The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-29
AN ARMY ANNIHILATED.
Hicks Pasha's Forces Slaughtered by
the False Prophets Hordes.
A Large Army Literally Wiped Out Of
Existence.
[cable Dispatch from Cairo, Egypt

lCaDle Dispatch from tdiIOt EsypbI
The army of Hicks Pasha has been an
INFLATED by the forces of lei Mahdi, the False
Prophet. Nearly 10000 Egyptian soldiers
were slaughtered, and the correspondents OF
several European newspapers are among the
dead. The fighting lasted three days and
nights. The forces of I'll Mahdi comprised
about $780, COO mon. including dervishes, He'd
Ouins mulattoes and regulars, while the forces
Of Hicks Pas ha numbered 25,OCO men, accord
ing TO one account aud 10, 800 by another
According to the first accounts rs Drought
to Khartoum by n COptic official, the forces
Of III Mahdi and Hicks Pasha came together
near FL Obeid on the morning or NOV .. III
Mahdi first sent forward his dervishes, de-
claring that they would vanquish the enemy
10y divine aid These fanatics were armed
with swords and spears, and, despite the i'm
mensc carnage, they threw themselves reck-
lessly upon the Egyptians. The False Prophet,
seeing they were being slaughtered without
achieving any result. ordered his regulars
up and soon the engagement became gem
eral. The forces of Hicks PaSha We're
divided into two bodies, but by al
most superhuman eXertiOnS the sections
fought their way over masses OF dead bodies
and were reunited about noon of the first day,
The Egyptians then formed Il square and re-
sisted the inhdels for two days, Finally, on
the third day, the False Prophets troops
broke the square, and began massacreing the
EgYptians by wholesale, sparing none.
Hicks Pasha had divided his army, sending
half to I'll Obied TO demand the surrender of
that place, and with the remainder he await
ed the arrival of FL Mahdi, who was advanc-
ing from the southeast. Mahdi, however,
met the half of Hicks Pashas army advanc-
In x to FL Obie1 and attacked 1t. Hearing the
firing, Hicks Pasha came up with his whole
force and formed n hollow square. Mahdi
brought up his fresh regulars. These num-
bered 5000. The square of Hicks Pasha was
broken, and his army was annihilated. The
English officers with the Egyptian army
/ fought CALAMITY,
Another report of the fight says that Mahdi
! sent his dervshCs TO treat with Hicks Pasha' IS
| native officers, saving 10 the Egyptians: 1--WE
! like you. Youare Mussulmans. Why tighti
/ Surrender The dervishes were received
/ by vollcy. and then the battle commence
The 1000 soldiers now scattered among the
/ small forts on the Nile will be concentl ated
/ at Khar,o where there are ALREADY ZOO
! troops.
The catastrophe seems TO have wholly para
lyZed the Egyptian Government. Unless very
speedy action is taken, it is feared Suakin
will fall into the hands OF the tribes
i'm revolt acting in concert with Madhi
The latter il thought to be near
Khartoum II that place should be
captured there would be no good de
fensible position between Madhi anC
Cairo except Minich, which is only siN
lieves Madhi will rest content with the con
quest of Soudln. 1t is feared Turkey will in
tcrfere and INSIST on rcconqucring the los
province. Neither English nor French wisl
this. The prospect thus bristles with serious
/ complications.