The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-30 00:00:00

THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

According to intelligence received at Alexandria
from the Soudan, Hicks Pasha, Colonel Farquhar,
and Captain Evans returned to Khartoum on May 31.
The native tribes were quiet and were making submis-
sion. —Writing from Khartoum on May 23, the Special
Co:te.pondent of the Daily News gives some further
paz ticmars of the recent victory of Hicks Pacha over
the troops of the Mandi.—We make the following
extracts therefrom :

Resuming my narrative of the late battle, I have
to add that it wae not till we had ridden from with-
out the square that we began to realise the im-
portance of our victory. Accompanying the expedi-
tion was a promit cut friendly chief, Ahmet-Wed-
el-Lete kh, Sheik of the Lakhawin tribe, who, pausing
by the bodies of the various leaders, gave their
names and explained their position and influ-
ence. All were the chosen men of the Mandi,
and whether as dervishes cr fanatical preachers of the
rebeldon, or as dauntless warriors, they were one and
all chiefs of the highest mark. Altogether there were
twelve of them, nine belonging to Sennaar and three
who had just come from Kordofan, the latter especi-
ally despatched by the Mandi to excite the enemy to
a final stand on the west bank of the White Nile with
promises of invulnerability to all, and confusion and
deFtreiction to the '' great magician," that is to say to
"General Hicks Pacha." There they lay in their
patchwork-coloured robes of honour pierced by the
bullets that were to have fallen harmlessly at their
feet; there they lay, stricken in many places,
surrounded by those who had blindly followed
them to certain death, shouting verses from the
Koran and waving banners inscribed with some
inspiring religious text. All had fallen with their
heads towards the square, and from twenty paces in
fros t of our line up to 500 yards distant the ground
was covered with their dead. On our left, numbers
had fallen in a patch of tall yellow grass, whicbl-fired
by the bursting shell, made it somewhat dangerous
to explore. Others who had received their death
billet at the opening of the engagement beyond *he
500 yards had been dragged back into the wood by
their comrades, and nearly all the wounded either
crept or were carried off. But judging from what we
ourselves could see, the number of killed must have
exceeded 260, snd it was afterwards reported by
friendly Arabs that the dead numbered SOO and the
1 wounded 500; the latter, carried of on camels mostly
died by the way.
Of the forces that attacked us it would be almost
impossible to arrive at a eorrect computation. There
may have been from three to five thousand at the first
'rush from the wood, and possibly behind these may
have been others ready to swoop down as the leading
lines opened the way. But these lines, first staggered
by the shells, then shattered and broken by the rile
bullets as they entered our zone of fire gave but sorry
encouragement to those who were fire,
follow ; and
though other masses were seen to deboush from the
cover, they extended rapidly to right and left, hastily
retiring to the shelter they had quitted. Of those who
led the way, nothing could exceed the gallantry, and
even the heroism. . .

Among other instances of heroism and devotion may
be mentioned that of a female slave, who, regardless
of the shower of bullets whistling around her, brought
to her wounded master a gourd of water, and calmly
seating herself by his side took the unconscious head
on her lap. Again a gaunt-like figure stalking through
the dead and dying came almost to the square,
seeking coolly, and apparently unconscious of
the fire, some wounded or dead relation, until
finally he fell himself. Another warrior, find-
ing that death did not come quick enough,
strode, bi andishing his lance, to within a dozen
paces, and though assured of safety if he threw
down his weapon and surrendered, simply answered
with defiance' and continued to chant his hopes of
Paradise until a bullet laid him low. Passing over
the dead, we discovered at every step indications of
the passage of the wounded. That night we encamped
by the river, General Hicks leaving by steamer for a
ford some miles above, across which it was possible
the eqemy might endeavour to cross intq Kordofan.
The Pacha took with him two Nordenfeldts, a rifled
howitzer, and 150 Bashi-Bazouks.