The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-02-06
The WAR M ecYPr.


+ tory-fws Newspaper Correspondents
Kiiied-Ssswsrt Badly woaaded.
LoNDoN, January 2S.-Intelligence has
Just been received at the, War Office that
General Stewards force u entrenched south
Of Metemeneh. The dispatch also gives the
gratifying information that Stewart is In
communication with General Gordon
Stewards force had several fights with
the Arab rebels before It reached
Metemneh. Stewart himself is badly
wounded. Five of the Mahdi's officers
were killed in the fight. General Wolseley
in dispatch reports the capture Of
Metemneh by the British. He also says
that Sir Charles Wilson cas- gone to. Khar-
toum on board steamer to confer with Cor.
don. 1t is expected he will return as soon
as possible and report personally to Wolse-
ley.
LATER DISPATCHES.
LONDON, January 29.-The full report OF
Stewards advance from Abu Klea wells is
now made public. Stewart on December
nth established strong post at Abu klea.
Those who had been seriously wounded
were left with sufficient garrison. On the
afternoon of the 18th Stewart began for
ward movement After passing Shebacat
wells the British forces moved to the right,
IN accordance with the instructions of
Wolseley, that in case Metemneh was found
occupied by the enemy, Stewart should
make all efforts to establish himself at some
point on the Nile between Metemneh and
Khartoum. At seven o'clock in the MORN
ing of the 10th, when the British line was
only a league from the river, the enemy APP
cared i'm force some distance in front. A
halt was hereupon made for breakfast in
strong camp established here. The enemy
opened fire and Stewart built strong
earthworks for protection to the
wounded and baggage. The fire was the
heaviest that the British had yet been sub
jected to. While at this point Stewart was
wounded, January 81. Two days after the
battle in the desert, reconnaissance OF
Metemneh was made. This revealed the
fact that Metemneh was in q state of de-
Tense. The works were in fairly good con-
dition and furnished with loop holes. Sir
Charles Wilson reports he could have car
ried Metemneh, but thought it not worth
risKing the loss of men which its capture
might involve. On the following day a
reconnaissance VAS made along the river to
Shendy with three steamers which returned
losses the English troops suffered in cross
ing from KOrti to Gaubat, but in other
respects regards the result of the operations
as in the highest degree successful Lord
WolseIey telegraphs that two officers were
killed and nine wounded during the passage
from Abu Klea to the river. Colonel Bur-
leigh was among those slightly hurt.
REUTERS DISPATCH.
A Korti dispatch to Reuters agency says:
General Stewart gained a brilliant victory
on the 10Th over the rebels, The enemy
numbered 1000. A large number were
cavalrymen armed with rifles. British loss,
twenty killed and thirty wounded. Total
loss of enemy, 1900. The firing began in
the morning and lasted all day. Colonel
BIrleigh, special correspondent of the
London Telegraph, aud Lords .Airlie and
Somerset are among the wounded.
DETAILS.
The point where the battle of January
10 occurred is in the desert about five miles
south from Metemneh. When Stewart
reached that point he found the enemy how
ering about his little army on all sides and
skirting it often within uncomfortable short
range. The rebels had evidently stationed
themselves in the vicinity to await his ar
rival and give him battle. When they be-
he determined to abide the. event. He Or
zareba. This was made mainly with sad.
dies and baggage, and during the construc-
ton the rebel rifemen drew nearer and
maintained hot fire from behind anibus-
cades and such hiding places as they could
find among the high grass. Their fire
was very well directed and was most dis
astrous in its effect upon the British troops.
Twelve men were soon shot dead ana fifty
others were stricken down with ugly wounds.
Among the first killed were Mr.. Cameron,
special correspondent of the London Stand.
ard, and Mr.. Herberts, special correspond.
ent of the London Post. General Stewart
was one of the very first to be wounded.
He was shot in the thigh. When he was
shot the work of making the zareba was
about completed and the army had been
put in motion to form its battle array. This
was hollow square. The square was
formed in the following order: In front the
Naval Brigade and Grenadier Guards; on
the right flank the Coldstream
Guards and Scots Guards; on the
left flank mounted infantry, and on
the rear the Sussex Regiment and
heavy camel corps. As soon as completed
the square advanced under steady ambush
the enemy began to move upon the square
in two large echelons. These were directed
against the British right front, which stood
unmoved. During the rebel charge the
English troops, forming, assaulted the front
and delivered terrific fire aimed right a;
the enemy's middle, moving down meu in
such heaps that they formed actual Obsta,
cles and interfered SO seriously with the
evenEess necessary to the success of the on.
slaught that its center line was brought to a
standstill about sixty yards from the British
front line. The force of the general move
ment threw the uniupeded parts of the line
like the ends Of broken timber around the
corners of a square, and rebels so displaced
We're simply cut TO pieces. From this on the
warfare was as disastrous to the rebels as il
was irregular on their side. When the
enemy's line was broken the Arabs seemed
to break up into bands. each of which
waged war on its own account A large
command, mostly on horseback, went back
to attach the zareba. THIS was garrisened
by body of English soldiers, made up CT
little detachments left behind by each corps
which had gone forward in the square.
Lord Charles Beresford was in command.
He sustained the attack for two hours. when
the enemy was compelled to retreat During
the general attack upon the square only six
men were killed and twentyssiX wounded on
the English side. Captain Norton worked
the guns during this fight, and his firing did
awful execution.
GThe total British loss, including the loss at
Abu Klea, was 104 killed and FOG wounded.
The enemy's loss was 5000 killed and
wounded.
nvuamifers nt washlnpton