St. Landry democrat., 1885-03-28
A BRITISH VICTORY.

An Advance From sual1im BY the British
Results in a stubbornly Contested En-
gagement at Hassem Hills-Osman Dig
mas Forces Driven From their Positions
With Heavy Loss-Starving Rebels-Tht
Mudir of Dongola Getting in Battle
Array.
SUAKIM, March 20.-The British troops
Under the command of General Graham
began another forward movement on
Tamas this morning. The troops broke
camp at daylight, each man being sup
piled with only two days rations and
barely enough water to supply his wants.
The men marched out with everything in
readiness for action. The troops have
six Gardner guns with them. Scouts re-
port that the rebels are drawn up in large
numbers on the hills behind Hassem, and
a battle is imminent if they hold then
ground till the troops come up.
SUAK1M, March 20.-The rebels, as ex-
pected, made stand at Hassem Hills,
and awaited the approach of the British.
The troops marched steadily on notwith-
standing desultory fire by the enemy,
until well within range, when the whole
British front fired deadly volley into the
euemy's ranks. moving them down as
though with a sythe. The rebels, how
ever, bravelY held the Hills, and hot fight
| ing has been going on all the afternoon.
| At last accounts the whole British force
was engaged and the fire was being hotly
returned by the enemy, whom the troops
have been thus far unable to dlslodge
| from the Hills.
LONDON, M8rch pa special dis
patch from Suakim states that after five
hours fighting the rebels were driven
from the Hassem Hills and slowly
toward Tamia, they retreated in good
order, rallying to meet the repeated
| charges of the English cavalry. They
also replied with their Krupp guns to
the firing of the Gardner field pieces
from the British position. The credit OF
dislodging the rebels from their tenacious
" held position on the heights fell to the
British marines, whose forward move
ment and attack is described as bril-
liant vancouver. The battle was braVely
fought on both sides. The rebel loss in
killed and wounded is estimated at 600.
The British had forty men killed. 1t is
believed that General Graham will rem ew
the attack upon the rebels to-day.
LONDON, March 21.-Further accounts
of yesterdays battle agree in stating that
the rebels fought with bravery amounting
almost to desperation. The exploit of
the marines in driving them from their
advantageous position under such cir
cumstances is highly applauded.
When the rebels had retired to the
plain the native Indian regiments were
the first to charge, but were injudiciously
pushed too far in advance of the main
column, and by flank movement the
rebels rallied and attacked them from
the rear, throwing them into confusion.
a portion of the Sikhs were cut off en-
tirely, and being surrounded by Arabs,
were mercilessly speared and their horses
hamstrung. The Bcngalese showed better
discipline, and succeeded in rejoinlng the
English. square was then formed,
which slowly retired. The rebels were
greatly elated, and yelled furiously as
they threw themselves upon the British
square. They finally regained practically
all the effective points from which they
had been dislodged, but were unable
to hold them long. After some
brisk firing upon both sides the
British artilley fire became so
precise and effective that the enemy sud-
denly again broke and abandoned the
hill. The English then advanced, firing
steadily. The enemy still presented
good front on the plain, but brilliant
charge by the Irish Lancers decided the
day in favor of the British. The Arabs
scattered and retired hurriedly upon
Tamai, while the English retired to their
camp.
CAIRO, March 21.-Deserters from FL
Mahdi inform Lord Wolseley that the
Arabs at Khartoum are almost starving,
and are driven to cut palm trees and eat
pith for want of better food.
The British propose to evacua.e Korti
by April lst.
KoRTI, March 2O.-Dispatches received
here state that the Mudir of Dongola,
with his followers, have arrived at a
point about ten miles above Merawi, and
are preparing for an attack on the rebels
at Hassaniyet. If successful in defeating.
the hostiles at that place, he intends to
advance on Berber. Scouts report con-
tinued assertions from the Mahdi. He is
now at Omdurman, with only two tribes,
eight hundred Egyptians and four guns.
HOME AT LAST.