The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-01-31
STEWARDS VICTORY.

day, was for the possession of the Abu-
Klea wells, twenty three miles northwest
OF Metamneh. The rebels comprised only
a part of the Mahdi's forces and were
drawn from Khartoum, Kordofan and
Berber. They numbered from 5000 to
10000, overwhelmingly superior to the
British, who were under General Stewart
and numbered but 800 When the En-
ghsh column came in sight of the wells
Friday evening
THE REBELS BEGAN A DEsULTORY FIRING,
keeping 1t up all night. Saturday fore
noon the Arabs, in two divisions number
ing about 5000 men each, waving flags
and beating drums, swept down upon the
European columns. General Stewart
had formed his troops into hollow
square, the artillery, provisions and in
valids being in the center. Upon this the
rebels charged with such fury that at the
onset the line held by the hussars was
broken. Some OF the camels got burned
and became so unruly that some
confusion was caused, and this added to
the weakening of the line. The Arabs took
advantage of the disorder and penetrated
TO the center. The fate of the entire
British army was settled in the those few
moments. Most of the Arabs were armed
with spears and protected by spiked
shields, and with great ferocity
SwARMED OVER THE BODIES OF THE DEAD,
engaging the British in hand to hand con-
fict. The Hussars quickly ceased their
firing, and with their swords forced the
Arabs back, and managed to reform the
line. The discipline of the troops was
admirable, the other three sides of the
square maintaining an un9inching fire
upon the swarthy lines
STRUGGLING TO OvERPowER THE HUs-
SARs.
After this first assault was repulsed,
the artillery became so effective that the
Arabs slowly fell back, leaving 800 killed
on the field and carrying off about 1000
wounded. The British loss was seventy
four killed, including nine commissioned
officers and ninety-fOur wounded. The
space in front of the right flank was
thickly strewn with the enemy's dead,
where they had been moved down in
whole lines. In the interior of the square
where the brief fight at close quarters
took place the British lost most heavily.
BURNABY's DEATH.
1t was there that Lieutenant-C Colonel
Frederick Burnaby, the famous member
of the Royal Horse Guards, met his death
from an Arabs spear thrust, which Sew
cred his jugular vein. He was found
with his hand tightly clutched
around the Arabs throat. Burnaby
was the pride of the British army,
standing six feet six inches, and being
noted for his immense strength and dar-
ing deeds. General Stewards horse was
killed under him. One of the immediate
effects of the victory is the submission of
number of wandering tribes. The
British column held the wells, and is now
marching on Metamneh.
HELPING woLsELEY.
KORTI, January p.
The Sheikh of the Kabbabish tribe came
to Korti to-day. He heard of the British
victory. He promised Wolseley to pro-
vide him with plenty of camels.
LONDON, January %.
In view of the anxiety of the public for
details of General Stewards engage
ment at Abu-Klea wells, the news service
in the London papers is exceedingly slow
and incomplete. Neither the Times, Daily
Telegraph or Standard has yet received
its special report of the battle, although
it is known that they all had special
correspondents in the field, and 1t is
undoubted that the reports have been
sent, but have been interrupted and de-
layed for revision by the military censors
of press dispatches. The general be-
lief is that the special correspondents
have INDUCED in structures upon the
breaking of the British square by
the Arabs, and they may have
given some additional facts that would
show the British troops to be in more
dangerous plight than is now supposed.
In this case the dispatches would GER
tainly be held back for revision, in pur-
surance of the long-established usage OF
the War Office of Withholding disagree
able news at first, and allowing it to
leak out slowly, so as to weaken its eff
feet. Some of the plumbers made by the
papers in presenting news are remark
able. The condensation of General
Wolscley's report contains discrepancies
which no soldier of General Wolse.
ley's literary skill could have
been guilty of in the origina
dispatch. The Standard has its
lists of killed and wounded badly mixed
and publishes number of names undel
the astonishing head line, "slightl'
killed" Tine Pau MoU Gazette thi,
evening publishes a portrait purportins
to be that of Colonel Fred Burnaby, bu
which is really of Baker Pasha.
MErEMNEH OCCUPIED BY THE BRITISH
LONDON. January p.
General Stewart is said to have occu
pied Metemneh. This lacks confrma
ton, but is generally believed, as Stew