The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-06-08
BRITISH MAKE A VIGOROUS BE-
GINNING IN THE NILE CAM
PAIGN.
THE NATIVES ARE: SURPRISED,
WHITES AND THEIR ALLIES NEAR
LY SURROUNDING THEM BY A
NIGHT MARCH.
OVER 1000 ARE SLAUGHTERED
Attacking Force Loses but Twenty
The Battle Was Long and
Fierce.

FIRKET, Egypt, June 6.-This point was
taken by Egyptian troops at an early hour
this morning, and their manner of acquitting
themselves in this, the first engagement Of
the Nile campaign, has given great satisfac-
ton to the British officers in command Of
them. The Egyptian forces left Akasheh, the
Egyptian outpost last evening, june 8. The
movement was a surprise, as 1t seemed to
have been determined to hold Akasheh as an
outpost until the season was passed and the
period arrived for the advance upon Dongola
in the latter part of August or in September.
The force responded promptly to orders, how
ever, and was soon under way for this point.
The distance is twenty miles, and 1t took the
whole night to accomplish the march. The
greatest secrecy had been maintained as to
alarms, and precaution was taken to prevent
news Of the advance from leaking out The
night march was pursued In absolute silence.
In consequence, the arrival Of the Egyptians
at the deryishers' camp took the enemy COM
pletely by surprise. They quickly rallied,
however, and rushed to their arms Far from
being routed in the first skirmish of the at
tack, they stood to their positions and made
stubborn defense of the camp for an hour
and half, during which there was hard fight
ing. The dervishers were finally put to route
by flank movement executed by the cavalry.
Seeing themselves In danger of being sur
rounded the forces Of the khalifa took fight
to the southwark, toward Suarda pursued by
the cavalry. Suarda is nearly hundred miles
south Of here, but it is strongly held by
force of several thousand dervishes. Reports
received indicate that the loss to the dervishes
will amount to thousand men. Among those
killed is the Emir Hammuda who was their
commander, besides many important chiefs.
Hammuda was in command of the larger force
at Suarda. He was Of the tribe of Habbania,
and was well known to Slatin Pasha while the
latter was captive Of the khalfa in the
Soudan. Slatin has described him as a great
favorite with the khalifa, who promoted him
to the rank Of emir because he left his own
tribe when the insurrection first broke out to
serve the khalifa personally.
It Is probable that the taking of Firket was
decided upon owing to the doubtful strength
OF Akasheh as an outpost, surrounded, as it
Is, by low hills, the taking of which would
make Akasheh's death trap. The finishing of
the railroad line from Sarras has been readily
pushed since the expedition was determined
upon. By extending 1t to Firket, the worst
cataract will be turned and early advantage
can thus be taken Of the rise in the Nile at the
end Of July for water transportation to DON
gola.
The officers in command of the Egyptian
force express great qualification at the con-
duct in this mornings fight of the Egyptians,
about whom some doubts have been felt and
the Soudanese, who have been looked to with
confidence for good fighting. Both the Egypt
ians and Soudanese displayed great steadness
and dash. The Egyptian loss in the fight was
twenty killed and eighty wounded. Hundreds
of dervishes were taken prisoners.