The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-09-12
MARCHING ON DONCOLA.
The Dervishes Are Gathering in
Force to Meet the Troops,
RAPID ADVANCE UP TIE NILE,

After Months of Struggling with Terrific
Heat the Expedition Is Now in FUN
swing-The Troops Full of Enthusiasm.
Gunboats to Take Part.
CAIRO, Egypt, Sept 12-The reports re-
ceived from Kosheh yesterday chronicle
the arrival there by train of the remainder
of the Statfordshire regiment the first de-
tachment of which arrived Thursday.
The srdar Sir Herbert Kitchener and
his staff will start from Kosheh today, q
portion of the Staffordshire regiment ac-
companying him.
The news received at Kosheh from the
front is that the dervish outpost at Kerm-
ma, just above the third cataract of the
Nile, is being reinforced by their mounted
troops, while the region being the Egyp
tian and dervish outposts is fast becom-
ing deserted. 1t is expected that the der
wishes will attempt to make a stand at
Kermma, and the first fighting of the adj
vance to Dongola is looked for at that
point, A rapid advance to Dongola is now
believed to be in order with a view to
striking IA prompt and effective blow to
the power of the khalifa.
The Third brigade has reached Absarrat
safely, and the main body of cavalry is ar
riving there, The cavalry and scouts re-
port the dervishes still in view south of
Duglo but the enemy retreats at the
slightest Sign of forward movement
| The Anglo-Egyptian scouts, feeling the
way for the advance guard, are steadily
pushing on TO Kasbar, fourteen miles
further south, which will be the next place
occupied The troops black and white,
| are full of enthusiasm and anxious for
| brush with the enemy. The weather is
| hot in the extreme but the soldiers are
benefting from being on the move. All
| the troops taking part in the expedition
are now on the march towards Dongola.
The Intelligence department. reports the
dervishes gathering in force north Of Don
COLA. Clashes between the dervishes and
the Anglo-Egyptian scouts are expected
at any moment Thus the advance of
the British-Egyptian expedition up the
| River Nile, with Dongola, ifnot Khartoum,
as its objective point is now in full swing,
after months of struggling with terrific
heat and cholera.
The operations began in March last,
when troops were hurried up the Nile to
| Wady- Halfa, the southernmost post, al
though the railroad ran to Sarras, about
forty miles south of Wady-Halfa. Since
that time the railroad desert campaign
line, has been extended to Akasheh, fifty
miles, from the latter place to Koskeh,
and thence to Absarrat, about seventy-lye
miles.
1t is looked upon as more than probable
that the gunboats will play a very i'm
portant part in The campaign. They are
from 100 to 175 feet long have 20 to 27 feet
beam, draw only about two feet of water
when fully loaded, are able to make about
fourteen miles an hour, carrying Il large
number Of men, and tow barges, etc,
carrying maIysl1ore men,
Each gunboat carries a l2-pouuder
quick firing maxim gun, able to discharge
a shot every three seconds, mounted for
\ ward on an armored citadel deck, Amid
ships there is coming tower and an
electric searchlight, another lighter maxim
from seven to twenty feet above the water
line, and the armament of these deadly
boats is completed with two quickflring
6-pounders and six to eight more maxims.
Besides these guns some of the larger
gunboats carry 2+pounders, capable of
delivering very effective fire at long range.