On Thursday, the date of the latest despatches from Trin-
kitat, it was fully expected that General Graham, with the Expedition under his command, would on Friday morning march from Fort Baker, which had been occupied to protect the passage of a morass, to El Teb, the place where Baker Pasha's force was destroyed, and there give battle to Osman Digna, who, on his side, was reported eager to accept the challenge. The force at the command of the Arab leader was variously esti- mated at from 8,000 to 18,000 men, but upon this point no cer- tainty exists. He had, however, been joined by powerful tribes, and had drawn his men well together, so that he could scarcely have less than 12,000 in all. Of these, perhaps a fifth carry rifles, while the remainder are armed with scimitars and spears. The British Expedition numbers, according to the Times, 4,400 men, but a few of these would be non-effi- ciente ; while 500 would be left to defend Trinkitat and Fort Baker. The actual force moving forward would therefore be 3,800, the number given by other correspondents, of
whom 300 would be cavalry. All these men are Euro- peans ; they carry 100 rounds per man, and they are well provided with everything except artillery. They have no horse artillery with them ; and, indeed, none at all, except seven ship guns lent by Admiral Hewett, which will be carried on mules, and will fire shrapnel. The proportion of officers is unusually large, and the General in command has the highest reputation in the Army, and has to all appearance taken every precaution. The camel-drivers, it must be noted, and probably the mule drivers of the Ambulance Corps, are all natives, who can only be relied on in the event of decisive victory.
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