The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-02-07 00:00:00

KHADTOUII RELIEF EXPEDITION.

OCCUPATION OF BERTI BY
GESERAL EARLE.
HEALTH Or THE TROOPS AT SOUTAIML.

The following telegram from Lord Wolseley bas
been received by the Secretary of State for War:
Kolar, Feb. 2,9.20 p.m.
Repre, from Earle, dated yesterday, just received.
He had occupied Berti, which had been deserted by
the enemy. Two uncles of Suleiman, the murderer
of S'Stwart, had come into camp and made submis-
sion. Hussein, the stoker of Stewart's steamer, had
escaped from enemy and reached Earle's camp.
River very difficult, but column .averconaing all
ckstacles.
(PROM TIIB Daily News SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
MERAIVI, Feb. 2.
Amar and Ali, uncles of Suliman Guar, came in
to the Yakel last night, and said the enemy had left
Dermi in the morning. The 'cavalry and camels,
with half a battalion of the Black Watch, supported
the advance on Birti. The cavalry found Birtii
evacuated. A few old people were left, who said the
rebels had left the night of the 30th, and gone up the
river on the way to Berber. Birti is a strag-
zling village on rather open ground. There is
mine cultivation around, and .on the island oppo-
A reconnaissance was pushed two miles
heyond Birti. The river is bad to Birti, then gcod
for several miles. General Earle accompanied the
reconnaissance. On his way back a man ran up to
him, who proved to be the stoker of Colonel Stewart's
steamer. He said that four or five survivors at
Berber and himself were kept as slaves. The enemy
had built a wall across the road to Birti. They
appear to have numbered 3000 men. A correspondent
at Souakim telegraphs under date 2nd inst.: There
is small-pox among the men of the Berkshire Regi-
ment. Otherwise the health is perfect. The weather
is cold.

site.

FURTHER FIGHTING.—BRAVERY OF AN
EGYPTIAN SOLDIER.
Telegrams from Souakim state that Colonel Cherm-
side has arrived here. The tribes have sent through
him a convoy of •$5O camels to Kassala, which arrived
there after being attacked by rebels on the road,
losing 50 men and killing 250 of the enemy. Colonel
Cherinside has lent 70,000d015. to the garrisons,
30,000d015. to be distributed, and the remainder is now
in depot on route to Kassala. A depot of provisions is
being formed at Sanheit. An Egyptian officer has
been sent to Adawa to see King John, to make arrange-
ments for carrying out the evacuation of Galabat and
Geerah. He marched with 5000 Abyssinian troops to
assist the garrisons against the rebels. The garrisons
'rave heard of their coming, and have communicated
with Colonel Chermside. An Egyptian soldier has been
commended by the General for saving a Hussar's life,
whose horse was killed under him in a heavVfire in
yesterday's sortie." On February 3rd the despatches
-stated that a force consisting of a troop of Hussars
and a troop of Egyptiancavalry reconnoiterei towards
Handoub. When it arrived there only a few rebels
were visible, who fled. In the huts a small quantity
of ammunition was found and destroyed. 'On the
return of the force the scouts reported that a large
number of the enemy were drawn up in front at a
distance of one mile from Handoub, extending for a
'mile across the plain, and posted under cover of the
thick bush. Soon afterwards the scouts were driven
in on the main body by the enemy's side. The cavalry
then tried to turn the enemy's right flank, under a
'heavy fire, and a most determined advance. This
manceuvre was not accomplished without great diffi-
culty, owing to the rough nature of the ground in
the proximity of the rebels. The Hussars lost eight
men and eleven horses killed or missing, and the
Egyptians three killed and six horses missing.
We have received the following from the War
Office:

From the General Officer Commanding to the
Secretary of State for War. (Received 3rd Feb-
ruary.)

"CAIRO, Feb... 3, 8.25 p.m.

"Following from Fremantle, dated 5.55 pia.
"'This morning I sent Anthorpe with one troop
Hussars and one troop Egyptians to reconnoitre in
direction of Handoub. They went to Handoub and
burnt camp.
"• On their way back were attacked by large
numbers. Eight !Hussars and three Egyptians are
missing; one Egyptian wounded.'"