet another Hicks
would no doubt be forthcoming； and that THEY would do the trick；
or； failing that 。。。 but they refused to consider eventualities
any further。 In the face of such opposition； the English
Government； unwilling as they were to interfere； saw that there
was no choice open to them but to exercise pressure。 They
therefore instructed Sir Evelyn Baring； in the event of the
Egyptian Government refusing to withdraw from the Sudan； to
insist upon the Khedive's appointing other Ministers who would be
willing to do so。
Meanwhile； not only the Government； but the public in England
were beginning to realise the alarming nature of the Egyptian
situation。 It was some time before the details of the Hicks
expedition were fully known； but when they were； andwhen the
appalling
character of the disaster was understood； a thrill of horror ran
through
the country。 The newspapers became full of articles on the Sudan；
of
personal descriptions of the Mahdi； of agitated letters from
colonels
and clergymen demanding vengeance； and of serious discussions of
future
policy in Egypt。 Then； at the beginning of the new year； alarming
messages
began to arrive from Khartoum。 Colonel Coetlogon； who was in
command of
the Egyptian troops； reported a menacing concentration of the
enemy。 Day by day；
hour by hour； affairs grew worse。 The Egyptians were obviously
outnumbered：
they could not maintain themselves in the field； Khartoum was in
danger； at
any moment； its investment might be complete。 And； with Khartoum
once cut off
from communication with Egypt； what might not happen？
Colonel Coetlogon began to calculate how long the city would hold
out。 Perhaps it could not resist the Ma