The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-03-26
BATTLE BETWEEN THE BRITISH
AND THE ARAB UNDER
0SMAN DIGNA.
The Enemy in Great Force Sur
prise and Attack Cen
eral McNeill.
The Daring Courage OF the Reb-
els Wins the Admiration
of the English.
Enemy's Loss Reported 5000
McNellI Holds His Position
After the Battle.
EGYPT.

EGYPT.
| SUAKIM, March 23-The enemy began an at
| tack at O'Clock this morning, but were re-
pulsed and the ground cleared by O'Clock.
| IhG damage done to transport material yes
terday was immense. The guards and artll-
| lery sent to reinforce troops were attacked.
| The whole British force remained IN the field
hamStrung by the Arabs. Scores GF cAhp-fOl-
| low ers were cut up. The Arabs after
| ed about In the whole vicinity intercepting La
| tive fugitives. The appearance, with yells, of
the Arabs, was SO sudden that the whole as
semblage of transport animals. mixed with t. g
the Zereba, making resistance hopeless. The
scene was indeScribable.
The Arabs gIided and crept in all directions
among the o animals; nm S Ihs 3Lo aaddendowas @ @
tackled the zereba fiercely OH all sides. Souda-
nese coolies were mistaken for enemies and
many killed by friends.
The Berkshire regiment and marines S'Ood
firm and cool and fired yolley after yolley into
ranks of the enemy. The naval brigade, in
The zereba alS0 opened hot file.
The English troops held their own gallantly
as soon as they were able to close the square
again. Eventually unable TO stand the rat
came. Gen. McNeill drew in all of his forces
and stood to arms. The hussars bi ought in
the wounded, though me- aced by the Arab
camel force, which watched their movements
vigilantly.
The deselE was dotted in every direction
with runaway animals. The enemy's loss
must be heavy. The camp at Suakim pre-
pared for renewal of the attack, but was un-
moleSted.
While detachments of English and Indian
infantry were making a zereba. seven miles
southwest of Suakim, to-day, they were Sar-
priSed by Arabs, who were maSSed and con-
cealed in the defileS west OF Hasheen. The
Eng iSh formed square as quickly as possible,
but the c2mels, mules and horses were driven
back tiu confusion on the troops, causing a
stampede, and amid clouds of dust the Arabs
the Cnnfh SI66C
square. In the meanwhile, the MAJ ines and
Berkshire regiment, who were on the east
and west sides of the squads, maintained
a continuous fire, holding the enemy at bay,
whi e charge by the cavalry and the nre from
the guns at the Hasheen ZerebdS checked the
onslauHht OF the Arabs, which at the outset
threatened serious disaster to the British.
General Graham reports the English loss as
far known as two officers and twenty-five IN en-
kille and thtrty-tWo men wounded; The IS
of the engineers, transports and Indian troo
is not reported.
Unoficial estimates place the British kille
at fifty-tWo and wounded eighty-fve. Nearly
all the casualties are due to spear-thrusts re-
ceived in hand-to-hand engagement.
The Arabs got between the transport train
and the Zereba, and Speared the men of the
transport corps and killed the animals They
fought saVagely, refusing to give or take quar-
terS.
General McNeill, who commanded the Ze-
reba, reports vaguely that there were several
thousaEs'- rebels in the fight and over one
thOusana were killed or wounded. Mcneil is
blamed for not taking precautions against
surprise.
The enemy numbered over four thousand.
Their fanati al courage won admiration. They
rushed to what seemed certain death repeat
saG s6 woanded a7 aTG the z
emy withdrew fighting: 1t was in no sense
defeat, though It is believed they lost fully
eight hundred men.
tits a mystery how such large number of the
enen advanced without discovery. The it
ish, especially the Marines. behaved admire
and with horde of followers, charge the Ma
rines before they had been reformed, but they
were unable to penetrate their lines. The
ShriekhS fought to the last grasp, but lost their
banner, which was captured by the Mariners.
AID PERATE FIGHT.
SUAKIM, March 23-The guards have re-
turned from Zereba. Total British loss, during
the fight Sunday, five officers and ffty-one
prIvates killed and ITO wounded. The rebel
number of rebels entered the breastwOrks and
in the desperate fight which ensued there,
every Arab was killed.
GRAHAM WILL FIGHT osMAN.
The heat Is oppressive. Five hundred and
Later official accounts place the losses OF the
Arabs, in yesterdays fight, at 1000, all teld. If
this figure is correct the losses OF the enemy
exceeded those Of the British less than in any
battle of the past three years. OSman Digua
has 20 900 men at Tamaf. Gen. Graham viii
reach Tamai and give Osman Dlgna battle, to-
alb y more decisive than any that has yet
occurred.
GENERAL M'NEILL.
SUAKIM, March 23.-The Guards at an early
hour this morning " ere sent to the fort erected
YESTERDAY by Gen. McNeill to render aSSis-
lance after the battle, yesterday Gen. Nc
Neill, unmOlested, was found well intrenched
in the breaSt-workS situated seven miles SOUTH
west of Suakim. Guards were sent back by
McNeill for water and provisions. They sue
ceeded in making the return journey unmOles
| t. d. A force OF infantry and cavalry with sup
plies for the fort escorted by convoy guards was
| of heavy guns were forwarded to the fort.
SITUATION AT SUAKIM.
SUAK1M, March 21.-The British forces were
not disturbed through the night. The troops
| infer from this that the Arabs are discouraged
| by the result OF yesterdays engagement.
ARAB TACTICS.
| SUAKlM, Mach q in the encounter with
sued their old tactics Of lying down and then
/ springing up suddenly and hamStringing the
| horses Of the British. The Arabs are un-
LIZARDS woupded ebef Of
| the rebels who attacked the square
while the British were Withdrawing The aim
| OF the enemy was bad. Had it not been so the
| British loss would have been heavier. The
| troops were not mOleSted during the return
/ march t. Suakim. The total loss 10 the British
was eleven killed and forty-niGe wounded.
! SECURING WATER SUPPLY.
! SUAKIM, March 2L-Genera1 Graham has
| received the pipe line appara' ua necessary to
| furnish his army with full water supply dur
| ing bis march TO BerlIer. He starts tuesday
/ to make permanent advance, necessary TO
secure such occupation of the country as VIII
permit the construction OF the railway from
| Suakin to Berber.
| KHARTOUM FAMISHING.
| CAIRO, March 21.-The British troops will
| make their summer camp further down the
| river from KOrtl. A report from KhartOum Is
| that the city is famishi2g and on the verge OF
starvation. sheikh Salabat collected force
| of,6,OJO men mostly AbySsanians and Gedfars,
| to OPP lose the Aahdi.
THE MUDIR OF DONGoLA.
koRTI, March 21.-Ihe Mudir of DOngo'a is
| being Joined by many friendly Arabs on his
march up the Nile toward HaSSaniyet The
object of the Mudir's warlike activity is to dis
abuse the hostile Arabs of the notion that hot
weather will prevent aggressive operations
against the Mahdt.
aRAHAM's REPORT TO woLsELEY.
LONDON, March, 21.-Gen. Graham tele-
gaaphs WOlstley that the result of operations
has been to establish strong position COM
manding Hashsec Valley and protec ing the
line of communications. In the ensuing oper-
ations against Tamai, all portions OF ths fore ;,
he saws worked admirably and gallantly on
| very difficult ground. covered with bushes, and
occupied by an agile and determined enemy
| thus showing the troops able to master The
/ A oINof onu