Huntsville gazette., 1888-12-29

a biOOuJ DaAtie OuRnt with the ARABS
and Dervishes Intrencfed Around Suak-
im-The Allied British aud Egyptian
| Forces Win a Signal Victory, Complete
ly Routing the Enemy with Fearful
Slaughter.
| BRILLIANT VICTORY FOR THE BRITISH AND
EGYPTIANS.
LONDON, Dec. 20.-Dispatches from Sua-
kim state that a decisive battle has been
fought in which the rebels have been
worsted and dislodged from their posi-
ton. The fight took place to-day. The
combined force of the Egyptians and
British made an attack upon the rebels.
They stormed the redoubts and trenches,
and after half hours brilliant
fighting the enemy was driven into
the bush, completely routed. The
rebel loss is estimated at O
thousand killed with large numbers
wounded. The loss to the British and
Egyptians is slight. The British forces
now encamp in the position recently oc-
cupied by the rebels. The victory to tho
British arms is complete. Later dis
patches state that the British had four
men killed and two wounded in O cavalry
charge. The Egyptian black regiments
made brilliant charge upon the enemy's
trenches, in which two were killed and
| thirty wounded. Only two Egyptian off,
GERS were wounded. The enemy's lossvi 3
now stated to be 400.
PARTICULARS OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
The Standards Suakim correspondent
sends the following particulars Of the en-
| gagement: At half-past four this morning
the man f-war Racer opened the battle
by shelling the eneny's trenches. The
| chino ha
landed parties who lighted fires and
placed dummies in position. This had
the effect of deceiving the enemy
coming from Handeule. The whole force
moved toward the enemy's LEFT flank with
naval detachment with machine guns
and cavalry and mounted infantry, scout
ing and protecting the fanks and rear.
Two lines comprising battalions in double
companies rushed towards the left corner
Of the enemy's trenches, the British in
fantry and Egyptian reserves lining the
embankment between the water forts.
General Grenfell and staff ocou-
pied q position to the left Of the
water forts. From five O'Clock heavy
salvos Of guns and mortars from every
fort bore on the trenches.
BEGAN BEFORE DAWN.
DC1Ol lC QotWA Ililb lilOI Ling llIO oLItlSA
man-of-war Startling and an Egyptian
steamer moved up the coast with orders to
cover the rebels ct Handoub. AT day
break the forts opened fire upon
advanced to the attack. the biaGx orig f!ls
on the right flank and the cavalry and the
mounted infantry covering them. The
Scottish borderers, the Welsh regiment
and the Egyptian brigade occupied an
embankment between the forts, the Bcit-
ish infantry being held in reserve. The
70 rts shelled the trenches, keeping up q
terrific fire. The enemy held their ground
courageously until the black brigade
charged the trenches, which fell
after an hours fighting. The rebels
fought with fanatical bravery. Two Of
the enemy's guns were captured. The
naval brigade didsplendid work.
THE ENEMY's LOSS -FOUR HUNDRED.
An official dispatch from Suakim dated
II 20 a. N. says that the enemy's loss is
| 400. The Hussars were at that time still
pursuing the fleeing Arabs. The trenches
are%nearly filed, and two temporary re-
doubts are being built. The combined
forces of the British and Egyptians are in
renched. They will bivouac On the field
Of battle tonight, the naval force with
machine guns remaining in the trenches.
THE BLACK TROOPS FOUGHT NoBLY.
LONDON, Dec. 20.-The dispatches re-
ceived by the Central News from Suakim
state a prominent feature of the fight to-
day was the determined rush of the black
regiment Of Egyptians upon the der
wishes. The latter fought with fanatical
courage, dying in the trenches.
At one time the Hussars made a brilliant
charge and the deryishes dismounting
from their horses, planted their spears
to receive them. On swept the Hussars
like an avalanche, riding down the
dervish cavalry, half of whom were killed.
The Hussars Immediately reformed and
made renewed charge on the remaining
dervishes, who then fed precipitately.
A large portion Of the rebels were absent
from to-day's fight. They are camping at
Handoub and the wells beyond. 1t is be-
lieved that the rebels will be reinforced
and will renew the attack soon.
THE SLAUGHTER AT sUAKIM.
LONDON, Dec. 21.-The victory which
was won at Suakim yesterday by the com
bined forces of the British and Egyptians,
does not cause that enthusiasm in London
which usually follows such an event. The
| disparity in the losses Of the sides en-
gagged in the unequal struggle proves the
affair to have been mere butchery, and
robs the event of the ordinary elements
attending battle. The British public is
not enough in sympathy with the expedi-
ton at Suakim to be delighted to learn
that four hundred Arabs have been shot
down and many others wounded by
larger force of English soldiers, pos
sesssing superior arms and superior
tactics to those of their enemy
While the news may serve *
| cheer the government and sustain them il
pursuing their present course at Suakm
fair minded Englishmen deprecate tbs
slaughter, and do not consider that the
victory adds any luster to the British
arms. The comparatively enormous losi
of the dervishes is chiefly due to the ter
rible execution Of the improved machin
guns, which were used with murderous eff
feet. The enemy's arms were poor il
comparison to those Of the British ant
Egyptian forces, and the formers mum
| bers were small also. The powerful
| tribes about Suakin did not rende
! any assistance to the dervishes
| preferring to await the result o
| tha fpht in the trenches iHNfront Of tn