Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-24

LoSpOS, MA-Cn 20.
At present no official statement can be
made Is TO the British losses at Suakim,
The enemy numbered 1000. Their fanati-
cal courage won admiration. They rushed to
what seemed certain death repeatedly without
faltering. Hundreds Of dead and wounded
lay around the square. The enemy Withdrew
hghIing. 1t was in no sense a defeat though
il is believed they lost fully 500 me1. 1t is
mystery how such large number of the
enemy advanced without discovery The
British, especially the marines, behaved ad-
mirsbly. Desperate shiekhs waiving their
banner, and with horde of followers. charged
the marines before they had been reformed,
out were unable to penetrate their line. The
Shiekhs fought to the last gasp, but lost their
banner, which was captured by the marines.
Prince Hassan has left Ansm for Wady
Halfs.
Gen. Wolseley and staff will go to Don
COLA on Tuesday.
Later official accounts place the losses OF
the Arabs in yesterdays fight at 1000, all
told. II this figure is correct, the losses of
the enemy exceeds those of the British lost
in any battle of the last three years.
Osman Digna has 25, 200 men at Tomai
Gen. Graham, it is expected. will reach To.
irsi ana give Osman Disni hattle, tomof W.
II viii he pctt'i ight aud pr"hnby greatec
an more desperate than ans hithc-to wagcf
in lie SJlaap.
The total British li-<es during the Saa9a4
battle. was 3 officers aad - prtates killed
and 40 meo woGnd,d. fac Arabs luss Is
estimated al 1900 men.
In the rush made bv Osmen Dicrq'. N IN.
they broke through one ro,ner of the Ia cha
rhe British recovered psomp:!v sua Si,lrt
every Arab 30 had .o;ten hcs.ni ..c tacs.
\ number oi beauy ,-.ins aas. ovsu landed
by seamen and will be at once forwarded to
the front.
A general advance towards Tamai will be
made tonight bv Gen. Graham. During the
advance SuakiB will BE- garrisoned bv sail
ors. The Zsreba, constructed by Mcneil.
will have To be shifted, because of the intol-
ernhir effects Of the rapid decomposition of
hundred, OF bodies If slain Arabs. lying
close around.
A spy reports that hos lie Araos are grow
ing in numb,r in and around Hasben.
The signalling corps organized bv Gen.
Mcneil, at the Zereba. facilitates the movt-
ments of the British forces
The heat is very oppressive.
Two hundred and tftv sick and wounded
will sail today for England.
LONDON. March %.
1t is rumored that the bulk of the British
troops in active service in Egypt. will spend
the summer in Cyprus.
SuAKIM. March 23.
The troops are engaged in dragging bod
les of the slain from windward to Reward of
Gen. McNeil's Zareba. A sickening scene
is presented. Dense heaps of dead bodies of
rebels and native camp followers are mingled
with the carcasses of 500 camels. The ground
is strewn with Remington rifles, spears and
shields.
Gen. Graham, begaI this evening, 10 move
his whole force from Suakim toward Tamai.
Ihe troops under Gen. Mcneil, left The Ia.
reba where the battle fought Yesterday,
and advanced about II mile toward ramai,
where they constructed another /areba, the
enemy making no opposition.
1t was found impossible to encamp near
the battlefield owing to the fetii emanstion-
from the bodies Of the enemy's dead, and
carcasses of the camels and horses.
At daybreak tomorrow, Gen. Graham will
resume his advance.
koRrI. March %
Gen. Wolseley has ordered The evscuation
of Kort.
Gases of typhoid fever and sunstrpk- are
increasing among the troops
The heat is intense. The troops will pro-
ceed to the entrenched lines at Debbeh and
Dongola.
Gen. Wolse1ey has started for Dongola
LONDON, March 23.
Gen. Graham telegraphs from the advanced
Zareba, that the British position there is
strong and secure against any number of the
enemy. He regrets the serious British losses
in yesterdays fight, but exonerates Gen. Nc
Neil from blame, believing he did the best
that could be done under the circumstances.
Though the rebels met with temporary sue
cess, they received a severe lesson.