The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-09-20
The British Forces Are APP
preaching Dongola
DERvISHES PROVE TIMlD
Their Position Abandoned as the Enemy
Approaches
Their Whereabouts Unknown, But When
They Are Discovered the Anglo
Egyptian orces Will Follow.
Associated Press Special Wire

KERMA- ON THE-NILE, Sept. 49,
The Anglo Egyptian expedition occu-
pied Kerma this morning and isl now
only thirty miles from Dongola. AT
about o'clock this morning the news
reached the expedidtion that the Der
wishes, alarmed at the size of the col
umn, had deserted the position in front
of the Anglo Egyptian army.
A party of seven Dervishes crossed the
river at 7:4O a. m. and the artillery COM
manded by Young opened fire against
the west bank, where the Dervis1 es
were in force, with camel, foot, cavalry,
armed sailing boats and one armed
steamer. The fire was excellently aim
ed and it compelled them to leave their
positions and their boats. In the mean
time three of the Anglo Egyptian gun
boats hove in sight, steaming slowly
toward the Dervish camp and firing
rockets, nine Founders and MaxiL%y.
The Dervishes replied with the fire of
two seven Founders, one Of which was
quickly silenced by the Anglo Egyptian
batteries. Commander Colville of the
British navy, on the river gunboat Ia
Mai, pressed forward and was suddenly
subjected to very hot fire from Der
wish reflemen hidden in pits. Colville re-
ceived slight wound in his wrist and
retired slowly out of the enemys range
in order to usqe his Maxim guns with
more effect which he subsequently did
The Anglo-E Egyptian side of the river
was then engaged, a few companies
opening fire and as they did so. field
battery of the British artillery, which
had taken up suitable position further
north followed. Both of the Anglo
Egyptian batteries directed their fire
on the enemy's fort, where a second of
their .seven-pounders had been placed.
Three successive shells from Young's
battery fell right inside of the fort. The
Dervish loss must have been consider
able. The gunboats kept firing all the
while. AT one time they advanced,
replying to the Dervish fire with heavy
Maxim discharges. Before finally
forcing the passage, the cavalry, in
fantry and the Maxim batteries took up
new positions only 1900 yards away from
the Dervishes and poured a heavy fire
into the boats of the enemy. These
boats the Dervishes attempted to take
with them in their retreat. While COW
cred by an attack on the Dervish fortifi-
cations, the Anglo-Egyptian gunboats
and steamers nEved steadily past.
These boats are now steaming as fast
as possible in the direction of Dongola.
During the fire upon the dervish boats
the Anglo Egyptian field battery sue
ceeded in sinking the dervish steamer.
The dervishes retreated in a northeast
erly direction. Nothing is known of
their movements. All the future move
ments of the Anglo Egyptian forces de-
pend upon them. If the dervishes evac-
uate Ell Hafir, the AngloEgyptian forces
will probably cross the river and will
doubtless make a forward movement.
The loss of the Anglo Egyptian forces
will be comparatively trifling only Com
mander Colville and one other soldier
being slightly wounded.