Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-12-26
ROUTED BY RED COATS.
A Successful British Attack on the Be
sfegers at Suakim.

sfegers at Suakim.
LONDON, Dec. 20.-The British attack
upon Suakim was opened by Gen. Sir
Francis GTeenfell at $50 this morning.
1t was finished in half an hour, but was
a desperate and bloody contest. Gen.
Greenfell had 1900 men under his COM
mand
Before dawn the British man-o'- war
Startling and an Egyptian steamer
moved up the coast with orders to cover
the rebels at Handoub. At daybreak
the forts opened fire upon the rebel
trenches and the troops advanced to
the attack, the Black Brigade on the
right flank and the cavalry
and mounted infantry covering. The
Scottish borderers, the Welsh regiment
and the Egyptian brigade occupied an
embankment between the forts, the
British infantry being held in reserve.
The 1orts shelled the trenches, keeping
up a terrific fire.
The ships up coast followed suit and
landed parties, VINO lighted fires and
placed dummies in position. This had
the effect of deceiving the enc
whole force moved toward the
enemy's left flank, with
naval detachment with machine guns
and cavalry and mounted infantry
scouting and protecting the TANKS and
rear. Two lines, comprising battalions
IN double companies, rushed towards
the left corner OF the enemy's trenches,
the British infantry and Egyptian re-
serve lining the embankment between
the water forts. Gen. Grenfell and staff
occupied position to the left of the
water forts.
So complete were all the preparations
and SO admirably had the forces been
arranged for the attack that when the
spoDded with alaciity and moved for
ward upon the enemy's works with
shouts of exultation. Shoulder to,
shoulder they pressed on, unhinching-.
ly, till they reached the redoubts,
though exposed to raking fire which
left many gaps in their ranks.
The enemy was equally ready to re-
sist the onset of the British, and fought
like tigers to repel the invaders who
poured over the redoubts like an ire
sistible food. 1t WAS a brilliant con-
test on both sides and the spectacle was
an inspiring one throughout the brief
time it continued. At such close range
was the fighting that it was practically a
small arms
It was soon seen, however, that the
contest was not an equal one. Despite
their brave and steadiast resistance to
the first onset of the storming forces,
the Arabs began gradually to weaken
and fall back, and finally fed in con-
fusion. The cavalry pursued the enemy
towards Hasheen and the Tamor Bush.
Gen. Grenfell encamps tonight in the
trenches abandoned by the enemy.
The battle was Tel-el-Kebir over
again, although there was more resist
anee on the part Of the enemy The
superior armament, equipment and
discipline of the British troops told the
moment they came in contact with the
Arabs.
Tie British lost twelve killed and
wounded, and their Egyptian aux
iliaries forty, including two officers
wounded. The Arab loss is estimated
at 400 killed and wounded.
The Hussars who followed the fleeing
Arabs turned this afternoon. They
charged the enemy to a point within
fur miles of Handoup. The enemy
were still flying.
An official dispatch from Gen. Gren-
fell, dated Suakim Ii :25 A. NJ, says: 1.-THE.
enemy s loss was 400. The Hussars are
still pursuing the Arabs. The trenches
are nearly filled and two temporary re-
doubts. are being built. The joint
forces are entrenched. They will
bivouac in the field tonight,
the navel detachment with the
machine guns remaining In the trench
es. I have sent the man-of-war Startling
and all the available steamers to anchor
off Handoub in order to prevent force
from Handoub coming upon us. Dur
ing the action the Dervishes were so Sc
verely punished that we expect to have
quiet night"
The orders to send reinforcements of
troops to the Mediterranean have been
countermanded.