The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-08
A MARCH BY NIGHT
Ended With Successful Attack on
Camp of Dervishes.
Lost a Thousand Men-Great Prowess
shown by Egyptian soldiers.

rerIxet, Egypt. June 8. = This point
was taken By Egyptian troops at an
early hour yesterday morning. and their
manner of acquitting themselves in this,
the first engagement of the Nile cam
paign, has given great satisfaction to
The British officers In command Of them.
The Egyptian forces left Akasheh, the
Egyptian outpost. Saturday evening.
The movement was surprise. as II
seemed 10 have been determined 10 hold
Akasheh as an outpost until the hottest
season is 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.
however. and was soon under way for
this point. The distance is 20 miles, and II
took the whole night TO accomplish the
march.
The greatest secrecy had been main
tanned as 10 all the Arrangements. and
every precaution was made 10 make the
arrival here a complete surprise. The
long night march was pushed In abso-
lutte silence. In consequence, the ar
rival of the Egyptians at the dervish
camp took the enemy completely by
surprise. They quickly rallied, how
ever. and, rushed to their arms. var
from being routed in the first surprise
OF the attack, they stood TO their post
Ions and made a stubborn defense OF
the camp for 1ts houY. during which
there was hard fighting.
The dervishes were finally put 10 rout
by "a flank movement, executed by the
cavalry. Seeing themselves in danger
of being surrounded, the force or TIE
Khalifa took flight TO the southward,
toward Suarda, pursued by the cavalry.
Suarda Is nearly 100 miles south OF here,
but II is strongly held by force or sew
eral thousand dervishes. Reports SO
far received indicate that the loss 10 the
deryishcs will amount to 1000 men,
Among those killed is Emir Hammuda,
who WAS their commander, besides
many important chiefs. Hammuda was
in command OF the larger force at Suara
He was of the tribe OF Habbana, and was
well-known to Slatin Pasha, while the
latter was q captive of the khaiifa In
the Soudan. Slatin has described him as
a great favorite with the khalifa, who
promoted him to the rank OF emir be-
cause he left his own tribe when the IN
surrection first broke out, to serve the
khalifa personally.
1t is probable that the taking OF Ferket
was decided upon, owing TO the doubt
full strength of Akasheh as an outpost,
surrounded as Ii is by low hills. the TAX
ing of which would make Akasheh q
death trap. The finishing of the rail-
road iife- -fFem SaFFas- to -Akasheh has
been rapidly pushed since the expedi-
ton was determined on. BY extending
IL to Ferket the worst cataract will I've
turned, and early advantage can thus be
taken of the rise in the Nile at the end
OF July, for water transportation to
Dongola.
The officers ip command of the Egyp-
tian. force express great qualification at
the conduct OF the Egyptians, about
whom some doubts have been felt. and
the Soudanese. who have been looked
10 with confidence for good fighting.
Both the Egyptians and Soudanese dis
played great steadiness and dash. The
Egyptian loss In the fight was 20 killed
and so wounded Hundreds OF dervishes
were taken prisoners.