The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-21
400 ARABS SLAIN.
The Siege of Suakim Raised
by a Sally.
osMaS's MKN ourNuMBEREI
The spears of the Brave Mussul
mans Go Down Before the Well
Armed British Hosts

sUAKIs, Dec. 20. - The combined
force Of British and Egyptians made
an attack yesterday upon the rebel
position. They stormed the reioabts
and trenches, and after brilliant en-
gagement, lasting half an hour. drove
the enemy into the bush. Before
dawn this morning the British man
of-war Starting and an Egyptian
steamer moved up the coast with or
derS 10 cover the rebels at Handoub.
At daybreak the forts opened fire upon
the rebel trenches and the troops ad-
vaneed t. the attack. The black orig
sde occupied the right aaak. the cav
airy and mounted infantry covering
the Seotti,h Borderers. A Welsh reg
iment and an Egyptian brigade eccu-
pied the bank between the forts The
British infantry held the reserve. The
fort sheIled the trenches. keeping up a
terrific firing.
The enemy held their ground with
intense courage until the black brigade
took the trenches, which fell after half
an hours hard fighting. The rebels
fought with frantic bravery. Two OF
the enemy's guns were captured. The
naval brigade did splendid work. The
Scottish Borderers are now at work in
trenching the rebels position. The
enemy are retreating towards Hasheen
and lamar. The British force num-
hers 900. The British lost four killed
and two wounded during the gallant
cavalry charge. The Egyptian and
black regiments charged the trenches
and carried them brilliantly, losing
two killed and 30 wounded. The only
officers wounded in the attacking force
were two Egyptians. The rebel loss IS
now stated TO be 4o0.
LoNpoS, Dec. pa !Saadayd Su-
akin dispatch says At 4:S0 in the
morning the man-of-war Racer opened
the battle by shelling the eneny's
trenches. The ships up the coast fol-
lowed suit, and landed parties who
lighted fires and placed dummies in
position. This had the effect of de-
ceiying the enemy coming from Han
doub. The whole force moved toward
the enemy's left flank, with naval
detachment with machine guns, cav
airy and mounted infantry scouting
and protecting the 1anks and rear.
Two lines. comprising battalions in
double companies. rushed toward the
left corner OF the enemy's reserve, lin
ing the embankment between the
water forts. Gen. Grenfell and staff
occupied position TO the left OF the
water forts From s O'Clock many
salutes of guns were fired from every
fort on the trenches.
LONDON, Dec. 20-An official dis
patch from Gen. Grenfell. dated Su-
akin, says; The enemy lost 400. The
hussars are still pursuing the Arabs.
The trenches were rapidly filed, and
two temporary redoubts are being
built and the joint forces in.renched.
They gill bivouac in the field to-
night, the naval detachment. with
machine guns, remaining in the
trenches | have sent the man-o of
war Startling and all available steamers
To anchor off Handoub, in order 10
prevent force from Handoub COM
ing upon us during the action. The
dervishes were severely punished. We
expect to have q quiet night.
SUAKIA, Dec. 20-The hussars who
followed the fleeing Arabs have re-
turned. They chased the enemy to
enemy are still tlying.
LoNDoN, Dec. 20 Orders TO send re-
Inducements OF troops to the Medi-
terranean have been countermanded.
\ REsIsTLEss CAVALRY CHARGE.
LoNDoH. Dee. 20.-A dispatch from
Suakim says: 4 feature OF the fight
ing was the determined rush 10 the
open trenches by the blacks and
Egyptians The ,leryishes fought
with the utmost bravery, agreat many
of them dying in the trenches. The
charge OF the hussars was also specially
mentioned When the deryi~h cavalry
saw them coming they di>mouuted and
planted their spears in the ground, but
these proved no obstruction to the
hussars who swept down upon the
dervi~h horsemen like an avalanche.
cut through their ranks and left half
OF them dead on the eround. The
hussars then reformed and charged
the remaining dervishe>. who fed.
A large portion OF the rebel force
was not engaged in to-day's fighting,
being absent camping at Handoub
and the wells beyond. 1t Is believed
the rebels viii be reinforced and make
an attempt to retake their last posi-
ton.
sUAEII scT ro BIZ ABANDONED.
I.oSpnx. Dee. 20.-In a speech at
Scarborough Lord Salisbury said the
ministry had no intention of entan-
Cling the country in new Soudau eX-
pedition, bat they could not abandon
Suakim As long a. the khe1lye de-
sires, England viii maintain the Red
Sea ports. IL would lie madness to
surrender Suakim when we are on the
verge Of suppressing slavery. BY the
treaty OF Paris England l. bound 10
uphold the integrity OF the sultan's
empire.
CAMPING on THE BATTLFFIELu-
SrAKlM, Dec. 20.-Three zarsbas and
a stockade were built over the filed
trenches and manned by four Soudan-
ese bartalions and British soldiers. The
space betweea them and the water
forts was occupied by Z battalion Of
horse artillery. The emir of Trinktat
is 4 prisoner. He is wounded.
HANpoUB WEAKLY DEFENDED.
LoyroN, Dec. IA dispatch to the
TTs-es from Suakim says; Prisoners
saw they believe all the mounted gun
ners were killed. Al tell the same
story OF pvivRiiou and cruelty At the
hands Of the Mah6i and Osman Org
ma. None OF them wished tn fight,
hut were forced to DO so or persuaded
Ia fight by promises Of the loot at Sua-
kim and other rewards. The trenches
are bare. They found no food. cloth
ing or money. but only SnideT rifles
aud cartridges The prisoners knew
nothing OF the reported capture OF
Emin, or the fail Of the equatorial
provinces.
The natives assert that Handoub
will fall at the first approach OF our
troops. The government ought not 70
lose This chance The task i an easy
one, as there Is not the slightest sign
- .r.- q. :. .arsr. -. ~ in..al frsha..a