Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-21
lLL-TREATED BY THE MAHDI.
What Arab Prisoners Say-Prob able
Movement Against HandOub.

The nephew of Osman Diena and twelve
dervishes we're captured in the fight near Sua-
kim on Thursday morning. All of them were
wounded A London Times dispatch says the
prisoners say they believe that all tho mounted
gunners were killed. All tell the same story Of
privation and cruelty at the hands of the mahdi
and Osman Digna. None Of them wished to
fight but were forced to do so, or persuaded to
fight by promises of loot at Suakim and other
rewards. The trenches were bare. They
found no food, clothing, or money, but only
Snider rifles and cartridges. The prisoners
know nothing of the reported capture OF Emin
or Of the fall of the equatorial provinces. The
natives assert that Handoub would fall at the
first approach Of our troops. The government
ought not to lose this chance The task is an
easy one, as there is not the slightest sign of
any gathering Of the local tribes. The emir of
Trinkitat is prisoner. He is wounded.
Serious complaints are made concerning
the quality of the sabres and revolvers fur
nished to the troops. Several cavalrymen re-
turned with broken sabres, and in many in
stances their revolvers became clogged and
were rendered useless.
WHAT LED UP TO YESTERDAYS FIGHT.
Ever since the fall of Khartoum, in the early
part of 1886, Suakim has been harassed by the
forces Of the Mahdi, but it has always been oc-
cupied by the British in sufficient force to keep
the enemy at bay. During the campaign Of
1884 and 1886 it was the base of the British
operations under Valentine Baker and Gen.
Graham, the scene of the formers overwhelm-
ing defeat being a few miles to the south Of
the town. The present siege began in Septem-
Der last, when the so-called rebels began
throwing shells into the town from an in
trenched position within 800 yards. Reinforce
ments for the garrison were at once hurried
forward, and Gen. Grenfell hastened to the
spot, to assume the command in person. From
the sd Of September up to the time of the
sortie narrated in yesterdays dispatches. the
rebels continued to harass the British and
Egyptian garrison, especially at night. At
times the bOmbardment from the rebel in
trenchments has been very severe, but all their
the garrison. with the help of the British fleet
in the harbor.
The Arab force in the trenches around the
town are supposed to have numbered not more
than 1000, but many more have been lying in
the adjacent bush, within short distance Of
the earthworks, and there were / 500 reserves
stationed at the Handoub Wells. only miles
distant. Many of the besieging forces are
merely tribesmen and slaves, but there are said
to be nearly 200 dervishes and ex-Egyptian
soldiers among them. The Arabs are COM
manded by Osman NAB, who began the siege
against the advice of Osman Digna, the chief
lieutenant of the Mahdl in Eastern Soudan.
The force under Gen. Grenfell was at last ac-
gades of Egyptian and black troops, supported
by the second battalion of the Kings own Scot
fish borderers, a squadron of the twentieth
hussars, 800 men Of the Welsh infantry, one
company of mounted infantry, and small
force of Egyptian cavalry and artillery