EUROPEAN NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 75, 27 February 1884, Page 2

EUROPEAN NEWS.

(Per Melbourne steamer at the Bluff.) [agb Bplci4ls.j (united press association.) London, February 18. The Marquis of Harrington, Secretaty for Wai', has announced his intention of making a statement upon the colonial defences of the empire, when moving the army and navy estimates for the year. The Warwick Castle has been speciaW*cnartered T?y 6he Orient Company to^e'onyey a number of emigrants to Sydney. The cpminander-in-cbief of the British forces m Egypt has threatened to resign unless the Government alters its determination and permits Egyptian troops to be employed m the Soudan. Altogether a thousand British and Egyptian troops have been ordfereil-lo the' Soudan .\ ' It is probable tbkt' ~IW Duke of Edinburgh will be employ^! on active service m Egypt. 1 The" Albert and- Victoria, the two new gunboats, have hoisted the ensign of the Royal > avy. This has displeased thd Admiralty, as no Order m .Council has i been issued authorising the use of the ensign* . February 19. The objection of the Egyptian soldiers tq, serve m the Soudan against the rebels' is' increasing dailyj and yesterday a deputation of officers from the various. Egyptian regiments waited upon the Khedive and protested against any Egyptian regiments being: despatched to serve-in the Soudan. They also demanded that 'the whole of the British officers at present engaged m the Egyptian-army should be dismissed from the service. Sir. Evelyn/Wood, the commander-in-chief of the Egyptian ibices, has ordered all mutineers, to be arrested. The excitement at Cairo is intense, and some action must be taken by the British Government m the matter, and this is awaited with great anxiety ; and it is considered probable, m view of the disorganisation of the native troops, that the whole of the Egyptian army ■will be disbanded. Telegrams have been received stating that' a detachment of Russian troops has seized and occupied Mciv territory, Western Turkistan," 300 miles to the south-east of Khiva. The territory has . been formally declared annexed! by Russia. ' ' . r 'General Mellor, who left France on the 23rd I v ecember with 3000 men to reinforce the French troops m Tonquip, has arrived at Hanoi. - • ■" -•■ '- ■ •' ~r> ■„..: -yj ;,. .... ;-„ ;,,