The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-24
LATEST NEWS.
War in the SOudan.
Details of the Operations
Against Ell Mahdi.
The Fall Of KhartOum Rouses the
British Lion.


created a profound sensation in Eng
land, where Gladstone is held respOn-
sible for all that has happened since
General Gordon was sent to treat
with FL Mahdi and withdraw the
Egyptian garrisons. At the date of
our last advices General Stewart had
won great victory over the Arabs
at Korti, where he fortified himself,
waiting reinforce ments. Stewart, it
will be remembered, was wounded.
At that date, January 9th, it was be-
Iieved that General Gordon had pos
session of Khartoum, and Colonel
Wilson, with three steamers and
small body of troops, were sent up
the river to reinforce him. On arriv-
ing there he found Khartoum in the
possession of Ell Mahdi's troops. It
was impossible to land under the
heavy fire from the shore batteries.
He attempted to pass the batteries
and return, but two of his steamers
were wrecked, owing to the treachery
of pilots, and he, with the bulk of his
command, took refuge on a small
island in the Nile, formed of sand
drift. There he fortified himself as
best he could, and awaited succor,
which he expected, Colonel Wortley
with the third steamer, having passed
down the river. But the force at
korti was unable to send any help. it
being a question whether they could
hold their own against Ell Mahdi's
troops massed at Metemneh after the
fall of Khartoum. The news of these
disasters reported to Lord Wolseley
caused him to push forward with all
possible speed, and to demand further
reinforcements from England. He
also ordered the dispatch of an army
to Suakim, on the Red Sea, to adj
vance across the desert upon Berber
The Government promptly acted
upon his suggestion. Troops have
been ordered from India and the
Mediterranean stations. The guards
have also been assigned TO field duty
in Africa. To facilitate operations
from Suakim as base, the Imperial
Government has contracted with an
English firm to build a railroad from
Suakim to Berber, work to be begun
Immediately, Osman Digma is in
strong force, however, on the line of
the British advance from Suakim,
and severe fighting may be expected
in that quarter. The Italians have
occupied Massowah, and will probably
push on to the relief of Kassala.
The Fall of KhartOum.
LONDON February 5th-2:3O pm.
The War Office issued the following:
kilograms from Wolseley announce
that the fall of Khartoum took place
on January Goth. He says that Col.
Wilson arrived at Khartoum on Jan
uary 2Sth and was greatly surprised
to find that the enemy was in posses
| sion of that place. He Immediately
started on his return down the river.
and proceeded under heavy fire from
| the rebels. When some miles be-
low the Shublaka cataract Col. Will
| sons steamers were wrecked, but he
| and his whole party managed to
| reach an island safely, where they are
secure. A steamer has gone to bring
them back to the British camp neal
Metemneh. Wolseley says he has nc
! information regarding the fate oil
| Gordon, and does not know whether
he is dead or alive" This news Gre
ated the greatest CONSERVATION in
England, andSse excited were the
people that business was practically
suspended in London and the pro-
vinces feE-the day.
| Rescue of Wilson by lord Charles
BeresfOrd.
The perilous duty of rescuing Col.
Wilson and his command was assigned
to Lord Oh aries Beresford, who per
formed it with his proverbial gal
lantry. A despatch dated February
10th gives particulars of the rescue.
It appears that during the engage
ment with the enemy the Sofas
boiler was struck by a shell, and a
great explosion occurred, followed by
rush and roar of steam. After a
temporary patch had been fixed on
| the boiler, the Sofia passed the
enemy's works under a heavy fire,
towing a nuggar containing Colonel
Wilson'S luggage. The nuggar
| grounded 600 yards below the fort.
The night was spent in trying to float
her. Perfect silence was maintained
on board the steamer, which led the
Arabs to believe it had been abaa-
doned, and they stopped firing, and
commenced beating drums. Just be-
fore daybreak the enemy saw sparks
emerging from the funnel of the
steamer, and then at once they began
to yell in the fiercest manner, and
opened a heavy fire on the vessel.
The steamer replied effectively, and
soon passed out of range. 1t is esti-
mated that the enemy numbered 1000.
They had three Krupp guns. Colonel
Wilson's loss on the island was two
killed and twenty wounded of the
Egyptian troops, and four wounded
of the British. The Soudanese allies