Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-21
GRAHAM'S SECOND SORTIE
VICTORY SNATCHED FROM DE-
FEAT BY IRISH BRAVERY.

the Arabs.
LONDON, March 20.-The British forces
at Suakin set out again this morning at
daylight In the same direction as yester-
day. They carried with them two days
rations and 23,0eo gallons of water. They
have six Gardner guns.
GEN. GRAHAM's REPORT.
Gen. Graham telegraphs under date OF
March 20, $3.50 p. M: The troops moved
out from camp at 6:15 O'Clock this MORN
| ing, leaving the Shropshire regiment to
! guard 1T. On reaching the first hill, at
| $3.50 O'Clock, we found that the enemy had
retired and occupied another hill a
mile and quarter distant. After a
short halt the Berkshire regiment
and marines were ordered to clear the
hills, the Indian contingent and
| Guards supporting. This was done very
effectually, the enemy being driven off the
ridge and streaming south towards Ia
mas. We charged by squadrons of Indian
Lancers in bush. The cavalry then re-
tired toward the Guards. Many of the
| enemy passed the Guards at the foot of
the hill and made for the hill west of Has
heen in the valley. These were shelled
by the Royal Horse Artillery, while other
parties moving round our right were
Meanwhile Zareba, with four intrenched
posts on a hill commanding, is being
formed. The advanced troops have all
returned to this position, and will return
to our camp, leaving the East Surrey
Regiment, with two Krupp guns
and four Gardners and water
tanks and signal appliances, at
the entrenchment position. Our
killed are 2 officers and men OF the Brit
iob a
officers and 26 men of the British and l
officer and 10 men of the Indian contin-
gent. The infantry behaved with great
steadiness. The number of the rebels is
estimated at 1000. The rebel loss is not
known, but it is heavy. The engagement
lasted five hours. The Arabs carried of
all their dead and wounded. Natives re-
port that numbers of Osman DIgna's men
are deserting, having become disheart-
ened. TO-day's fighting was noticeably
different in character from that of any
preceding engagement. The Arabs main
tanned a steady rife fire, retiring slowly
from each position held by them and
avoiding close quarters.
ANOTHER STORY OF THE FIGHT.
Another account of to-daV's battle is as
follows:
The marines were first sent to the front
to drive the Arabs from the hills. AS
soon as possible they were reinforced by
batteries and by cavalry. There was a
hot engagement for few hours, during
winch the British cavalry charged re-
peatedly, while machine guns were worked
with deadly effect. Great bravery was dis
played on both sides. At the end of the
engagement the Arabs retreated slowly
toward Tamas. The Arab loss in killed
and wounded is estimated at 600. The
loss of the British is 40. The Arabs dis
played desperate bravery. The marines
drove the Arabs from the hills and forced
them to retire to the plain. Then the In
dian troops charged upon the Arab posi-
tiOn, were Outflanked and an unsupported
body of Arabs succeeded in getting be-
hind their line.
ON THE VERGE OF DISASTER.
The Indian troops found themselves
between two fires, and they fed. During
the retreat they were closely pressed by
the Arabs, who hamstTung their horses
and speared the riders. The Bengalese
fell back in confusion upon the English
infantry and Guards, who had been formed
in hollow square, aud the square leis-
urely retired, while the Arabs were veil
ing that they had regained their lost posi-
tion. At this juncture the artillery came
to the rescue, and brisk fire of small shot
from the machine guns and shells
drove the Arabs from their position.
The marines maintained a steady firing
throughout the engagement, but the hon
Ors of the day are probably due to the
Irish Laucers, who changed the tide of
battle by desperate charge and retrieved
the fortunes of Gen. Graham's command
when they seemed almost hopeless. The
British troops have returned to their for
mer camp near Suakin.
THE REPORT TO wOLsELEY.
Gen. Graham telegraphs Gen. Wolselev
that the result of the operations have been
to establish a strong position command
ing the Hasheen valley and protectieg the
right flank and communications in ensu-
ing operations against Tamas. All pOr-
tions of the force, he SAYS, worked admi-
rably on very difficult ground, covered
with high thorn bushes and occupied bv a
determined enemy, showing that The
troops are able to master the Arabs in
any position.
THE TACTICS OF THE ARABS
AT O'Clock the country appeared clear
of rebels, and the British were about to
withdraw to the heights, when a number
OF the enemy appeared, and firing was
renewed. The Arabs pursued their old
tactics of lying down and then springing
up suddenly and hamstrlnging the horses
Of the British. The Arabs are unequalled
as skirmishers and in bush fighting. The
Guards captured wounded chief of the
rebels who attacked the square. While the
British were Withdrawing after O'Clock
to their fortified positions in the hills, the
rebels Kept swarming around conceaIing
themselves in the bushes and making the
progress of the British with their baggage
dlthcult. An 1ncessant firing was main.
tanned until the troops reached an omen
PLAIN and fortified the ridge at 8 O'Clock
greatly exhausted with their long engage
ment under blazing sun. The aim of
the enemy was bad. Had it not been so
the British loss would have been heavy.
The troops were not molested during their
return march to Suakin. The total loss
of the British was eleven killed and forty
nine wounded.
THE FINANCIAL AGREEMENT.
In the House of Commons to-day the
statement that Gen. Wolseley had been
appointed Governor of Soudan, was denied
by Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, who added
that ne was not in position to impart
any further information. Premier Glad
stone, replying to interrogatories put by
Sir Stafford Northcote, said
ask the Judgment of THE House
upon the Egyptian financial agreement
on March 26, Or not later than March 30.
1t was IMPORTANT, he said, that this
Judgment be obtained at the earliest date
possible, because as matters were at pre-
sent Egypt was Just able to limp along
financially.
Sir Stafford Northoote, responding To
the Premier's reply, insisted that it
proved that there was necessity for the
devotion of additional time to study of
the details OF this agreement, and he gave
notice that he would make q request to
that effect on Monday next.
DoNGoLHs MUDIR,
Dispatches for Korti state that tho
Mudlr OF Dongola is at a point twelve
miles above Merawi with 500 EgvptIan
troops, three field pieces and one Gatling
gun. He is also supported by the Kabba-
oIsh and Shayikeh tribes. He is about to
attack the rebels at Hassanyet, and if |
successful In overpOwering them it is his |
intention TO move against Berber, with |
the nope OF Wrestling that important CEN
tire from Ell Mahdi's forces. There are re-
ports that the followers Of Ell Mahdi are |
deserting in large numbers.
The delegates of the powers concerned
will meet in Paris March 80 for the pur.
pose of drawing an act to guarantees the
freedom of the Suez canal.
THE CONSERVATIVE DISSATISFACTION.
The Conservatives have made oyertures
to number of Liberals who are disoon-
tented with the Egyptian Convention for |
the formation of a coalition. Mr., Goshen
refused to accept the proposition, and will |
support tne government. The Radicals
approve the agreement as tending To an |
early withdrawal of the British forces |
from Egypt. lhe government expects |
that division in the House of Commons |
on the Dill To sanction the Egyptian loan /
Will snow majority of 40 in its favor.