The record-union., 1896-09-21
Maxim Guns and Artillery Too Much
for Them.
They Were Outwitted and Their
Leader Wounded, and Are Now
Between Two FireS-Spaniards
Take Out Rebel Prisoners at
Manila and Shoot Them i'm Squads,
But They Are Gaining Headway i'm
the Interior.

CAIRO, Sept. 20.-A dispatch from
the Anglo Egyptian expedition states
that Dongola, the objective point of the
expedition, has been taken without
meeting with any resistance from the
Dervishes, the place being unoccupied.
The dispatch adds that the town of
Ell Hafir, north of Dongola, to which
place the Dervishes retreated yester-
day, was captured after a hot engage
ment. After the place had fallen into
the hands Of the expedition the Egyp-
tians captured twenty-seven grain
laden boats, the loss Of which will prove
a severe blow to the Dervishes. The
latter made desperate attempts to re-
capture the boats, but a heavy fire was
poured into them by the troops and the
gunboats, and they We're finally COM
PEELED to abandon their attempts to re-
gain possession of the boats and their
cargOeS.
After their defeat the entire Dervish
force retreated southwark upon Dom
COLA. AT the same time the expedi-
tons steamers started for the same
place, and being the quicker reached
there before the Dervishes. The city
was found to be deserted by warriors,
and the steamers at once landed a force
Of infantry to hold it until the arrival
Of the main body Of the expedition.
At the time the dispatch was sent the
Dervishes We're approaching Dongola
overland and scouts reported that they
were carrying many Of their wounded
with them. excluded among the wound
ed are some of the most noted chiefs
1t is expected that as the Dervishes
are without food or other stores
they will make a most desperate at
tempt to again get possession of Dom
COLA.
El Hafir was not taken by the troops
until after most stubborn resistance
on the part Of the Dervishes had been
overcome. The riflemen of the latter
fought behind well-made mud forts and
in trenches that were strewn with mats.
These defenses, however, were soon
wrecked by the heavy fire of the Egyp-
tian artillery and the Maxim battery
that was manned by the Connaught
Rangers. The Dervishes stood the fire
bravely, but We're finally compelled to
Withdraw from the place. Their cav
airy took no part in the engagement.
remaining some distance off in the
desert, watching the result of the bat
tie. When the British and Egyptians
landed the entire force retreated south
ward. The capture of the place was
hailed with delight by the natives. who
have long been harried by the Dervish-
es. They shouted danced and sang in
frenzied maner and hailed the expedi-
ton as their deliverers
DERVISHES OUTWITTED.
LONDON, Sept. 20.-The correspond
ent of the Daily News who is with
the Soudan expedition telegraphs that
in the attack at Ell Hafir the Dervishes
were outwitted. They all advanced on
land to meet the troops thus permit
ting the gunboats to slip past the town.
sink one of the steamers and hurry on
to Dongola- When the Dervishes saw
this move they turned and tried to
overtake the gunboats and save Dom
COLA, but the land forces of the expedi-
ton headed them off
The Staffordshire Regiment will fol-
low the gunboats to Dongola and thus
the Dervishes will be placed between
two fires.
Wad Bishara, the leader of the Der
wishes, was wounded at Ell Hafir. He
was carried outside the range of the
guns. A prisoner states that when he
saw that he was defeated he exclaimed,
Allah Is against me-"
LONDON, Sept .-Notwithstand-
ing the observation Of the Government
that Dongola was the objective point
of the Anglo Egyptian expedition, the
London newspapers concur in the opin-
ion that now Dongola has been taken
the expedition will proceed to the re-
conquest of the entire Soudan