The Cairo News - An Egypt to Arabia V3 AAR

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The Cairo News​

VOL. I. – NO. 169.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1836​

PRICE 6d.​

MORE TAX REFORMS.​

THE government announced further tax reforms to take effect this year. As many of our readers will know, our humble ruler was once a meagre tax collector in Kavala; part of the Rumelia Eyalet of the Ottoman Empire. So, it comes as little surprise that the Khedive Muhammad Ali Pasha is pushing for more improvements of the tax system, and this recent announcement marks the latest development.

THE government administration in Lower Egypt is to be centralized and hundreds of clerks will be employed to fill the gaps in the tax system. The existing system has been called backwards and outdated as it strains under the pressure of collecting taxes, with an estimated £3,400 being lost each week due to inefficient bureaucracy.

NEW consumption taxes were also announced on services and tobacco, expected to bring in an extra £10,440 revenue per week and therefore filling the deficit of government revenue by a large margin. Experts have speculated that this could mean an increase in government spending to come, or perhaps further conflict with the Ottoman Sultan.

DEDICATED POLICE FORCE.​

DEBATE CONTINUES​

FURTHER details about the planned police force have been announced by the Citadel. The original intention to create the dedicated force was first revealed on January 23.

TODAY, it was stated that a public prosecutor’s office will also be set up alongside the police force. There will also be new laws put in place to allow additional forms of evidence to be used in courts. Such evidence will also include the new concept of autopsy reports.

WHILE the idea of a dedicated police force has been generally accepted by most of the populace, there are those who oppose the idea of additional government interference in their lives. We approached the government for their response to this, but they declined to comment. Read some of our readers thoughts in the Letters section.

DIPLOMATIC UPDATE.​

THE Egyptian diplomatic service has been reaching out to France, Russia, and Great Britain recently. Relations with France continue to be good as further promising students are sent there to study languages and military theory.

RELATIONS with Russia remain difficult but hope remains that they can be swayed to our side in future diplomatic overtures.

A diplomatic entourage was also sent to the Sherif of Hedjaz, as relations continue to be cold. Though Hedjaz was recaptured from the Saud’s in 1805 there continues to be unrest in the region with some suggestion that Hedjaz may desire independence.

THE DUEL​

MAJOR-GENERAL BEAUFORT D’HAUTPOUL.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL SOLIMAN AL-FARANSAWI.

THE popularity of Major-General Charles-Marie-Napoleon de Beaufort d’Hautpoul and Brigadier-General Soliman al-Faransawi has descended to new lows following a major argument.

THESE two generals have been feuding for some time but events came to a new climax on January 29 when al-Faransawi insulted de Beaufort d’Hautpoul and challenged him to a duel. Such language was used that cannot be printed here.

IT is believed that the Khedive stepped in personally to stop them, stating that both of them are too important to lose and ordering them to settle their differences in a more civilized manner.

BOTH Generals hail from France and have served under Muhammad Ali for many years, while al-Faransawi also served under Napoleon Bonaparte at the battle of Waterloo. His name at birth was Joseph Sève, before he moved to Egypt and reverted to Islam.

THE 32-year-old de Beaufort d’Hautpoul once served as Aide-de-Camp under al-Faransawi but has now achieved a higher rank within the Army. While the older 48-year-old al-Faransawi is now responsible for training new recruits.

SOURCES close to the two Generals suggest al-Faransawi is jealous of de Beaufort d’Hautpoul’s role and covets his position; believing himself to be more suited and much more experienced.

However, a statement later released by the Citadel said both men had their parts to play in the future of the Egyptian Armed Forces and relations had calmed between them.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.​

Dear Editor, –As a private citizen definitely not connected with the ongoing national dispute over this law enforcement legislation, I, someone who is absolutely only a private citizen, have a few choice words I wish to write.

A dedicated police force is the best thing this country needs. For too long the peasantry have disobeyed the will of the Khedive. New work programs have been put in place to provide jobs for the peasants and to drive the Egyptian economy. But many peasants refuse to work where they’re told to! Many run away, and shirk their responsibilities.

This new police force will ensure everyone follows the will of the law, for the greater good! –Yours, &c.,

M.A.​

Dear Editor, –It is of great concern that I write to you with regard to the efforts to create a dedicated police force. The idea is entirely preposterous and unnecessary. I can assure you the good people of Egypt do not need such interference in their lives.

I know many peasants that work tirelessly in the fields to feed our great society. Already they break their backs in toil to the demands of the government. Already they are taxed enough, so how is the government to pay for such a frivolous and unwanted project? More taxes? Enough, I say. –Yours, &c.,

Enver Al-Nahhas​

Dear Editor, –I once was a simple shopkeeper, and my fortune was lost to dastardly thieves. Though I have since remade my fortune, I wholly support a police force that will catch and punish such thieves. –Yours, &c.,

Halil Abd Al-Rahman
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The Cairo News​

VOL. III. – NO. 86.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1838​

​

TURKISH INCURSION.​

SULTAN DEMANDS ADANA AND ALEPPO.​

THE Ottoman Sultan sparked a diplomatic incident on February 25 as he demanded the return of Adana and Aleppo from the Khedivate of Egypt.

THE whole of Syria, including Aleppo; as well as Adana and Crete were ceded to Egypt at the Convention of Kütahya in May 1833. In the war preceding the Convention the forces of Muhammad Ali threatened Constantinople itself and it was only when Russia stepped in, followed by France and Great Britain, that a peace was brokered.

SULTAN Mahmut II has ruled the Ottoman Empire for thirty years and has always been an ambitious political operator. He has attempted to push through many reforms during his rule though he was forced to recognize the independence of Greece in 1832.

THOUGH our Khedive is nominally a viceroy of Egypt still under Ottoman rule; Mohammad Ali is independent from the Sultan in all but name.

THEREFORE, nothing more than the recognition of Egyptian independence, and the right to hereditary rule for Muhammad Ali and his family, has been demanded in return. Further lands in Adana have also been demanded in retaliation for breaking the previously agreed Convention.

EGYPTIAN NATIONAL POLICE.​

NEW legislation passed on March 5 created the first national police force for Egypt. A statement from the Citadel stated these new police force will cover all of Egypt with a central headquarters in Cairo. “It will be a Police of the people and will achieve tranquility of the citizens” a spokesman said.

RECRUITMENT and training will start immediately to ensure adherence to the law, as well as putting down the growing radicalism within the country.

NEW GOVERNMENT VIZIERS.​

KEMAL Pasha and Halil Abd al-Rahman have been appointed as new Viziers to the Khedive as of March 5.

SINCE Muhammad Ali took power with his Army the Vizier Rifat Sabri has been the main advisor to the Khedive; being the voice of the armed forces. However, many have described Sabri as little more than an absent-minded bureaucrat, and little more than a pawn to the will of the Khedive.

WHILE it is unlikely that these two new Viziers will have any real influence over the autocratic Ali; it does seem to signal a change in direction for new policies coming out of the Cairo Citadel.

CLAIMING to have the ear of the Petite Bourgeoisie, the 28-year-old Halil Abd al-Rahman has been a regular contributor to our letters section. Though he has little clout behind him, he is considered charismatic and his years spent as a merchant might help to influence financial policies.

THE former lawyer Kemal Pasha has the backing of the landowners, and though some suggest he will be just as much a pawn as the other Viziers; there is a lot of clout behind him. The Khedive will have to tread lightly and avoid upsetting the landowners if he is to remain in power, leading some sources to say this is a case of keeping his enemies close.

RUSSIA TO STEP IN.​

THERE was a surprise intervention from Russia on March 27 when they announced they would support the Egyptian side in the diplomatic play from the Ottomans.

IN the 1831-33 conflict the Russians took the side of the Ottomans but now it seems the Tsar is upset at the Sultan breaking the previously agreed Convention.

THIS new state of affairs certainly sways things in favour of the Egyptians, though Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Al-Alawi – the Khedive’s own son and head of the armed forces – said he was confident that Egyptian forces could beat the Ottomans without any allies.

EVEN with Russia on our side it will mean fighting a war on two fronts, as Tripoli still bows to the control of the Sultan.

ALL troops have been mobilized, with the main force of 104,000 troops being sent to the Adana border in the north under the leadership of the Khedive’s son. A further 26,000 troops are heading for the Tripoli border to the west, being led by Major-General Charles-Marie-Napoleon de Beaufort d’Hautpoul.

DURING the last conflict Muhammad Ali was tempted to march on Constantinople itself, and even considered demanding that Mahumut II should be replaced with the Sultans young son.

IT seems the Khedive is being more cautious this time and is only demanding the remaining territories of Adana that were denied to him in the last treaty.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.​

Dear Editor, –It is about time we had another war with the Sultan. The Ottoman Empire is archaic and should be cast in to the history books, where it belongs.

I can assure your readers that if we go to war with the Ottomans that every one of their soldiers will meet a swift end as they face our armies and we will raze the very city of Constantinople itself! –Yours, &c.,

Major-General Ahmad Pasha Abu Widan

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Dear Editor, –At first, I was living with my poor widowed mother, then with my terrible uncle, then they both died and I became an orphan.

Since then, I have risen from the ground up and now represent a group of like-minded intellects who wish for a different direction for the good people of Egypt.

I support the conflict with the Ottomans just as any good Egyptian does, but I also support liberalism, the end of slavery and the end of Sultans and Khedive’s to rule us.

So, I invite any like-minded people to meet with me in Alexandria to further our small but noble cause. –Yours, &c.,

Yusuf Al-Nahhas

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Dear Editor, –I have already made my position clear to the Khedive and I now write to your publication to further express my dissatisfaction.

For too long has the Egyptian leadership ignored the needs of the Sunni Ulema. Muhammed Ali builds himself new Mosques in the Citadel but what of the poorer folk?

Therefore, I have demanded a position for myself as a vizier to the khedive to ensure the needs of the faithful are met. Who else will speak for them? –Yours, &c.,

Selim Pasha

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Dear Editor, –Why is no one reporting about the rising price of coffee? How am I supposed to go to work and interact with people when I can barely afford one cup, let alone the minimum of three I need each day! –Yours, &c.,

A concerned clerk​

 

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After a new hard drive I should be back at it now....

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The Cairo News

​

VOL. V. – NO. 30.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1840​

PRICE 6d​

OTTOMANS BACK DOWN.​

TREATY OF ADANA SIGNED.​

WITH the help of Tsar Nikolai of Russia war has been avoided. Sultan Mahmut II has backed down from his demands. On April 3, 1838 the Sultan signed the Treaty of Adana; ceding the remaining lands of Adana that rightly belong to Egypt.

WHILE some were keen for another war against the Ottomans, many people have praised the Khedive’s cautious moves in the face of Ottoman aggression.

DESPITE the praise, the prevailing opinion at the Citadel is that the feud with the Sultan is far from over and further conflict is still unavoidable.

HEDJAZ PACIFIED.​

THE Sharifate of Hedjaz has been placed under greater control following a diplomatic move from Cairo.

MUHAMMAD Ali captured Hedjaz from the House of Saud in 1805 but since then the region has been considered a Tributary with a certain degree of self-rule. In recent years the relationship between the Sharif in Mecca and the Khedive have remained poor.

MAJOR-GENERAL Ahmad Pasha Abu Widan began to march 35,000 troops towards Hedjaz to ensure they acquiesced to new terms.

FACED with this overwhelming threat, Sharif Muhammad al-Hashimi, the elderly ruler of Hedjaz, was forced to recognize the Khedive as their overlord in a full vassal relationship. This would also erase any loyalty the Sharif had towards the Sultan and ensure the Sharifate provides troops in any future wars.

ON May 8, 1838 the Citadel released a statement confirming that relations with Hedjaz are stronger than ever and said Egypt would continue to protect the region from any further incursions from the Saud’s or other tribes in the peninsula.

SHARIF MUHAMMAD AL-HASHIMI OF HEDJAZ

ARMY MODERNISATION.​

ALL the investments into modernizing the armed forces have begun to pay off. A new General Staff has been implemented based on French models and Major-General Charles-Marie-Napoleon de Beaufort d’Hautpoul has been appointed Chief-of-Staff.

HAVING a set of officers to act as a conduit between the high command and the troops themselves, allows for greater communication and effectiveness.

TRAINING continues to be led by Brigadier-General Soliman al-Faransawi who has now re-organised the foot soldiers into the new style of Skirmish Infantry, based on his experiences gained in the Napoleonic wars.

FURTHER developments suggest not everything is going smoothly. Vizier Kemal Pasha has been insisting that de Beaufort d’Hautpoul should receive a higher rank for his loyal work modernizing the army but this has been met with firm refusals from the Citadel.

NEW INFANTRY REGIMENT ON PARADE

DIPLOMATIC UPDATE.​

RELATIONS with Russia continue to be neutral, even after siding with Egypt in the recent diplomatic event against the Sultan.

DIPLOMATS from Russia have stated that the Tsar wishes for a sustained peace in the Middle East and welcomes friendship with all nations of the region. But they also stated that Russia would ensure the balance of power in the region remains as it is. Experts have considered this a warning against any further expansion from Egypt.

BUREAUCRACRY REFORMS END.​

SOME efforts had been made recently to replace the hereditary governors with appointed bureaucrats. Vizier Halil Abd al-Rahman, who supported this move, failed to get enough support for the required legislation.


BLAME was placed on the existing civil service for creating an exorbitant amount of paper-work around the matter. Sources close to al-Rahman also blamed Vizier Kemal Pasha for driving the resistance against the reform as the landowners would have much to lose from their hereditary positions within current bureaucracy.

ALL further attempts to reform the bureaucracy were dropped on September 10, 1838.

MINING ACCIDENT.​

A lead mine in Sinai collapsed today, killing hundreds with many more left trapped in the dark shafts below.

THOUGH rescue efforts are under way there has been little concern from the Citadel, with one source – remaining anonymous – saying: “This is a small price to pay for the march of industry.”

THE conditions in the mine are treacherous at the best of times. Described as hot, dark and hell-like with many young children employed for long hours in these labyrinthine shafts.

POLICE Constables are on site to help with the rescue efforts and to maintain order from distressed relatives. But one observer noted the police were also ensuring that other miners continued their ‘essential’ work at other sites so as not to disrupt the supply of lead to the Egyptian markets.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.​

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Dear Editor, –There are now regular Salons held in esteemed houses of Alexandria. They are awash with opposition to the government’s policies.

Support is growing for greater reforms across all areas of society. If the Khedive wishes to see the Ottoman Empire condemned to the history books, then so must the laws and principles of the Sultan be condemned. It is time to end slavery and give women the right to own property.

So, I write to you again to invite all like-minded citizens to join me in Alexandria and support our growing cause. –Yours, &c.,

Yusuf Al-Nahhas

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Dear Editor, –There is much talk of reforming and modernizing the army but I must speak my mind on the matter.

The Generals give us new rifles but no ammunition to use with them. There is a great shortage of ammo that no one has an answer to. I am told that efforts are being made to import ammunition from France and Austria but still we do not have enough.

I can only hope there will not be a war soon, for how can we fight with empty rifles? –Yours, &c.,

Anonymous

 

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As always, the PDF version can be found at the end of this post.

The Cairo News
​

VOL. VII. – NO. 241.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1842 ​

PRICE 6d.​

OFFICE OF COLONIAL AFFAIRS.​

PIONEERING citizens are being sought by the new Office of Colonial Affairs to settle two areas recently claimed by Egypt.

THIS new government department was set up on 28th October 1841 with a mission to exploit new lands beyond our current borders.

THE southern borders of Egypt were previously expanded eight years ago when the area of Sudan was conquered by our Khedive, Muhamad Ali, but it seems he has eyes for further expansion towards the south.

ALREADY, the first batch of colonists have been sent into the Zanj region to settle a new state known as Equatoria. These lands are currently occupied primarily by the Nuer and Dinka tribes, though little is known about them as they appear to have no central government.

CONSTRUCTION has also begun on a port for Egypt’s second colony, which has been established on the East African coast in the state of Kenya. Here the town of Mombasa has already been established and relations with the nearby tribe known as Kikuyu are currently said to be calm.

APPOINTMENTS.​

NURETTIN al-Maraghi has been appointed as Vizier to replace Halil Abd Al-Rahman; who has stepped-down to spend more time with his family.

INDUSTRY REPORT.​

INVESTORS were celebrating recently as new saw mills were put in to production in the logging areas of the Blue Nile state. A report estimates that these new saw mills will increase logging production by as much as 300% once new staff have been hired and trained.

SOURCES close to the Khedive praised this new investment in Egyptian business, saying this is exactly what the country needs in order to modernize.

GRUESOME MURDERS.​

A series of horrific murders in Lower Egypt. The police are powerless to stop the murdered who they dub the Cairo Ripper.

CROWDS gathered near the old Cairo Bazaar on an early Saturday morning as the first corpse was found in a pool of blood.

SINCE then, at least two more victims have been discovered, both butchered in a similar method, leading police to believe it was the same attacker across the three crimes.

POLICE gave assurances to the public that the killer will be brought to justice, however the streets seem quieter than usual since the murders as people fear going out alone.

DEATHS.​

Sharif Muhammad Al-Hashimi of Hedjaz has passed away at the age of 74. His 3-year-old grandson, Nur al-Din al-Hashimi has taken his place as the new Sharif. The Citadel in Cairo has sent officials to Hedjaz to act as regents before the young boy comes of age, and to ensure continuing loyalty to the Khedive.

NEW TAX ANNOUNCED.​

TODAY the Citadel announced a new consumption tax on luxury furniture. This is in addition to the existing taxes on tobacco and services.

CRITICS to this new tax have pointed out that it will barely make a dent in the governments £21,000 weekly deficit. The new tax is expected to raise a mere ten percent of the deficit with no further plans announced for how the rest of the financial hole will be fixed.

MEANWHILE, the deficit is only expected to increase as the Khedive’s wars continue, and more men are drafted into the army.

WAR WITH JABAL SHAMMAR.​

RUSSIA STANDS AGAINST EGYPT​

“WE do not fear the Tsar, just as we do not fear the Sultan. Neither will get in the way of Egypt exercising its sovereign claims over territory that rightfully belongs to Egypt” read the statement issued by the Citadel, earlier.

DESPITE taking Egypt’s side just two years ago, Russia has now sided with the Emirate of Jabal Shammar after Egypt announced its intention to vassalize the tribal lands of Arabia. This is not entirely unexpected as diplomats from Russia have previously indicated their desire to maintain the status quo within the middle east.

EMIR Abdullah Al-Rashid of Jabal Shammar had refused to recognize Egypt as their rightful overlord, despite the territory having previously been ruled from Cairo.

MAJOR General Ahmad Pasha Abu Widan is currently leading the armies of Egypt as they sweep across the desert towards the Jabal Shammar capital of Buraydah. He is also being backed up by troops from Hedjaz and reports suggest he is currently meeting very little resistance with no signs of Russian troops on the frontlines.

COMMENTATORS believe the war will be short and that this move against the Rashidi dynasty of Jabal Shammar is likely to be the first move in a greater play against the Saud dynasty further to the south.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.​

Dear Editor, –I ask the good people of Egypt, is it right for us to exploit the tribal people to our south? Our new office of colonial affairs would like to put a positive perspective to this, but we are merely stealing land from innocent people and then forcing those people to work on the land we stole.

All this will do is drive down prices and force the honest and hard-working peasants of Egypt into further hardship as they struggle to compete with the new colonies.

And should we not fear history repeating itself? Just as in America where the colonies rose up against their Masters, will the same not happen against Egypt in future? Let us be happy with the lands we already have. –Yours, &c.,

Enver Al-Nahhas

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Dear Editor, –The Tsar should mind his own business and should perhaps attain a better lesson in geography.

Does he not see how futile it is to involve Russia in the affairs of Jabal Shammar. Russia cannot reach the oases of central Arabia without violating the territory of other nations.

Our mighty armies will capture Buraydah without Russia ever presenting a fight. Let the Tsar worry when Egypt one day marches towards St. Petersburg! –Yours, &c.,

An Egyptian Patriot​