Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-11-29
The SOudan Religious War.


NEW YORK, Nov. 23.-The news of
the slaughter of Hicks Pasha's army
is fully confirmed, He had to march
230 miles through hostile region, into
Kordofan, $50 miles west of the White
Nile or west fork of the Nile in Sou
dan. The heat was intense and water
acarce. Camels died by the hun
dreds. Ell Medhi, the false prophet,
had raised his vast hordes to pitch
of religious frenzy equal to
that which Mohamet infused
into his devotees. Though
in this war 10000 of his forces have
been put to the sword, his forces, aug
mented by an infatuated people, filled
with almost insane zeal. were speedily
replenished. Hicks Pasha's army was
treacherously led by guide into
narrow defile and there anbushed.
They fought for three days, and on
the fourth were slain to a man.
The fanatics captured all their cam
els, the flags, ammunitions and SO
cannon. A number of British Off
GERS serving in Egypt were killed.
Fully 10000 troops were slaughtered
by the Infatuated fanatics. They
fought with the fury of men who
court death. The defeat leaves upper
Egypt exposed and has filled ali Egypt
with dismay.
VIENNA, Nov. 23.-The Presse pub
fishes recent letter from Major Seek
endorf, with Hicks Pasha. Major
Seckendorf depicts the misery of the
troops owing to the scarcity of water
Medhi, he wrote, possessed $4,000
breech-loading rifles, Il guns, and a
numerous and excellent cavalry,
and the adherents were possessed
with fanaticism and would fearlessly
ride to death. Hicks Pasha had $1,000
men, 5000 camels, many pack horses
and mules. The baggage proved great
impediment. The letter concludes:
eff our colony suffices for outpost duty
success is possible, otherwise the issue
will be very disastrous. If we are de-
feated not a soul returns and the en-
tire Soudan will be irretrieveably
lost since all the natives will be-
lieve that Mehdi is the Messiah.
Col Coetlogan, with Hicks Pasha
seUt a telegram from Khartoum to
General Sir Evelyn Wood, CONTRA
ing previous reports of the disaster to
Hicks Pasha's army, He says the
whole country has risen. The gov
eminent asked Baker Pasha to send
1000 gendarmes to Suakem to keep
clear the desert, but Baker Pasha
refused to send them thinking they
were required in upper Egypt. 1t is
stated Turkey offered to send 10000
troops to re-establish Mussulman au-
thority in the Soudan Intense ex-
element prevails every where in Egypt
The country is not safe above
the second cataract of the Nile. The
khedive has ordered the evacuation
of military posts on the Blue Nile and
White Nile. Troops from the posts
on the former river will be massed at
SEMINAR, and those from the posts on
the latter at Khartoum. The princi-
pal officers of Khartoum have been
ordered to consult and adopt defen-
sive measures. If necessary SEMINAR
will be abandoned and the troops
massed at Khartoum. All recognize
the necessity of Immediately reopen
ing the road between Soudan and
Berber.
PARIS, Nov. 23.-The French press
now expresses delight at the defeat of
Hicks Pasha, because it is said the
success of this section of Mussulman
barbarians in Egypt threatens Eng
lands Indian empire, and France, by
the force of events, will be called
upon to assume her old position in
Egypt
LONDON, Nov. 23.-Her majesty's
gunboat Coquette is ordered to the
Red Sea.