"Rt. Hon. Henry Brougham Loch, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., 1827- 1900. Created Baron Loch 1895. A.D.C. to Lord Gough in India; engaged in diplomatic services in Turkey and China. Governor of the Isle of Man, Victoria, and the Cape, and High Commissioner for South Africa.
LETTERS FROM EGYPT PREFACE
I HAVE received a request to write a few lines as an introduction to these letters of the late General Sir Frederick Stephenson to his family.
Having been on service with him in Egypt during the whole period of his command, and as Sirdar commanding the Egyptian Army associated with him in many of the scenes which he describes, I do so with pleasure, since the EgjT'ptian Army owed to General Stephenson a deep debt of gratitude for his constant help during the earty days of the force, and without the sympathy and assistance of the General Officer Commanding in Egypt the training and organisation of the army would have been greatly hampered.
The year 1883 was one of the most difficult in our occupation of Egypt. The Egyptian Army then being formed by Sir Evelyn Wood was not as yet efficient or properly organised, and he very rightly refused to allow it in its untrained state to be sent on service.
The Egyptian finances were still in disorder, and the satisfaction with which the terrified foreign element had received the protection afforded by the presence of a British garrison in Cairo had changed to a hostile and jealous attitude, promoted by the violent attacks on our administration by the French and native press.
The rapid spread of the cholera epidemic which appeared in the summer had checked all Lord Dufferin's schemes of reform — the disease raged from June to
November; in the capital over 1000 deaths a day being reached during the month of August, and panic occasioned by the great mortaUty caused a second exodus of the civil population, and the removal into camp of the British troops; but the noble conduct of the Khedive, in returning to Cairo during the worst period of the cholera, gave confidence and support to the British Sanitary and Medical officers, and his influence minimised the native opposition to orders, given with a view to arresting the disease.
Two men whose presence in Egypt proved of permanent advantage arrived at this time — General Sir Frederick Stephenson and Sir Evelyn Baring, the former in May, the latter relieving Sir Edward Malet in September, and the outlook was never more threatening than at the close of the year 1883.
There could not have been a better appointment at this anxious time than that of the new Commander of the Forces. His calmness and good sense, shown in his dealing with the cholera epidemic, and his charming personality and courteous manner, did much to allay the prejudices of the Anglophobes of all nationalities, while Sir Evelyn Baring had been but a short time in Cairo when it was felt that a wise and strong man was at the head of Egyptian affairs.
Great anxiety had been felt in Cairo as to the fate of Hicks Pasha's expedition. It had been launched into the Desert, but week after week passed, and no news arrived till the 21st November, when the entire destruction of the force was reported.
In December an Egyptian force under Mahmoud Pasha was exterminated in an attempt to relieve Tokar; and on the 2nd February 1884, Baker's force of 4000 men was cut to pieces, losing two-thirds of its numbers killed. At the same time all these various disasters were occurring, the question of the evacuation of Cairo was agitating the Home Government — it will be seen by General Stephenson's letter of the 19th November that he was even authorised to take up transport for the removal of troops, the proposal being that Cairo should be evacuated, and that a small garrison for Egypt should be placed at Alexandria. The General most wisely pointed out the great danger of such a course, and eventually misfortunes and disasters were so multiplied that any reduction of troops became impossible. Sir Gerald Graham's victories at El Teb and Tamai, marked by heavy casualties to the British troops, being followed by retirement from Suakin, were useless, and brought no tranquillity to the Eastern Soudan.
Gordon's situation at Khartoum was becoming perilous, and it was evident, if he were to be rescued at all, it could only be bj^ the dispatch of a British force; but not until May were war preparations commenced in England. On the loth of that month the military authorities in Cairo were ordered to purchase camels, and troops were to be held in readiness for a forward march in the autumn. Constant delays occurred, and it was not till the 5th of August that Mr. Gladstone moved for a Vote of Credit to enable the Government to organise operations for the relief of Gordon.