New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-21
DEFEAT OF TIE DERVISHES.

Tho British garrison at Suakim has again
attacked the deryishes and driven them into
the bush. The assault was well planned, and
the enemy taken by surprise and easily defeat
ed Osman Dignas warriors were caught in
their trenches, where they never fight to the
best advantage, and being deceived by brisk
bombardment from the feet and redoubts were
completely outmanoeuvred by the main force
which took them in the flank and rear. 1t was
credtable victory for General Grenfell, and
the honors of the day were evenly DIVIDED
among his British, Indian and Egyptian troops,
all of whom fought bravely. The natives not
being massed in such numbers as at Teb and
Tamai there was less bloodshed than there
usually is in these engagements. Their losses
are reported as not exceeding 400. In three
previous battles $500 Arabs were left dead
upon the field.
The trenches having been cleared, the usual
order of procedure will probably be followed
The fugitives will be chased a few miles into
the interior and their villages burned Then
the British force will return to Suakim and
after week or ten days the reinforcements
recently received will be sent away. The Or
binary garrison will be adequate for the de-
fence of the town with its outer and inner
circles of redoubts. The natives will be tenn
porarily dispersed, and the surrounding coun-
try quiet. Then the dervishes will gather
again, and little by little Sualim will be en-
circled with trenches, and the garrison harasSed
| and beleaguered. The siege will then have to
be raised reinforcements will be forwarded in
haste; and there will be another British VIC
| tory in the desert levels. The dervishes Will
not relax their efforts, and consequently this
sanguinary process must be repeated as often
as may be necessary. They are fanatical Arabs
who believe that the conquest of Suakim would
be victory for their religion to set the very
deserts on fire. They may be dispersed by SUI
peror numbers and strategy, but they never
abandon the hope of final triumph.
| Every additional victory increases the ncces-
sity for permanent occupation. If Suakim had
never been gariisOned a few gunboats might
have sufficed for the control of the coast and
the prevention of the expectation of slaves from
the Soudan to Arabia. But now that ten thou
sand soldiers and natives have been slain in
these numerous conflicts the town has acquired
Fictitious Importance which it never deserved.
It's abandonment would be triumph for Mo
| hammedans and slave traders, which would be
fraught with momentous consequences. I'm
| welcome and burdensome as is the duty Of de-
| Tending it, the British Government will not
take the responsibility of ordering an evacua-
ton. Since this is so, why are not the Egyptian
| flags hauled down and the English colors sub
stituted for them? So long as it is held in
trust for Egypt with the Khedive's Empire in
the Soudan one of the glOries of the past
| Suakim cannot be anything but source OF
weakness, bloodshed and strife A proclama-
ton of permanent occupation as British sta
ton would materially change the aspect of
affairs.
As matter of morals it comes to this: Eng
land ought never to have got into Egypt and
the Soudan unless prepared to assume the bur-
| den of governing both countries. That is the
only way in which intervention in the affairs
of semi-civilized or wholly barbarous coun-
tries can be justified. Let the invading Power
accept full responsibility for ruling and civil
izing inferior races, or else stay out altogether
and allow them to govern themselves. The
Soudan since Tel Kebir has been constant
| scene Of misgOvernment, massacre and terror
| ism. British intervention has been blight and
curse from the sources of the Nile to Sualim
in the east and Assouan in the north. There
have been many victories like this of General
Grenfell's, but each and every one has been
barren of useful result. Responsibility has been
persistently evaded. Sualxim has been convert
ed into slaughter-house. Blood has been
poured like water on the plain, not to be
gathered up AGAIN. and never for any intelli-
gible purpose.