Connecticut western news., 1885-02-04
LATEST NEWS NOTES.
Happenings of Interest to All,
 At Home and Abroad.
THE FIGHTING IN EGYPT.
Another Victory for the BritIsh-GenerRl
 Stewart Safe. but Wounded.

Intelligence was received at the War Office in London that Gen. Stewards force IS en- trenched south of Metemneh. The dispatch says that Gen. Stewart is in communication with Gen. Gordon. Gen. Stewards force had several fights with the Arabs before it reached Metemneh, and Gen. Stewart himself is badly wounded, but is doing well. Five of the Mahdi's emirs were killed in the fights. Gen. Lord Wolseley, in dispatch, reports the cap ture of Metemneh by the British He also says that Sir Charles Wilson has gone to Khartoum on board steamer to confer with Gen. Cor don. It is expected that he will return as soon as possible to report personally to General Wolseley. An official dispatch received from Gen. Gordon shows that his position at Khar- toum is by no means as desperate as has been supposed. He says that he could hold out there for years.
 Later dispatches report that a battle was fought with the Arabs on the 18th in which General Stewart was wounded and two war correspondents, Mir Herbert and Mir. Cameron, killed. The British were victorious.
 Gen. Stewart was obliged. on account of his wound, to give up command to Sir Charles Wilson.
 The British loss was estimated at twenty killed and sixty wounded. Sir Herbert Stew art was wounded. Lord St. Vincent, of the Sixteenth Lancers, died of wounds received at Abu-Klea, The Arabs numbered 1000 men, including cavalrymen armed with rifles.
 The total British loss, including the loss at Klea, was 104 killed and 2l6 wounded. The enemy's loss was 3,0e0 killed and wounded. Sir Charles Wilson deplores the losses which the English troops had suffered in crossing from Korti to Gubat, but in other respects he regards the result of operations as in the highest de- gree successful. Lord Wolseley telegraphs that two officers were killed and nine wounded during the passage from Abu-Klea to the river Colonel Burleigh was among those who were slightly wounded.
 General Stewart pushed on to Gubat, post on the Nile below Metemneh, about half way between Berber and Khsrtoum, having op- posite it a large island on which plenty of forage for horses and camels is obtainable.
 The Queen has sent despatch thanking Gen. Stewart and his troops for their bravery, condoling with them for their losses, and pro- noting Gen. Stewart to the rank of Major General.
 The London Daily Ne,cs' special corre- spondent says:
 ''The first part of Stewards march from Abu Klea was orderly, quiet and steady. Later the route lay through dense jungle and groves of mimosa, where the confusion and uproRr of the native drivers delayed progress a couple of hours and put the enemy on the alert. The rebels, concealed in the tall grass, kept up 8 galling fire. The British were gradually worn out, being exposed as targets and unable to strike back. Gen. Stewards wound delayed the counter attack of the square until two o'clock in the afternoon. Rebel rifemen pos sessed the heights while their horsemen closed the roads in our rear. As the square moved slowly from the zareba all felt that their fate depended upon it's steadiness.
 "When the square stopped the men lay down and delivered volley after yolley with superb steadiness. At last the critical moment came; the rebel spearmen advanced to hurl them selves against the little square. The British never wavered & moment. When they saw their foes coming they cheered Justify and de- ivered fire so deadly that the Arabs dropped in the lines and recoiled and retired in broken array. Meanwhile another dense mass of rebels from the south was stopped by shells from Norton's guns. At this juncture the enemy's redoubtable reserve of horsemen, standard bearers and fanatical followers, rushed against the square, but was again re- pulsed by the whitening fire delivered by our men. Their retreat this time was final, for they renewed the attack no more.
 "In the meantime the men left behind in the zareba to guard the wounded watched the square disappear over the hills and were un- aware until next morning whether the square had reached the Nile safely or had been over whelmed. When the men were seen returning the next day they were greeted with loud and heartfelt cheers. After reverently burying the dead the whole force marched to the Nile, where they were allowed to bivouac in peace and making no sign beyond the beating of the drums during the whole night.
 'It is stated that the Mahdi sent 12,000 picked troops to annihilste the British either at Abu-Klea or here. It is said he is sending 2,0O0 more men, but there Is no more fear now. The British have the Nile at their back, another British column is on the march, and the Gordon steamers are securing supplies and material. Metemneh is still held by 8 small force of rebel rifemen with one brass gun. The town is said to be in great straits. A European was clearly distinguished in the rebel ranks. The British have captured three unarmed rebel boats. which will be very useful to them. All the officers and men are in excellent health and spirits"
 The British square numbered 1, 200, and the force of the enemy was estimated at nearly l2,000. When the square returned to the 1areba the day after the fight many of the garrison wept for joy.