The Evening critic., 1882-08-07
A FIGHT AT MAHALLA.


A Very Rosc.CoIorcd view of the
Situation From British Sources
The Egyptian Side Remains 20 be
Heard From.
LONDON, Aug. Ca special dispatch from
Alexandria says ''At 4 O'Clock Saturday
afternoon the armorcd train, with Nordenfeldt
guns and iO.pouuders, proceeded 10 Mahalla
junction, carrying 1000 marines, under
Colonel Tewson, accompanied by Captain
Fisher and Lieutenant Lambton. The object
OF the expedition wns TO repair tho track ana
mako an extensive reconnaissance. The expo
dition was Joined from Ramleh by tho sixty
eighth Rifles and Thirty.oighth Regiment
Tho enemy soon appeared In great force and
sont shower Of rineshots into our troops, or
rather over their heads, while from behind tho
Intrenchments no opened q brisk nre from
field guns and made free use OF rockets.
Tho Nordenfcldt guns from tho train
made excellent practice In return and
played havoc In tho ranks OF the
enemy. Tho marines, supported on tho left by
tho Rifles and tho Thirty-eighth Regiment,
advanced In splendid order in an extended
limo and occupied ridge skirting tho Nah
moudieh Canal. Tho enemy were driven in
from all their advanced posts, and were COM
pelled 10 bring into action all OF thoir troops
available In front OF their principal line OF in-
trenchments at Kafr.el.Dwar, namely, about
four battalions OF infantry, n force Of cavalry
and several guns. Tho latter were completely
silonced by the accurate flre OF tho British 40.
FOUNDER. Tho Egyptian Infantry held their
ground with considerable steadiness. The
marines on the railway, who were under the
immediate command OF General Alison,
pushed the enemy back upon thor second
line of intrenchments toward Kafrol-Dwar
The marines were supported by the South
Stafrordshire regiment and rifles. They suf-
fered somewhat, but behaved with the greatest
coolness and steadiness under the heavy lre.
The engagement continued until nightfail,
when the British were slowly and steadily
withdrawn. No accurate return Of the killed
and wounded is yet obtainable. The enemys
loss is unknown. large number Of wounded
fell into the hands of tho British. Many dead
were seen. considerable number OF tho
enemy were made prisoners. 1t 10 not clear
what object is TO be gained by such maneuyres,
which expose our troops to tho risk OF heavy
loss, and, as they do not advance our position,
are doubtless represented by Arab as Victories
over the British"
Official Reports.
The official report OF Admiral Seymour says
sour force consisted OF 300 men of tho naval
brigade, with one forty FOUNDER and two nine.
FOUNDER guns, under Captain Fisher; thou
sand marines, under nd Colonel Tows SON. hair
Regiments and all of the Sixtieth Regiment.
We had q skrmish with the enemy, which was
1000 strong, with SIX guns and six rockets,
the evening. The total casualties to the naval
brigade and marines are two killed. and
twenty-five wounded"
persistent native reports existing during tho
past few days that Arab Pasha was retiring
from Kafrel-Dwar upon Damanhour, deter
mined upon reconnaissance to ascertain
clearly whether Arab still held his original
position strongly. The left column commenced
TO advance at A ;45 p: m. from the advance
pickets OF the Ramleh lines, moving by both
banks Of the Mahmoudieh Canal, and soon
came Into action with tho enemy, who was
strongly posted in group Of palm trees OF on
houses and gardens on tho other side. These
positions were carried. At this time Lieuten.
| ant vyse, of the slxtieth, and one soldier were
| ton half q mile in the rear upon tho
| east bank OF the canal, among high crops
| and houses and behind the irregular banks Of
the canal. From this position, also, the enemy
| were driven with great loss. l accompanied
the right column myself. As soon as the on.
| envy observed us they opened fire with artil-
iery. pushed on as rapidly as possible TIL I
| reached q point where the railway approached
| nearest to the Mahmoudieh Canal, and then
| opened musketry fire upon the enemy lining
the banks of the canal. Two nine-pounders
| were dragged on to the embamkment aud camo
into action against the enemy's guns, the forty.
| FOUNDER firing over our heads against point
where the enemy's forces where beginning to
| appear. now threw forward two companies
to carry house near the canal, and followed
| my left upon the banks Of and across the canal,
| thus attaining the position wished, and form.
| Ing a diagonal line across both tho canal and
| fore us. The FIRE of their seven Founders and
nine centimeter guns was speedily got under
| by our artillery. The ob1ectof my reconnois.
| sance was attained, and determined to with.
draw. This movement was carried out with
| the most perfect regularity and precision.
| The troops fell back by alternate companies
| with the regularity OF neld day. Every at.
tempt by the enemy to advance was crushed
| by the beautiful precision OF the forty-pounder
and the steady hiring OF the nlne.pounders.
very great. They were SO dispirited that,
contrary to the usual practice OF Asiatics, they
| made no attempt to follow up our withdrawal.
| AS a reconnaissance the success OF our move
was all could wish. regret to state that
our loss was somewhat heavy. Lieutenant
Vyse was one OF the most promising officers
| ever met. Our total loss was four killed and
twenty-nine wounded"
| After the Battle.
The vicinity OF Ramleh was quiet to-day
| General Alison visited the wounded to-day and
found all but two doing well. He addressed
the marines, praising their gallant conduct
| under the heavy IRE OF yesterday. Lieutenant
| vyse and the three others who were killed
yesterday were buried this afternoon with
side the Rosetta cato. General Alison esti
mates tho enemy's loss at between 200 and
300. Ono oiicer OF tho Mpstaph,ezin Regiment
state that the eneny's force consisted Of d
battalion OF the Second Infantry, regiment
Loo strong and POO Of me IN Mqsaphosn Reg
The prisoners, in order to test them, wore
offered the option OF returning to the enemy'i
camp, They az refused b, saying there r wa
say that Arab sent as prisoners to Cairo som,
| officers who had asked what they we're fight
Ing Tor. The prisoners reckon the rebel fore
line was not entrenched, but was sheltered
partly by brushwood and houses and partly b.
barbados erected with carriages taken from
Alexandria. r.t
The engagement is the subject OF genera
comment at Alexandria. In the opinion o
military men OF high professional experience
mr. hnQ n cor
pensate for the heavy loss In killed am
wounded.