The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-12-28
sKlRMlsH AT sUAKlN.
British and Egyptian Troops Make a Sortie
Supported by the Fleet, and Brilliantly
Rout the False Prophets Hosts.

SUAKIN, Dec. 20.-The combined force
Of British and Egyptians made an attack to.
day on the rebel position. They stormed the
redoubts and trenches and after . brilliant
engagement lasting . half IN hour, drove
the enemy into the bush. The British loss
was slight. The British are encamped in
the rebel position. The victory was com
plete.
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 thirty wounded. The
only officers wounded in the attacking force
were two Egyptians. The rebel loss is now
stated to be 400.
THE E CAUSES "A DIVERSION.
Before dawn this morning the British man.
Of. war ".Starling'' and an Egyptian steamer
moved up the coast with orders to cover the
rebels 1t Hardoub. At daybreak the forts
opened fire upon the rebel trenches and the
troops advanced to the attack. The black
brigade was on the right flank Of the cavalry
and mounted infantry, and the Scottish
Borderers, Welsh regiment and Egyptian
brigade occupied the embankment between
the forts. The British infantry was held in
reserve. The forts shelled the trenches,
keeping up . terrific firing. The enemy held
Its ground with intense courage until the
black brigade charged the trenches which
fell after half an hours hard fighting. The
rebels fought with flanatical bravery. Two
of the enemy's guns were captured. The
naval brigade did splendid work. The Scot
tish Borderers are now at work entrenching
the rebel position and the enemy is retreat
ing towards Hasheen and Tamar. The
British force numbers 1000.
THEY ROUTED THE DERvIsHEs.
An official dispatch from Grenfell dated
Suakin, 11:25 .. m. says: ssThe enemy's loss
is 400. The Hussars are still pursuing the
Arabs. The trenches are partly filled and
temporary redoubts are being built. The
joint forces are intrenched. They will
bivouac on the field tonight, the naval de.
tachment with the machine guns remaining
in the entertainments. l have sent the man
of-war "Sterling'' and all available steamers
to anchor off Handoub in order to prevent
the force from Handoub from coming on to
us during the action. The Dervishes we're
severely punished. We expect to have q
quiet night"
SuAK1N, Dec. 2O.-In the afternoon the
Hussars who followed the fleeing Arabs re.
turned. They chased the enemy to within
four miles Of Handoub. The enemy was
still flying.
FULFILLING A TREATY OBLIGATION.
LONDON, Dec. 20.-In . speech at Scar
borough, Lord Salisbury said the Ministry
had no intention of entangling the country
in q new Soudan expedition, but they could
not abandon Suakin. As long as the Khe-
dive desires, England will maintain the Red
Sea ports. It would be madness to surrender
Suakin when We are on the verge of sup
pressing slavery. By the treaty of Paris,
England in bound to uphold the integrity Of
the Sultan's empire.
CAUGHT THE ENEMY BY SURPRISE.
A dispatch from Suakin says . feature of
the fighting was tho determined rush upon
the trenches by the blacks and the Egyptians.
The Dervishes fought with the utmost
bravery, many Of them dying in the trenches.
The charge Of the Hussars was also specially
mentioned. When the Dervish cavalry saw
them coming they dismounted and planted
their spears in the ground, but these proved
obstruction to the Hussars, who swept
down upon the Dervish horsemen like an
avalanche, cut through the ranks and left
half of them dead on the ground. The
Hussars then reformed and charged the re-
naming Dervishes, who fed. A large por-
ton of the rebel force was not engaged in
fighting, being absent camping at
Handoub and The wells beyond. It is
believed the rebels will be reinforced and
will make IN attempt to charge the position.
ROTTEN EQUIPMENT.
SUAK1N, Dec. 20.-Osman Digna's nephew
and twelve Dervishes have been captured.
All are wounded. Serious complaints are
made concerning the quality Of the sabres
and ~revolvers furnished to the troops. Sew
eral cavalrymen returned with broken sabres
and in many instances their revolvers be-
came clogged and were rendered useless.
Will Get q Square Deal.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 20.-The dele
nation of manufacturers, ETC., from this city
who visited General Harrison returned this
morning. Fred L. Sloss, q Of the dele
remarked: "We will not know
whether we live in Indiana or Alabama, so
far Is the treatment We receive from Gen.
eral Harrison's administration is concerned"
The boats have stopped running on The
Flathead Lake for the winter. The trip to
the head of the lake, until spring opens. can
only be made by stages, which leave Ravalli
Mondays and come down Thursdays.-Item.