The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-05
rHn p14rIr or HAr1h.
A iFr~ht OF ArtiieVy aad ounbcnts Wtth
the Uervishes.

n iFn~ht OF Artiiievy and Qunbones WIFE
the Wervishess
A detailed account is given IN the London
Tunes Of the combat in Egypt which preceded
the occupation of Dongola. II was an easy az
fair for the Anglo Egyptian troops. presume
ably net disclosing the full strength OF the
Mahdi's forces. yot 1t has an interest In several
respects.
HAIR is on the left bank OF the Nile. thirty
miles below Dongola. The AnRlo-ERyptian
forces moved forward with tho cavalry and
horse artillery, covering the front and the
camel corps on the left flank. The four bril-
gades were very mobile, heavy baggage having
been left behind and only hospital tents car
ried. The march was In as extended q forma-
tior as the ground allowed. The column ira
versed o land Of palms and bush and lush
pasture. with fields OF cotton. beans, and RI
pening maize around each village. The rag
ged inhabitants greeted the troops with ahrAl
cries of delight.
Reaching Bargi, the troops marched across
the desert for ten miles, avoiding n deep bend III
the Nile, and on approaching the river again
found the steamers awaiting them. Anoth-
err hot march followed, mostly through soft
sand, and when Hafir was reached q unique
engagement resulted. The Nile is tnere from
5000 to 1000 yards wide. and the Egyptian
orco Of $4,000 men sat In tho sands under the
sun, their artillery alone In action, while the
gunboats also fred ut the foe.
wad ell Bishara, tho Dervish commander,
had fortified Hafr very we'll with q low line of
shelter trenches along the river bank, having
q morass ut each end. But he had for artillery
only Ave small brass pieces. captured at Khar-
tum. and two Nordonfeldt guns, and the lat
ter were in action only = short time. perhaps
being disabled in some way. The Ave cannon
could not reach the British troops. while the
riiemen IN the trenches With their Re ming.
With the gunboats. however, the Dervish
gasement. The Va mai, the Abu Kien, and the
Metemmeh each steamed up sucSessively
a apee al a d distance Sas Of about 400 yards from her
Krupps, Nordenfeldts. and Maxtms, then
dropping down stream tll practically out Of
FAYE the vessels from being sunk. as they prob
ably would have been had they remained CON
| stantly under the enemy's fire.. The bullets
and one shell, which struck the Abu Klea be-
SbHtIhn happily Pill was faulty and aid not burst. Tn;
Metemmeh received one shell through her
t tSede ssro1ss sp sSa su 1h sS E AZ MI her SHSS BOW. a ssiIi
only one man was killed, and Commander Col
VIE TSr aaa hours s%elye Of P' this sort %st' OF TV work with the
gunboats having failed to silence the enemy,
f GHrt rH sids Of r the G river With n s% Srof ael trS Sast ane
supported BY 40 COMPANIES Of the Tenth Sou
4 uAuCo ~ N"O oAaAAo va
ferred. as the subsistence of the Nile had left
q narrow bar, OF isthmps between the bank
and the island. These batteries, being much
nearer than the others. were more effective
against the Dervlah forts. but the rifemen still
stuck to their trenches. They did little dam
age, however, for the reason, as is said, that
they had shorter ed their rifles to diminish
the weight. and had put no forward sights on
| them. so that they constantly fred too high. On
the other hand. the single snail gunboat which
the Dervishes had was struck by q smell below
the watarline, and sank In the stream.
10 Emboldened by the aid of the batteries on
the island and ny the silencinR Of the enemy's
redoubts. perhaps because of the dismounting
of the guns, the three Runboats steamed in
line past the enemy's works. delivering a ilnal
fire against them. which was answered by
musketry. and proceeded up the river toward
Dongola. 1t was then evident that Bishara
would have to Look ont for the safety of the
latter place. He first tried, however. but un-
successfully. to save about two dozen sailing
vessels. laden with the grain which he had
brought down for his troops. When this could
not be accomplished. he crossed the river be-
fore the following morning. being under the
impression. 1t Is said. that the British would
continue their march to Dongola on their side
Of the stream. But when the English COM
mander learned that this had been done he
crossed in turn to HAIR. and marched up on
that side, and befor, long Dongola was in his
| hands