New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-21
ARABS ROUTED AT SUAKIM.
AN EARLY MORNING ATTACK BY THE
BRITISH.
THE BEsIEGERS RETREAT AFTER BRIEF
BATTLE LEAVING 400 DEAD BEHIND-DEs-
PERATE COURAGE OF THE DERvISHEs-
TIE BRITISH LOSS SLIGHT


BATTLE. LEAVING 400 DEAD BEHIND-DEs-
| PERATE COURAGE OF THE DERvIsHEs-
THE BRITISH LOSS SLIGHT.
| Suakim. Dec. 20.-Ihe combined force Of
British and Egyptians made attack early
this morning upon the rebel position. They
stormed the redoubts and trenches. and
after brilliant engagement, lasting half an
hour, drove the enemy into the bush. The British
lost four men killed and two wounded during
gallant cavalry charge. The Arab loss is stated
to be 400 Before dawn this morning the
British man-ofwar Starting and Egyptian
steamer moved mp 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 attack. the black brigade on the
right flank aid the cavalry and mounted infantry
covering. The Scottish Borderers the Welsh Reg-
ment and the Egyptian brigade occupied an en-
banllment between the forts the British in
| fantry being held in reserve. The forts shelled
the trenches, keeping up terrific fire. The
enemy held their ground with intense courage
until the black brigade charged the trenches
which fell after half an hours hard fighting The
rebels fought with fanatical bravery. Two of
the enemy's guns were captured The naval
brigade did splendid work. The Egyptian and
black regiments carried the trenches brilliantly,
losing two men killed and thirty wounded. The
two Egyptians.
| The Hussars followed the fleeing Arabs. They
chased the enemy to point within four miles of
Iiandoub. The Scottish Borderers meantime were
at work entrenching the rebel position. The
enemy retreated toward IIasheen and lamar
feature of the fighting was the determined
rush upon the trenches by the blacks and
Egyptians The dervishes fought with the ut
most stubborness, great many of them dying
in the trenches. The charge of the Hussars
particularly inspiring. When the dervsh cav
airy saw them coming they dismounted from
their horses and planted their spears in the
ground but these proved no obstruction to the
Hussars, who swept down upon the dervish
horsemen like avalanche, cut through their
ranks and left half Of them dead ON the ground.
The Hussars then reformed and charged the
remaining dervishes, who fled
The correspondent of /" The London Standard,
sent the following account OF the fight to his
paper: At 4 80 this morning the man-of-war
Racer opened tho battle by shellng the enemy's
trenches. The ships up-coast followed sult and
landed parties, who lighted fires and placed
dummies in position. This had the effect of de-
cciving the enemy coming from Handoub. The
whole force moved toward the cnemy's left flank
with naval detachment with machine guns and
cavalry and mounted infantry, scouting, and pro-
tecting the fanlls and rear. Two lines, com
prising tattaons in double companies rushed
toward the left corner of the enemy's trenches,
the British infantry and Egyptian reserve lining
the enbanlment between the water forts Gen
eral Grenfell and staff occupied position to
the left of the water forts From o'clock heavy
salvoes of guns and mortars from every fort
bore on the trenches"
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 Several cavalrymen returned with
broken sabres and in many instances their re-
vovers became clogged and were rendered use
less.
a large portion of the rebel force was not en-
gagged in to-days fighting, being absent camping
at Ilandoub and the wells beyond that place. 1t
IS believed the rebels will be reinforced and make
an attempt TO retal1e their lost position The
British force numbers 4, 600 men.
dpae t gn sent to SocT mes say
gnners were killed All tell the same story Of |
priyation and cruelty at the hands Of the Mahdi |
f hit but were forced to do so, or persuaded to |
fight by promises Of loot at Sualim and other |
rewards The trenches were bare. They found |
rifles and cartridges The prisoners know nothing |
Of the reported capture of Emn or of the fall OF |
the Equatorial Provinces. The natives assert that
IIandoub would fall at the first approach of our
troops. The Government ought not to lose this
chance. The task is easy one. as there is not |
the slightest sign of any gathering of the local
tribes"
The Emr of Trinldtat is prisoner He is
wounded.
London. Dec 2O.-An official dispatch from Cen
eral Grcnfell. dated Sual,m II :25 a. m saws:
" The enemys loss was 400. The Hussars are still
pursuing the Arabs The trenches are nearly filed
and two temporary redoub's are being built The
Joint forces entrenchcd. They will bivouac
on the field tonight the naval detachment with the
machine guns remaining in the trenches. ] have
sent the man-ofwar Startling and all available
steamers to anchor off Handoub in order to pre-
vent force from Handoub coming upon us. Dur
ing the action the dcrvishes so severely pun
shed that we expect to have quiet night