Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-27
A FIGHT WITH THE ARA BS,
Reconnaissance BY THE BRITISH.


SuAKIM, March 19.--The whole force
started this morning at { O'Clock with one
days rations and Il hundred rounds OF am
muntiou to each man in the direction OF
Hasheen. Five hundred of the enemy
were seen on the hills near HaShecn Cav
airy, mounted infantry and Indian in
fantrv were sent to reconnOitre while the
guards acted as reserve. The enemy re
treated before the British advance. The
head of the British column is now near
| Hasheen.
The mounted infantry and scouts, sup
ported by the main body of the corps, are
marching 600 yards behind the advanced
guard to the base of II range of low hills
near Hasheen. The Indian contingent
and cavalry during the movement secuted
and skirmished on both sides of the line.
The scouts reached the submits of the
hills and discovered that the Arabs had
massed in the valleys. The Arabs at once
retired into II position of shelter, but 80 re-
naming in sight. They remained in tins
position until the British advance reached
a ridge of hills. The Hadendowah tribe
then rushed from the ambush and made
an attack. Captain Birch was speared
through the shoulder. The Arabs sue
ceeded in getting within ten yards of the
British line when the latter opened Il reg
ular fire, which the enemy promptly re-
piled to. Three of the infantry and sew
eral Hadendowahs were wounded. -Four
of the infantry were killed, including
Lieut.. O'Connor, whose horse was shot
from under him. The object of the re
connoissance having been attained, the
British retired, the Arabs showing no dis
position to follow. British infantry and
guards were left on the roadway between
here and the Hasheen hills supporting the
Indian contingent The Bengal cavalry
took many prisoners. 1t was aScertalned
by the ACCOMPLISHMENTS the Arabs were
in large bodies along the entire range of
hills and evenly massing. Osman Dlgna
is holding strongly entrenched position.
As the British retired after having Ell
tered 1asheen the rebels rapidly reOccu-
pied the positions previously evacuated by
them. The entire British force, with the
exception of the Shropshire regiment, will
parade at Il o'clock tomorrow morning,
previous to an advance to Iamai where 1t
is expected battle will take place. Gen.
Graham in his letter to Osman Dlgna de
ClareS England respects all regions ana
desires the friendship of all Arabs tribes
He advises the shekhs to submit at once
and rely upon the mercieS of England
otherwise he threatens to destroy the tlOcks
and other property of their followers.
Trap for the English to Fall Into.
SUAKIM, March 20.-The enemy's loss in
yesterdays engagement is unknown. Let
tefs were found in an Arab chiefs tent
from Osman Digna telling him to hold his
position at any cost, to act strictly on the
defensive and not to trust the people in
the Suakim district. The prisoners taken
Yesterday maintain Il logged silence, but
one Of them says that Osman Digna's last
orders to- the Arabs were to withdraw III
lt,ra Z hn liSh hn
when Osman intended to sally out from
Tamaia and intercept the British prevent
ing their retreat.
After the skirmish Gen. Graham,
right consisting of British infantry, In
dian infantry and the guards, began to ad
vance toward Handobab. The mounted
infantry and Bengal cavalry renewing the
reconnaissance upon Hasheen and found
Osman Digna withdrawing his forces to-
ward Tamai. The concentration of tn,
Arabs was affected in unusually good or
der Scouts report that Osman Digna i,
prepared to give battle between Tama
and Tamanieb and. they estimate the
number of Arabs at from 1900 to 10000.
Eel Mahdi's Power Waning.
LONDON March l9.-Scores of despatc he
in the morning papers confirm the report
of FL Mahdi's waning power. Severa
dervishes have denounced him as an i'm
poster.
Iuciting Natives to Oppose the British.
CAIEo, March l9-The bitterness o
feeling shown by the English toward tn
French is due to the hostility of the BOs
phoreiE which is constantly incit
ing the natives to oppose the British
Suppression of that paper appears to be
military necessity The Mahdi's adher
ents declare that before the summer is ia
advanced Gen. WOlseley's army Will be Gu