Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-30
Ght 6ree prFss,
Ell MAHDI VICTORIOUS.
Hicks Pasha's Army Annihilatcd
Near FL Obeid
By the ..Soudan Hordes Following
The False Prophet.
Gen Hicks, Correspondent O'Donovnn
and English ana German Oficcrs
RcpOrtcd Among the Slain.

and English and German Omccrs
Reported Among the Slain.
CAIRO, Nov. 22.-The army of Hicks
Pasha has been destroyed by the forces oil
the false prophet. Fighting continued from
the 81 to the 9th inst, and resulted in the
complete humiliation OF the Egyptian troops.
1t is stated that a European artist was the
only person who escaped, The forces of FL
Mahdi comprised, 1t is estimated, 100000
men, and included Dervishes, Dedouins,
mulattoes aud regulars. The battle was
fought near FL Obcid. The force under
Hicks Pasha comprised $4,000 men. lie
had 10 British officers. O'Donovan of the
London Daily News aud an artist connected
with n German illustrated paper accompani-
cd his army.
London special says the engagement re.
suited in the massacre of the commander
with Colonel Farquehlr, chief of staff five
English officers, two German officers, ODon-
ovan the war correspondent, Villaers, the ar
fist, and 10000 Egyptian soldiers. Hicks
tried to advance % miles through hostile
region, his only supplies being biscuits
There being 10 communications open the
soldiers became alarmed. The heat was in
tense and camels died by hundreds. For
water the army was dependent on surface
pools. The enemy had also swept the cJun-
try bare of cattle. Nothing had been heard
of the army by the outside world until
rumors OF victory were followed by the news
OF this disaster.
III Obcid Is about 1000 miles south of
Cairo and over 200 miles from Khartoum lin
kordofan) llicks's nearest base of supplies.
CAIRO, Nov. 90.
Hicks Pasha had divided his army, send
ing half 10 demand the S, rrender of FL
Obcid. Ell Mahdi met half Of Hicks's army
advancing to FL Obcid and attackedit. Hear
ing the firing Hicks came up with the whole
force and formed a square. The English
officers with the Egyptian army fought gal
lantly. The European who escapedis thought
to be O'Donovan or Frank Nlzetelly of the
L,ndon Graphic. The Arabs numbered
100000
Another report of the fight says Mahdi
sent the Dervshes to treat with Hicks Pasha,
the native officers saying to the Egyptians
I'VE like you are Mussulmans, Why fight {?
Surrender" The Dervishes were received
by vollcy and then the battle began.
Captain Hueston who was with Gen.
Hicks's forces and escaped ia the disguise
OF Dervish says that on his way from the
battle field he counted 100 survivors wound
cd. Among these was a European artist
named Power.
No one believes that the Mahdi will rest
content with the conquest of the Soudln. 1t
Is feared that Turkey will interfere and in
sist on reconquering the lost province. Meth
or the English nor the French wish this The
prospect thus brlstles with serious cjmplica-
tions.
A council of war met at Cairo to-day to
examine into the military situation and de-
thnr |, hn,f ,,n;,
south was tcnablc. No decision was reached
Another Story of the Fight.
KnARrouM, Nov. 2O-Most trustworthy
shciks in the service of the government who
arrived at Doven yesterday, report that / 100
men, including Hicks Pasha, the governor
general and his entire staff were annihilated
in a defilc at Kashgate. whittier they were
led by a trcacherous guide on the morning
of Nov. l. Hicks and his entire army march,
cd from Mlbas. The guide led them TO a
rocky wooded deile which was without
water, and where an ambuscade had been
prepared by the rebels, who were armed
with rifles aud artillery. Hicks was unable
to use his guns. For three days the army,
worn by thirst, defended itself, but on the
fourth day it was annihllated to a man.
LONDON, Nov. 22.-Ismail Pacha, the cx.
Khedivc Of Egypt, being interviewed to-day
said the disturbance in the Soudan was due
to the weakness o! the government at Cairo
Through Soudan he said much power was
exercised by religious chiefs and dervIshcs
who could be controlled by concila,ory
measures and the allowance Of q small sli-
pend, practice which had been unwisey
discontinued. The sufferers by this discon-
tinuation join the slave dealers Hence the
present misfortune, which might have been
avoided if the railway from Suakim to
Berb:r on the Nile had been com.
pctcd to the Soudan. The abandon.
mcnt of that scheme was false econ.
omy. lie attributed the defeat of Hicks
to the constitution of his force. Egyptian
soldiers he said needed more than ot.er SOL
ders flag, military music and all the ecat
OF war Without these they would not and
could not fight. The army included Arab
Pasha's disbanded soldiers who had been seut
up like malefacors. How could Hicks, he
asked, fight with such material. The ex-
khedive was not surprised at the calamity.
lie would not advise sending English troops
to Soudan as such course might involve
greater evils.