For The Next Four Years He Worked Busily In The War Office At Cairo, Effecting Many Useful Reforms And Hard Economies, And Revealing Powers Of Organisation Which, Although Not Yet Appreciated By His Comrades In The Egyptian Service, Were Noticed By One Vigilant Eye.

In 1892 Sir F. Grenfell resigned the post of Sirdar, and the chief command of the Egyptian army was vacant.

Two men stood out prominently as candidates - Colonel Wodehouse, who held the command of the Halfa Field Force, and the Adjutant-General. Colonel Wodehouse had undoubtedly the greater claims. He had been for several years in command of a large force in continual contact with the enemy. He had won the action of Argin, and was known throughout the Soudan as 'the conqueror of Wad-el-Nejumi.' He had conducted the civil administration of the frontier province with conspicuous success, and he was popular with all ranks of the Egyptian army. Kitchener had little to set against this. He had shown himself a brave and active soldier. He was known to be a good official. But he had not been in accord with the Government in his civil administration, and was, moreover, little known to his brother officers. Sir Evelyn Baring's influence, however, turned the scale. Somewhat, therefore, to the astonishment of the Egyptian army, Kitchener was promoted Sirdar. Lord Cromer had found the military officer whom he considered capable of re-conquering the Soudan when the opportunity should come.

The years of preparation, wasted by no one in Egypt, were employed by no department better than by the Intelligence Branch.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 132 of 476
Words from 34877 to 35142 of 127807