Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-31

The Story Of Stewards victory.
| A BRILLIANT STRUGGLE AGAINSD THE GREAT ODDS
OF TEN TO ONE-THE CAMP on THE NILE-THE
NAHDfs CAUSE PRONOUNCED HOPELESS
LONDON. January 29-Gen. Stewards forces
are strongly entrenched on the Nile. and are
confident that they can hold their position
against great odds. They have the river at their
back. Gen. Gordons steamers are securing
supplies and material, and another British col
umn is on the march to join them. Metemneh
is still held by the rebels with small force, and
Olivier Pain, Frenchman, is said to be in com-
mand. II is said that the mahdi sent II 900
picked troops to annhilate the British and has
1000 more on the way; but all the prisoners
agree that his cause is hopeless now. 1t is re-
ported that he is sending away all his valuabies
TO place of safety, and this is taken indi-
cation that he himself is growing doubtful Of
| success. From the eastern Soudan however
intelligence is received which indicates that 0s-
man Dgna the rebel chieftain in those parts
| has no intention of giving up the struggle
| Spies VINO have been mingling with the hostile
| tribes report that he is resouteiy determined to
continue the war. They say that he is even re-
sorting to the desperate measure of arming the
women and compelling them to do military
service.
TROUBLE on THE RED SEA.
unfriendly Arabs along the Red Sea. too, con-
| tinues to grow more serious. Massowah is al
most in state Of siege. with gloomy prospects
| of relief The Arabs make attacks in force al
most every night upon Suakim and during the
dark firing against the garrison rs almost con-
| tinual. The garrison has been greatly strength
cned by the arrival Of 400 British troops News
| has been received of a desperate attack upon the
| Galabat garrison, in which 100 of the garrison
|
ceived at Hamdab at eight O'Clock last night
concerning the expedition which left there tor
Berber on Monday last under General Earle
stated that the Black Watch and Staffordshire
| Regiments arrived at the Kabdel-Abak cataract
| Before reaching the cataract the cavalry scouts
| who were two miles in advance, exchanged fire
| with some hostile natives. The Arabs made the
| attack. but were soon driven back by the cavalry
and the camel corps when these came up. Soon
| after this these two corps captured the village
of Warag. number of cattle and sheep were
also seized. The Arabs reiterated In the drec-
| ton of Brit.
Further news from General Earle states that
| his total force amounts to 2, 500 men. They are
proceeding, partly in the whale boats up the
| Nile, and partly by the road on the river bank
After the capture of the village of Warag Eare's
force started for Abu Hamed, two days march
distant
ANOTHER STORY OF THE FIGHT.
vivid description of the battle IN the desert
on the 10Th is given by the correspondent OF the
London Ne,rs, who telegraphs from General
Stewards camp, near Metemneh. 1--WE sighted
| the river at daybreak," ne says "The enemy
were gathered about the ridges opposite on the
| banks OF the Nile, about an hours march from
US. We were burning to make an attack, but
| were anxious to save the men, after their long
| march without food. General Stewart selected
| the best position possible. aud formed square
| which received the enemy from all sides. soon
thl ahafS "a,
| toward us. Within half an hour they opened
fire on our 'front.' right and left, and until long
| past midday continued to assal us with per-
! feet storm of bullets. In spite of the con-
| tinuOus fire comparatively few British were
wounded. General Stewart was wounded early
| in the action, when several other officers and
| men were killed. Having strengthened our pc
| sition and repused the attack the square was
prepared to advance. We went over the slopes
under a whitening fire, returning the voeys
| very steadily. Three times the rebel horse and
| foot attempted to make charge, but We're
| moved down each time. The rebels splendidly
| sustained our fire. At last the square reached
the river bank and fortified one of the villages
| Some of the men then returned to bring in the
| wounded.
THROUGH DENSE JUNGLE.
The first part of the march was orderly. quiet
and steady. Later the route lay through a
dense Jungle and groves of mimosa, where the
| confusion and uprOar of the native drivers de-
! layed progress a couple Of hours and put the
enemy on the alert. The rebels. concealed in
the tall grass, kept up calling fire. The Brit
| ish were gradually worn out, being exposed as
targets and unable to strike back. General
Stewards wound delayed the counter-attack Of
| the square until o'clock in the afternoon
| Rebel rifemen possessed the heights while
| their horsemen closed the roads in our rear. As
the square moved slowly from the Zareba all felt
that their fate depended upon its steadness.
fhnc
delivered volley after vollcy with superb steadi-
ness. At last the critical moment came. The
rebel spearSmen advanced to hurl themselves
against the little square. The British never
wavered a moment. When they saw the foes
coming they cheered Justify and delivered fire
so deadly that the Arabs dropped in the lines
and recoiled and retired in broken array. Mean
While another dense mass of rebels from the
south was stopped by shells from NOrtOn's
guns. At this juncture the enemys redoubtable
reserve of horsemen, standard-bearers and fanat-
lca followers rushed against the square. but was
again repulsed by the whitening fire delivered
by our men. Their retreat this time was final,
for they renewed the attack no more.
TEN TO ONE.
" In the meantime the men left behind in the
zareba to guard the wounded watched the
square disappear over the hills and were I'M
aware until next morning whether the square
had reached the Nile safely or had been over
WHICH, tiie ultu were Sttu returning
next day they were greeted with loud and heart
felt cheers. After reyerently burying the dead
the whole force marched to the Nile where they
We're allowed to bivouac in peace aud unity, the
enemy making no sign beyond the beating of
drums during the whole night A European
was clearly distinguished in the rebel ranks
The British have captured the unarmed rebel
boats. which will be very userul to them. All
the officers and men are in excellent health and
spirits. The British square numbered / 200 and
a fiTlaf tod
1900. When the square returned to the zareba
the day after the fight many of the garrison
wept for JOY"
In the fight, which occurred within three
miles OF the Nile, many of the British troops
were in almost faintng condition from lack of
water. Colonel Sir Charles Wilson ordered a
small detachment of cayalrymen to obtain sup
ply of water from the river 10y cutting their way
through the enemy's forces. This dangerous
movement was accomplished with less loss of life
than might have been expected, and enough
water was obtained to revive the troops and
enable them to continue the attack.
THE ARMY HOSPITAL.
After General Stewart was wounded he was
carried to the field hospital by party of officers