Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-20
A SORTlE FROM SUAKIN.
GRAHAM TICKLES THE ENEMY
ON THE HASHEEN HILLS.

Four of the British Infantry Killed
The Arabs Retire, but Reoccupy their
Positions when the British Fall
Back-Battle to be Given the Natives
To-day.
LONDON, March 19.-The whole force
started this morning at O'Clock from
Suakin, with a days rations and 100
rounds of ammunition to each man, in
the direction of Hasheen. The troops at
10 O'Clock were three miles from the city.
The cavalry was sent to beat up the
enemy, and fighting was expected at any
moment.
ORDER OF THE ADVANCE.
The mounted infantry and scouts, sup
ported by the main body of all the corps
marching 600 yards behind, advanced to
the base of a range of low hills, near
Hasheen. The Indian contingent and
cavalry during this movement acted as
scouts and skirmishers on both side of
the line OF march along the entire front.
The scouts reached the summit of the
hills and discovered that the Arabs had
massed IN the valleys. The Arabs at once
retired to positions of shelter, but 80 re-
naming in sight. They remained in this
position until the British advance reached
L 1dQGnOOWan
tribe of hostiles then rushed from ambush
in which they had lain and made an at
tack. During this Capt. Birch was spear
ed through the shoulder. The Arabs sue
ceeded in this rush in getting within ten
yards of the British line before the latter
opened regular fire, which the enemy
promptly replied to.
After the skirmish, Gen. Graham's
right, consisting of the British infantry.
NJ n inf n0fr- III
vance toward HandOub. The cavalry.
renewing the reconnaissance, occupied
Hasheen, and found Osman Digna with
drawing his forces toward ramas. The
concentration of the Arabs was effected
in unusually good order. Scouts report
that Osman is prepared to give battle be-
tween Tamas and Tamanieb, and they
estimate the number of Arabs at from
1000 to 10000.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Three of the infantry were wounded and
several rebels were killed. Lieut..
O'Connor, whose horse was shot un-
der him, killed four rebels with
his own hand. The object of the
reconnaissance having been attained,
the British retired, the Arabs showing
no disposition to follow. The British in.
fantry and guards were left on the road
halfway between Saukin and the Hasheen
Hill. supporting the Indian contingent.
During the brief engagement on the ridge
the Bengal cavalry took many prisoners.
1t was ascertained by the reconnaissance
that the Arabs were in large bodies along
the entire range of the hills and were evil
IDENTIFY massing. AS the British retired
after having entered Hasheen, tbe rebels
rapidly reOccupied the positions previous
ly evacuated by them.
BATTLE FOR TO-DAY.
The entire British force, with the ex-
ceptl0n OF the Shropshire regiment, will
parade at O'Clock tomorrow mOraing.
previous to an advance to Tamas, where
1T is expected that battle will take place.
Gen. Graham, in his letter to Osman
Digna, declares that England respects all
religions, and desires the friendship of
the Arab tribes. He advises the shieks
to submit at once, and to rely upon the
mercy of England, otherwise he threatens
to destroy the f1ocks and other property of
their followers.
DIGNA'S PLANS.
The enemy's loss in the engagement ia
unknown. Letters were found in an
Arab chiefs tent from Osman Digna
telling him to hold his position at anv
cost, to act strictly ON the defensive. and
not to trust the people in the Suakin dis
trict. The prisoners taken maintain a
logged silence. but one of them says that
Osman DIgna's last orders to the Arabs
were to withdraw in order to lure the
English among the hills, when Osman in
tended to sally out from Ta:nas and in
tercept the British, preventing their re-
treating.
The bitterness of feeling shown by the
English at Cairo toward the French is
due to the hostility of the BosDhOre E0,,D-
ten, which is constantly melting the
natives to oppose the British. The sup
preston OF that paper appears to be a
military necessity.
woLsELEY TO BE CUT OFF.
El MahdPs adherents declare that be-
fore the summer is far advanced Gen.
Wolseley's army will be cut off from
Cairo.
Scores of dispatches confirm the reports
OF El MahdPs waning power. Several
DerVIshes have denounced him as an i'm
postor. Some of these dispatches have
been detained on the way.
Gems. Wolseley and Butler have return.
ed to kort1. Chief of the Shadiveh
tribe has submitted to the British. A ri
val Of Ell Mahdi has appeared at Ell Obeid.
Two hundred extra navVies are going TO
Suakin to hasten the construction of the
railway to Berber.
THE FINANCIAL DISCUSSION.
The Conservative leaders at a meeting
to-day decided to endeavor to have the dis
cussion of the Egyptian financial agree
ment postponed until after the Easter
holidays. Premier Gladstone wishes to
nave the agreement discussed before the
Easter adjournment. He proposed to the
House of Commons to-day that the House
adjourn on March 81 until April 9. and
that more extended holiday be taken at
Whitsuntide.
The protocol preceding the Egyptian
agreement stipulates that after three
years, if the English army shall not have
been withdrawn from Egypt. a Euro
pean conference will decide the limit of
occupation.
RUsSIA'S COUNCIL OF WAR.