Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-01-04

Arabs Utterly Routed by the
AngIO-Egyptian Forces.
The Insurgent DerVishes Retreat
Leaving Over 400 Dead.

A dispatch from Suakin, Egypt. says:
The combined forces of British and Egyptians
have made an attack upon the rebel posi-
ton. They storrned the redoubts and
trenches, and after brilliant engagement,
lasting half an hour, drove the enemy into
the bush. The British loss was slight. The
British are encamped in the rebels position.
The victory was complete.
Before dawn this morning the British
man-ofwar Startling and an Egyptian
steamer moved up the coast with orders TO
cover the rebels at Handoub. At 4:30 A. N.
the man-of war Racer opened the battle by
Smelling the enemy's trenches The ships
up the coast followed suit and landed
parties. who lighted fires and placed
dummies in position. This had the effect Of
deceiving the enemy coming from Handoub.
General Sir Francis Grenfell and his staff
during the battle occupied position to the
left of the water forts
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 en-
bankment between tho forts, the remaining
British infantry being held in reserve. The
forts shelled the trenches, keeping up a
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 until finally
routed. Two of the enemy's guns were cap
tured. The naval brigade did splendid work.
The Scottish Rorderers at once set to work in
trenching the rebel position. The enemy re-
treated towards Hasheen and lamar.
The force under the command of General
Sir Francis Grenfell numbered 1000 men.
The Hussars, who pursued the fleeing
Arabs, chased the enemy to a point within
four miles of HARBOUR, and then returned,
leaving the enemy still in full flight
feature of the fighting was the de-
termined rush upon the trenches by the
blacks and Egyptians. The dervishes fought
with the utmost bravery, a great many
of them dying in the trenches. The
charge of the Hussars also deserves
special mention. When the dervish 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 an 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. A large
portion of the rebel force was not engaged
in to-day's fighting being absent in camp at
Handoub and at the wells beyond that place.
1t is believed that the rebels will be rein.
forced and make an attempt soon to retaka
their lost position.
: The following casualties are reported: The
British lost four men killed and two wounded
and black regiments, in charging and carry
ing the trenches lost two men killed and
thirty wounded. The only officers wounded
in the attacking force were two Egyptians
The rebel loss is stated to have been 400
killed. a
Osman Digna's nephew and twelve der
wishes have been captured. All are wounded.
Serious complaints are made concerning
the quality of the SabreS and revOlverS fur
nished to the troops. Several cavalrymen
returned with broken sabres and in many
instances their revolvers became clogged and
were rendered useless.
The Emir Of Trinkitat is prisoner. He is
wounded.
An official dispatch from General Grenfell,
dated Suakin, II 25 A. NJ. says: The enemy S
loss was 400. The Hussars are still pursuing
the Arabs. The trenches are nearly filled
and two temporary redoubts are being built.
The joint forces are entrenched. They will
bivouac on the field tonight, the naval de-
tachment with the machine guns re-
manning in the trenches. have sent the
man-of-war Startling and all available
prevent force from Handoub coming upon
us. During the action the dervishes were SO
severely punished that we expect to have
quiet night"
sent the following account of the fight to his
paper: ''At 43O this morning the man-of-
war Racer opened the battle by Smelling the
enemy's trenches. The ships up
ties, who lighted fires and placed
dummies in position. This had the effect of
deceiving the enemy coming from Handoub
The whole force moved toward the enemy's
left flank, with a naval detachment
with machine guns and cavalry and
mounted infantry, scouting, and pro-
tecting the TANKS and rear. Two lines, COM
prising battahons in double companies,
rushed toward the left corner Of the enc
my's trenches, the British infantry and
Egyptian reserve lining the embank-
ment between the water forts Cen
eral Grenfell and staff occupied a position
to the left of the water forts. From 5
o'clock heavy salvoes of guns and mortars
from every fort bore en- the trenches"