The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-09-24
HAS FALLEN.
RIVER FORCES OF THE ANGLO
EGYPTIAN ARMY HAVE
LANDED THERE.
A battle WAS FOUGHT At EL HAF|R
WHERE THE DERVISHES HAD
CONCENTRATED TO STAY
THE ENEMY.
lHt DtRVlSHtS EVACUATED DURING THE NIGHT.
The Fierce Fire of the British Artillery
Was Too Hot for Them-The Der
wish Commander Was Wounded.
The Natives Heartily Wei
coined the Invaders.
THE DERVISHtS EVACUATED DURING THE NIGHT.

Kcrma- on-theNile, Sept. 20-Copy-
righted, 1896, by the Associated Press. =
Dongola has fallen, and the nominal OBJ
jective point of the British Egyptian en-
petition has been reached. The river
forces of the British Egyptian expedition
pushing up the Nile from Ell Hair. land
ed force at Dongola and occupied that
place before the Dervish forces returning
from El Haiir reached that point. Don
COLA and El Hafir are both in the hands
Of the expedition, while the Dervish
forces are between. seeking refuge.
Yesterday Ito resume the narrative of
the expedition the long range firing con-
tinued between the Dcrvishes on the west
bank of the Nile and the expeditionary
force on this side. The Maxim guns
with their sweeping hail of fire, did great
harm, while the field and horse batteries
never allowed the enemy to do anything
with their batteries. Darkness put an
end to the artillery duel across the Nile
water and stiffness fell on both camps
The night was one of waiting, though
the silence of the desert was once
broken by discharge from the Maxim
guns on this side of the river
In the morning every one was up at
daybreak anxious to know what change
in the situation had developed during the
night and what would be the next move
and eagerly scanned the enemys camp
across the river. There was no sign of
life i'll the Dervish works, but soon Il
commotiOn was perceived among the
boats along the bank and native in one
of them was discerned in the act of way
ing something as though for signal for
some one this side. The steamer Dial,
of the eXpeditionary force, thereupon pro-
ceedcd to the west bank OF the river,
where it was found Ell Hair had been
evacuated by the enemy under cover of
night and that not Dervish fighting
man was left in sight. Twenty-seven
boats were sent back by the Dial, which
had been manned by the residents Of FL
Hafir, and loaded with great quantity
of grain. The natives announced that
the enemy had departed. Wad Bishera,
the young emir of Dongola, commanded
the Dervishes, and was wounded in yes
terday's fight. \ shell from an Egyptian
battery burst in his tent. intlicting
wounds in his breast and head, the
former being serious.
After the gunboats had forced their
way through past the forts at Eel Hafr
yesterday and had proceeded southwark
toward Dongola, the Dervishes apparent
ly perceived that Ell Hafr was no longer
hn fln an For h,,, a.
depart They buried as many of their
dead as they had time for In the after
noon news arrived here that the steamers
and gunboats of the expedition had
reached Dongola and had landed force,
which Immediately occupied the treasury
and grain store, the principal stronghold
of the town. This news was received
here with delight.
Yesterdays engagement at El Hafir
seems to have altogether dismayed the
Dervishes, who placed great reliance upon
the fort at that place. They believed
that the fort would be able to prevent
the passage of any of the steamers of
the expedition up the Nile. The artillery
fire from this side of the river seems to
have entirely disconnected them, their
batteries being deserted as soon as the
smoke from them indicated target for
the British gunners.
As soon as the news of the evacuation
of Ell Hafir was received the correspond
ent Of the Associated Press proceeded to
cross the river and make a survey of the
enemy's late position. 1t was found that
their mud defenses had been built with
great care, but the rifle trenches only
permitted the men very short and
straight front for protection. Mats were
still strewn along and within the trenches
and i'll the straw shelters were the re-
mains of the carcasses of sheep, which
had been killed to supply food to the de-
tenders. The dead had been buried or
thrown into the river.
Further south on the river bank was
found their biggest battery. This work
contained five embrasures for guns, three
in front and two at the side. This bat
the artillery fire from the east bank and
from the steamers.
Still further south was big entrench-
ment facing towards the north and on to
the Nile. There was noticed the same
system Of piercing the wall in such a
way as to allow firing only in one direc-
ton. In this entertainment it was APP
parent that the riflemen had made a
plucky resistance. staying in the
trenches all day and eating where they
lay, as was evidenced by the quantity
u uutNS anu Wuttl SOhiuo iyi"5 "c'"',
left in the retreat.
The native residents of Ell Hair
have welcomed the appearance of the
British and Egyptian expedition and
seem to regard their advance as assur--
lnce of deliverance from the rule of
The khalifa and the Baggaras, the
<halifa's native tribe, who have exer-
Used a cruel dominion over the Nile
RIDES. From a description of yester-
lays fight, furnished by the natives, it
appears that the Dervish cavalry kept
,ut in the desert, watching the fight and
waiting for landing of opposing forces
o take part.
Wad Bisheria, the Dervish COM
nander. was wounded at noon and was
carried out of range of the
ire, repeatedly exclaiming to those who
surrounded him: "Allah is against me"
Wad Bisheria decided to eyacuate his
position during the night He was able
o withdraw his guns, but was forced
o leave behind a great quantity of am
d. ..xI - Lon