The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-01-24 00:00:00

ear, which was occupied by a heavy detach-
ment of the Camel Corps, the enemy suc-
ceeded in penetrating the square formation,
but those who got inside were killed, though
not until several casualities had occurred

among our force.
Colonel Burnaby, who was with the
Marines in the thick of the fighting, was cut
to pieces. Majors Carmichael and Gough
(Royals), and six other officers, and sixty-
five men were also killed, and nine officers

and eighty-five men were wounded.
The enemy, disorganised and torn down
by our unceasing fire, at length fled, and the
artillery then opened upon them as thby re-
treated, and the Hnssars on their flank •'did
the rest."

The baggage of the column which was
left behind came in to-day at two o'clock.
On Monday we shall endeavour to capture
Metammeh, which is twenty-five miles dis-
tant from here. I take advantage of General

Stewart's messenger to send this telegram.
After their defeat the enemy entirely disap-
peared. It is stated that they formed part
of 14,000 men sent by the Ala,hdi, all of
whom were picked troops, and that a large
force is assembled at Metammeh. General

Stewart, however, is resolved to press on to
the latter place without delay.
The calling back by the "heavies" at the
rear of our square very nearly caused a
serious disaster to the brilliant movement
effected by .the Lancers. The men say that
that the cartridge extractors either did not
work, or that they, being cavalrymen, did
not know how to use them, and consequently
had to resort to their ramrods.

Abn Klea, where General Stewart fought
the battle on Saturday, is 22 miles from
Metammeh. By some authorities it is called
Abu Deleah, or Klea, and by others Bir Abu
Klea. The Intelligence Department at the
War Office gives the following particulars of
the place from information collected at
Debbeh :—"Water here occurs in wells ;
there is a fair supply, sufficient for 2,001,
camels. The road at this point is through
country occupied by the Hassamyeh Arabs."
Mr. Fowler, C.E., who surveyed the country
in 1871 and 1872, states that the wells at
Abu Klea consist of a number of holes, three
or four feet in diameter and a few feet in
depth, but as the soil does not stand firmly
they are constantly filling in, and have there-
fcre vey frequently to be reconstructed. The
water is excellent for drinking, and the
supply is good, having failed only once in 30
years preceding 1872. The wells are directly
on the camel track to Metammeh, and are
constantly visited by caravans. They also
form a favourite watering place for the
packs and herds of the Arabs. The route
from Abu Klea to Metammeh then enters a
valley with grass and trees, and after follow-
ing. it for some distance crosses a plain
covered with sand and boulders, succeeded
by a more favourable district capable of
cultivation during the rains. About sixteen
miles from Abu- Klea is situate the Well of
Shebacat, which is also directly on the cara-
van route. It is twelve feet in diameter and
fifty feet deep, excavated through the sand-
stone rock to a bed of sandy shingle. It is
situate on an extensive plain amidst thick
scrub and coarse grass, and there is no water
channel in its vicinity the supply must be
obtained from low level springs ; the water
being brackish is unfit for drinking purposes.
The supply is abundant, never failing in the
driest season. It is at Shebacat that General
Stewart may be expected to make his next
halt, presuming he has left Abu Klea.
OFFICIAL LIST OF THE KILLED AND
WOUNDED.

The War office issued yesterday afternoon
the following list of the casualities (verified
as far as possible) among the non-commis-
sioned officers and men of the forces engaged
at the Abu Klea Wells on the 17th instant :
KILLED.

Ist Life Guards: Privates F. Wodhoouse
and Nicholson.
2nd Dragoon Guards: Privates Cooper,
Stenning, and Beckwith.
4th Dragoon Guards: Privates Blaine,
Bunch, Franklin, and Hewitt.
sth Dragoon Guards: Sergeant Heverin,
Privates Budd, Bates, Martin, Sergeant, and
Thompson.
Royal Dragoons : Sergeant Philps, Priv-
vates Robinson, Willis, Cross, Cordon, Fox,
Connel, Johnson, Read, Reed, Steadman and
Norman.
Scots Greys: Corporal Shields, Privates
Brannon, Cambell, Hall, Howett, Hutson,
Mellaw (? Mealow), Nicholl (? Nicol), Robb,
and Walton.
sth Lancers: Sergeant Perceval, Corporal
Parker, Privates Bell and Mascgrath.
IGth Lancers: Corporal Jacques, Privates
Silvester, Taylor, and Osborne.
19th Hussars: Private Penton (? Parton)
Corporal Walker.
Guard's Camel Regiment : Grenadier
Guards: Private Orminston ; Scots Guards:
Private Donaldson; Coldstream Guards :
Private Walters and Lucking.
Royal Sussex : Privates Maloney and
Weston.
Mounted Infantry (Royal Rifles) :Privates
Bowles and."Turi er.
West Kent Regiment : Corporal Miles
(Connaught Rangers), Privates Cosgrove
(Essex Regiment) and Wilford.
Naval Brigade : Chief Boatswain's Mate
Rhodes (Rhoads), Gunners' Mate Webb,
rinourer Miller A B Loar (?Lower), Barney
(?Burley), and Nye.