ABSTRACT
T h e battle of Ginnis, fought on 30th December, 1885, ushered in a new phase in the protean Egyptian question. The Khedivial troops did so well in that engagement that General Grenfell, in his despatch to General Stephenson, characterized “ the behaviour of all ranks during the action as steady, and the conduct of the whole force of Egyptian troops as very creditable ” .1 Not only did this commendable behaviour convince the British that the Egyptian army could with time, care, and work be developed into an adequate fighting organization, but it encouraged Sir Evelyn Baring and his military advisers to leave to the remodelled Egyptian army the main defence of Egypt against the Dervishes.2
