New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-21
DONGOLA IS TAKEN.
ANGLO-EGYPTIAN EXPEDITION FINDS
AN UNOCCUPIED CITY.
HOT FIGHTING IN CAPTURING Ell HAFIR-THE
DERvIsHEs LOSE TWENTY SEVEN GRAIN
LADEN BOATs-THE RACE Up
THE RIVER.

THE RIVER
Cairo. Sept 2O-A dispatch from the Anglo
Egyptian expedition says 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 FL Hafr,
north of Dongola to which place the Dervishes
retreated yesterday captured after hot
engagement. After the place had fallen INTO
the hands of the expedition the Egyptians capt
ured twenty y-seven grain-laden boats, the loss
of which will prove a severe blow to the Der
wishes The latter made desperate attempts to
recapture the boats. but heavy hre was
poured into them by the troops and the gun
boats and they were finally compelled to aban-
don their attempts to regain possession Of the
boats and their cargoes.
After their defeat the entire Dervish force
retreated southwark upon Dongola. At the
same time the expeditions steamers started for
that place. and being the quicker reached there
before the Dervishes The city was found to
he 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 sent the Der
wishes were approaching Dongola overland, and
scouts reported that they carrying many Of
wounded are some Of the most noted chiefs.
1t is expected that as the Dervshes with
out food or other stores they will make most
desperate attempt to get possession on Dongola
FL Hafr was not taken by the troops until
after a most stubborn resistance on the part OF
the Dervlshes had been overcome The riilemen
Of the latter fought behind well-made mud forts
and In trenches that were strewn with mats
These defences. however were soon wreckeu py
the heavy fire of the Egyptian artillery and the
Maxim battery that was manned by the Con-
naught Rangers. The Dervishes stood the nre
bravely but were finally compelled to withdraw
from the place. Their cavalry took no part Ill
the engagement remaining some distance OF III
the desert watching the result OF the patt'e'
When the British and Egyptians landed the en-
tire force retreated southwark.
The capture Of the place was hailed with de-
light by the natives, who have long been harried
bv the Dervshes They shouted danced ana
sang in a frenzed manner, ana haieu 'he So'
diers as their deliverers.
The country round FL Hahr is fertile, and
there IS plenty OF green fodder for the cames
and other animals Of the expedition
London Sept. 20.-The correspondent or Ihe
Daily News" who is with the Soudan expeul-
ton. telegraphs that in the attack on FL Hanr
the Dervishes were outwitted Ihey all au-
vanced on land to meet the troops. thus per-
mitting the gunboats to slip past the Town.
sink one of their steamers and hurry on 10
Dongola When the Dervshes saw the move
thev turned and tried to overtake the gun
boats and save Dongola. but the land forces OF
the expedition headed them OIL
The Staffordshre Regiment Will follow the
gunboats to Dongoa. and thus the Dervishes
will be placed between two fires.
Wad Bishara, the leader OF the DerVisnes'
u.as wounded nj Ell Hahr. He was carried out
side the range Of the guns. prisoner says
that when he saw that he was defeated he ex-
claimed: Allah is against me.
Notwithstanding the asseveration of the Gov
ernuent that Dongola the objective point
Of the Anglo Egyptian expedition, the London
neuspapers concur in the opinion that, now
Dongola has been taken, the expedition VIII
nrcceed TO the re-conquest of the entire Soudan