By which time you would see your way as to the future. I would restore the telegraph as I went along.
The result of these operations would be the retreat of the Mahdi’s Arabs to Kordofan, and the surrender of those in and about Kassala.
Humanly speaking, there will be probably three fights, costing each fight, eight killed and fifteen wounded, as far as experience goes; not more, and very likely, if the first fight is a good one (and we have a good pursuit), there will be no more after it; all the rest will be child’s play.[96]
Arabs must have one good defeat, to wipe out Hicks’ disasters, and my defeats. Berber will be evacuated.
The troops at fight No. 1 Giraffe will go up in the castellated barges (which are real fortresses), and be covered by five steamers, each with two guns, and two barges with a Krupp gun in each (16-pounders), so there would be no risk; none of the Arabs’ forts are closed at gorge.
Force need not be more than 1000 strong, for we could send 3000 for the flanks; but, as it would fight on river banks, there would be no fear for flank attack. All could be done in thirty days as far as fighting is concerned. This of course leaves the question of Kordofan unsettled. The Mahdi might come to terms, and abandon his spiritual power, but I doubt it.
The fighting force C probably will be under Buller. Earle at Berber; Dormer at Abou Hamed; and Fremantle at Dongola; the Sirdar at Wady Halfa; Lord Wolseley partout! Goodenough in command of Royal Artillery; Harrison (in recollection of China) commanding Royal Engineers. I hope Goodenough will not be too proud to use our guns, he will be horrified at the vents, which are from continuous firing; we do not rebouch up here, not having bouches.