, 1885-03-24

SuAKM. March 23.-The enemy began
the attack at 3 o'clock yesterday morning.
They were repulsed and the ground was
cleared by 4 o'clock. The damage that
was done to the transport material yester-
day was immense. The guards and ar
tillery reinforced the troops who were at
tackled. The whole British force remained
in the field duringthe night. The camels
and mules were hamstrung by the Arabs,
and scores of camp followers were cut up.
Arabs are scattered all about in the Vi
cinity i~ntercepting the native fugitives.
The appearance and wells of the Arabs
was so sudden that the whole assemblage
of the transport animals mixed with the,
natives. became panic stricken and surged
IN the zareba, making resistance hope
less.
The scene was indescribable. The
Arabs glided and crept in all directions
among the animals. The Haddendowas
swarmed from the bush like magic, and
attacked the zareba fercely on all sides.
The Soudanese and Coolies were .uistak-
en- for enemies, and many were killed by
their friends. The Berkshire regiment
and the marines stood firm and cool, and
fred volley after volley into the ranks OF
the enemy. The naval brigade from the
inside of the zareba also opened a hot
FIRE. The Indian troops held their W
calamity as soon as they were able to
close the square again. The rebels were
eventually unable to stand the rafting
fire, and they disappeared as they came.
The guards at an early hour this morn
ing were sent to the zareba, erected yester-
day by Gen. Mcneil, to render assistance
after the battle of yesterday. Gen. Nc
Neil was found unmolested and well Gu
trenched in the zareba situated seven
miles southwest of Suakim. The guards
were sent back by Mcneil for water and
provisions. They succeed in making the
return Journey unmolested. A force of
infantry and cavalry with supplies for the
zareba, escorted by a convoy of guards,
was at once despatched to Gen. Mcneil.
A number Of heavy guns have been for
warded to the front.
A general advance toward Tamia will be
made tonight by Graham. During the
advance Suakim will be garrisoued by
sailors. The zareba constructed by Gen.
Mcneil will be shifted because of the in
tolerable effects of the rapid decomposi-
ton Of the hundreds of bodies of slain
Arabs lying close around. A spy reports
that hostile Arabs are growing in number
around Hasheen.
The heat is oppressive. Two Hundred
and fifty sick and wounded to-day sail fol
England. Later official accounts place
the losses Of the Arabs in yesterday fight
at 1000, all told, If this figure is correct,
the losses Of the enemy exceeded those Of
the British less than any battle of the
past three years. Osman Digna has %,
600 men at TamaL. Gen. Graham vii
reach Tamai and give Osman Digna bat
tie tomorrow. 1t will be a pitched fghI
and probably more decisive than any tina
has yet occurred.
The British positions on the road t.
Tamai from Suakim are all well rein
forced and safely held. The Arabs admi
they lost 5000 in Sundays battle.
Owing to the labor involved it ha
been decided not to shift Gen. Mcneil
zareba- Troops are engaged in dragging
the bodies ofthe slain to the leeward o
the zareba. Dense heaps of corpses o
rebels and native camp followers ar
mingled with the carcasses of 500 camels
The ground il strewn with rifles, spear
nnd nhioldn