The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-20
FIRST STRONGHOLD OF THE DER
WISHES OCCUPIED BY THE
EXPEDITION.
DoNGoLA NOW IN SIGHT.
ANGLO-EGYPTIAN ARMY WITHIN
THIRTY MILES OF THE Oh
JECTIVE POINT.
SHARP FIGHTING BETWEEN THEM
Loss of the Dervishes Believed to
Have Been Heavy-Maxims Used
With Effect.

CAIRO, Egypt Sept. 19-Adyices
| just received from Kerrna are to the
| effect that Ell Hafir has been captured
| by the Anglo-Egyptian forces.
| KERMA-ON-THE-N Sept. a.
] The Anglo-Egyptian expedition occu-
| pied Kerma this morning. and is now
| only thirty miles from DongoIa. At
| about Z o'clock this morning the news
| reached the expedition that the der
!. wishes, alarmed at the size of the COLI
umn, had deserted the position in front
Of the Anglo-Egyptian army A party
OF seven dervishes crossed the river at
1880 a. M, and the artillery commanded
by Young opened fire against the west
bank, where the dervishes were in
force with camel, foot cavalry, armed
sailing boats and one armed steamer
The fire was excellently aimed and
compelled them to leave their positions
and boats asar
In the meantime three Of the Anglo
Egyptian boats hove in sight, steam-
ing slowly toward the dervish camp
and firing rockets, nine-pounders and
Maxims. The .derYishes replied with
the IRE of two seven-pounders, one of
which was quickly silenced by the
Anglo-Egyptian horse batteries. Com
mander Colville, of the British navy.
on the river gunboat Tamai, pressed
forward and was suddenly subjected
TO very hot fire from dervish rife
men hidden In pits. Commander Col
vile received a slight wound in his
right wrist and retired slowly out of
the enemy's range in order to use his
Maxim guns with more effect, which
a o7YH
Egyptian side of the river was then
engaged, few companies opening fire,
and, as they did so. a field battery Of
the British artillery. which had taken
up a suitable position further north
followed
Both of the Anglo Egyptian batteries
directed their fire on the enemy's fort
where second of their seven FOUNDERS
mad been placed. Three successivs
shells from Young's battery fell right
inside OF the fort. All the while the
gunboats kept up a fierce firing. AT
one time they advanced nasf tho
enemy's entrenched rife position. re-.
plying to the dervish fire with heayv
Naxlm discharges. The Sirdar SIR
william Kitchener and staff. who were
watching the proceedings from the
east pank, saw three gunboats force the
way past the dervtsh fort. Before fin
ONAA1So ItiC PcSSd5G, the cavalry.
INFANTRY and the Maxim batteries took
up new positions, only 1,20O yards aWav
from the dervishes and poured g. heavv
nre into the boats Of the enemy. These
boats the dervishes attempted to take
with them in their retreat. While COW
ered by an attack ON the deryish fortf-
ncadons the Anglo Egyptian gunboats
ana steamers moved steadily mast.
Ihese boats are now steaming as fast
as possible in the direction Of DoneoIa'
During the fire upon the der-vish boats.
the Anglo Egyptian field battery sue
oeeded In sinking the dervish steamer.
when the shot struck the steamboat az
the enemy, the boat overturned.
The dervishes retreated In q north
easteriy direction. Nothing is known
or their movement. All the future
movements of the Anglo Egyptian
forces depend on them. If the deryishea
evacuate El-Haf1r, the Anglo-Egvptiar
rorces will probably cross the river ana
Will doubtless make q forward move.
ment. The steamers as well as tha
cavalry will be sent after them. It
now seems as though the whole force
had occupied El-Hafir, leaving thS
women and children at DongoIa7 Ths
loss OF the Anglo Egyptian forces wa
comparatively trifling, only Comrnan.
DER Colville and one Interpreter heS1,o,
slightly wounded.