The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-04-25 00:00:00

THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

The following official telegrams were issued on
Sunday from the War Office:
"From Lieutenant-General Sir G. Graham to the
' Secretary of State for War. _

(Dated'Souakim, April 18, 7.45 p.m.)
" Made reconnaissance in force on Hasheen,
Deberet, and valley of Khor Aberet, leaving camp
five this morning with two regiments cavalry, Horse
Artillery, 50 Mounted Infantry, and 15th Sikhs.
Column from Handoub composed of Australians,
Mounted Infantry, and screw guns, moving
on Debemt by pass through Waratab Hills.
Mounted Infantry and native scouts operating
from Otao towards same point, supported by half
battalion Scots Guards, at seven o'clock passed
Dihelbat. Bengal Cavalry scouted in front, and 20th
Hussary on right, reached Deberet at nine o'clock.
Pew half-filled wells, water three feet surface. Han-
doub- columns occupied mouth of pass, and Atao
column low hills in front of Khor Aberet. Parties of
enemy seen by Mounted Infantry retiring southward.
RetiFed force if eleven, burning village of Hasheen,
which showed signs recent occupation. No cattle
seen. Reference to my telegram April 15, prisoners
released and cattle kept."
(Dated Souakirn, April 19, 10.30 a.m.)
"Reconnaissance yesterday has shown enemy we
can move through their hill country; and by march-
ing from three different points we covered consider-
able extent of country. The half-battalion Scots
Guards from Otao marched twenty miles over hills
without a man falling out. The Australians marched
fourteen miles through difficult pass for nine hours,
the commanding officer conducting retirement in
excellent order, only one man falling out. Tne Sikhs
from Souakim marched twenty miles at a swing pace,
three men falling out. Cavalry, artillery, and
Mounted Infantry worked well. The result must be
to produce yet greater discouragement among Osman
Digna's followers. A great meeting of Aniarars and
other tribes is rumoured to be about to take place for
discussing their position—relatively to Osman Digna
and the English. The railway is now at Handoub,
and troops will advance from Otao on Tambouk
to-day.'

A correspondent at Souakim on Monday said it is
expected that the headquarters will shortly be removal
to Tarnbouk. General Graham, however, went out to
that place on Monday with his staff, and found that
water was scarce there. The Arabs on the White
Nile are reported to be deserting the Mandi, and
Berti is stated to be in open rebellion against him.

The following was received on Tuesday from the
War Office:

Telegram from Lieut.-General Sir G. Graham to the
Secretary of State for War.

SOITAKIM, April 20, 8.20 p.m.
[No. 203.]—Tambuk, noon; just arrived. This
post held by General Fremantle with Scots Guards, two
screw guns, and company of Engineers; Otao held by
battalion Coldstream with company Mounted In-
fantry. Position at both places strong. No signs of
enemy. Health of troops excellent. Water supply
at Otao abundant, and fair quality. Does not
taste brackish, but will get analysis. At Tambuk only
600 gallons a day can at present be got from wells,
but engineers think supply may be improved. It is,
however, five feet lower than found last year. Boring
stopped by rock at 10 feet. Country presents no
obstacles for railway beyond dry watercourses. Near
Tambuk is a deep watercourse, with bank over 20 feet
high. Bed of valley is flat, covered with loose ro3k
and bush, bounded by basalt and granite hills. Occa-
sional high rocks appear in bed of valley, which rail-
way can wind round. Beyond Tambuk the line enters
the hills. and for 20 miles there is no water.

Telegraphing from Dongola on Tuesday evening
the special correspondent of the Daily Chronicle said :
Reports continue to reach headquarters almost daily
of the rising in the Kordofan, and all confirm the
belief that it is of a most serious character for the
Mandi. I have to-day received information on the
subject from a :trustworthy source. The rising is
something more than mere discontent on the part
of the Mandl's rank-and-file, for it is directed by
two formidableSheikhs, old antagonistsof the Mandi,
and able men. One of them, AM Essawad, was
one of those leaders who opposed the Mandi's
first attempts to conquer Kordofan. Abd Essawad
raised a formidable force, with which he defeated the
Mandi at Jebel-flair. He could not, however, pre-
vent the final subjugation of Kordofan, but he re-
tired with a portion of his forces, and, as a matter of
fact, never sustained a defeat at the bands of the
False Prophet. The other malcontent leader is El
Naiwai, Sheikh of the Howazura tribes, a well-
known warrior possessing considerable influence.
There seems to be little doubt that the
whole of Kordofan is now in open revolt, and
Abd Essawad and El Nawai may yet simplify
Lord Wolseley's task by relieving him of the necessity
of " smashing " the Mandi. El Obeid has been closely
invested by the rebels for some time past. Reports
have reached here that the place has been taken by
storm and sacked, and that Abd Essawad has retired
for awhile to Jebel-Dair with his share of the plunder,
but this is by no means certain. It is reported that
the garrisons in Sennaar and at Kordofan still hold
out. Lieutenant E. Williams, of the West Kent
egi aent, died at Tamai yesterday of enteric fever.
'ldle special correspondent of the same journal at
Handoub telegraphed as follows: I arrived here early
this morning from Souakim. While galloping along
during the night I met a party of the Amaras, who
were coming from the opposite direction. At first
sight their intentions appeared doubtful, and I had
already sPized my revolver, when my servant pro-
nounced them to be friendly. They shortly afterwards
disappeared in the direction of Souakim, whence I
had come. On arrival here I found some little
stir, as a body of rebels, it was stated, had been
seen near the raaway. Beyond this, however,
nothing was certain. An extra guard has been placed
on duty to guard against a possible surprise. Spies
report that Mahomet Ali is amongst the hills treating
with various tribes for the capture of Osman Diana.
His success, however, is doubtful. The friendlies
also state that Osman Digna is again at Tamai with
500 followers, and eager to face us once more. The
railway works are proceeding briskly, and the track is
already nearing Otao ; but Tambouk, the next station
beyond, has been found to contain only a poor supply of
water. As this is the case, the troops at present
there will in all probability be withdrawn to Otao
again, as the work of sending daily convoys out to
them has been found too great a strain upon the
transport. Once, however, the railway links the two
places all difficulties as to supplies will, of course,
disappear. Reports have been brought in here that
parties of the rebels have been seen on the hills in
the direction of Hasheen. The Camel Corps is nowi
in full working order, under the command of Captain
James (? Jones), of the Scots Guards.