The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-20
Dervishes Routed by the Invaders
and Their Armed Steamboat
Sunk in the Nile.
WILD RUMOR FROM TURKEY
ABDUL HAND REPORTED TO HAVE
BEEN ASSASSINATED.
No Confirmation of the Story-Seven
Persons Killed in an Attempt to
Reach the Sultan.

Copyright 1896, by the Associated Press)
KERMA On the Nile, Sept. 19.-The
Anglo Egyptian expedition occupied Kerma
this morning and is now only thirty miles
from Dongola. AT about O'Clock TINS
morning the news reached the expedition
that the Dervishes, alarmed at the size Of
the column, had deserted the position in
front of the Anglo Egyptian army party
of seven Dervishes crossed the river at 7:3o
a. m. and the artillery, commanded by
Young opened fire against the west bank,
where the Dervishes were in force, with
camels foot soldiers and cavalry, armed
sailing boats and one armed steamer. The
fire was excellently aimed and compelled
them to leave their positions and boats.
In the meantime three of the Anglo
Egyptian gunbcats hove in sight, steaming
slowly towards the Dervish camp and fir
ing rockets, nine Founders and Maxims.
The Dervishes replied with the fire of two
seven-pounders, one of which was quickly
silenced by the Anglo Egyptian horse bat
teries Commander Colville, of the British
navy, on the river gunboat Tamai pressed
forward and was suddenly subjected to a
very hot fire from Dervish ridemen hidden
in pits. Commander Colville received
slight wound in his right wrist and retired
slowly out Of the range in order to his
Maxim guns with more effect which he
-
subsequently did
The Anglo-Egyptian side of the river was
then engaged, contemporaries opening fire.
and as they did sofa field battery of the
British artillery, which had taken up a
suitable position further north, followed
Both of the Anglo Egyptian batteries di-
rected their fire on the enemys 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 Dervsh loss must have been consid-
cradle
All the while the gunboats kept up a
fierce firing. AT one time they advanced
past the enemy's intrencEed rifle position,
replying to the Dervish fire with heavy
Maxim discharges. The Sirdar, Sir William
Kitchener and staff, who were watching
the proceedings from the east bank, saw
three gunboats force the way past the
Dervish fort. Before finally forcing the
passage the cavalry, infantry and the Max
i'm batteries took up a new position only
1,200 yards away from the Dervishes and
poured heavy fire into the boats of the
enemy. These boats the Dervishes at
tempted to take with them in their retreat
While covered by 7ah attack on the Der
wish Notifications, the Anglo Egyptian gun
boats and steamers moved steadily past.
These boats now steaming as fast as
possible in the direction of Dongoia.
During the fire upon the Dervish boats
the Anglo-Egyptian field battery succeed
ed in sinking the Dervish steamer. When
the shot struck the steamboat it over
turned. The Dervishes reiterated in a north
easterly direction. Nothing is known OF
their movements. All the future move
ments of the Anglo-Egyptian forces de-
pend on them. If the Dervishes evacuate
Ell Hafir the Anglo Egyptian forces will
probably cross the river and will doubt
less make forward movement. The
steamers, well as the cavalry, will be
sent after them. 1t now seems though
the whole Dervish force had occupied Ell
Hafir leaving the women and children at
Dongola The loss of the Anglo-Egyptian
forces was comparatively trifiing. only
Commander Colville and one interpreter
being slightly wounded