The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-08-12
DERVISHES ROUTED.
The Capture Of Abu Hamed by the
British Forces,
AFTER A HAND TO HAND FIGHT.

The Total British Loss was Twenty
one KILLED ana sixty-one wounded.
Among the Dead Being Two British
Omcers.
Cairo Aug 12.-Oficial dispatches
from Assouan, on the Nile near the
First Cataract gives details Of the cap
ture of Abu Hamed on Aug. z by the
Anglo-Egyptlan troops under Colonel
Hunter, after an 1S hours march from
Merawi.
Colonel Hunter kept all his prepara-
tions for the attack a strict secret, In
order to prevent the spies OF the khallfa
in the Soudan from getting wind Of
his plans. He declined to allow any
newspaper correspondents 20 accom-
pany the columns to the front.
After carrying the high ground over
looking the town the Anglo Egyptian
troops advanced to the attack upon
the village. A stubborn house to house
fight ensued. and Colonel Hunter was
obliged to bring UP the artillery be-
fore It was possible to carry the po-
sition.
The total British loss was 21 killed and
81 wounded, of whom the Tenth Soudan-
ese battalion lost IA killed, among them
British officers and "a wounded. Ma
jor H. M. Sidney fell mortally wounded
while leading his men to the attack,
and died In five minutes. Lieutenant
Fitz Clarence was shot almost at the
same moment through the heart. Three
Egyptian officers received severe gum
shot wounds.
Colonel Hunter in his dispatches,
highly praises the steadiness and dash
of the troops throughout the engage
ment The village Is a network OF
crowded houses and twisting, narrow
alleys, so that most Of the fighting was
done at the point of the bayonet.
The dervishes repeatedly charged
through the narrow streets. Finally
their cavalry, having lost over half
their number, fled precipitately, follow
ed by about 100 infantry. These were
all that escaped. The dervish COM
mander, Mahommed zein, was cap
tured. Another we'll known emir stub
bornly defended himself, with his fol-
lowers, in a strongly fortified house,
and was only killed at last when the
house was destroyed by the artillery.
A large number Of prisoners, arms,
standards, camels and horses, with
other property, were taken. The Nile
at Merawi is in a most unpleasant
state from the cOrpses floating down.
The inhabitants, as during the advance
of the Dongola expedition, have shown
every kind of rejoicing at their deliv-
erance from dervish expressions.
The garrison at Abu Hamed has been
much increased since the khalifa's de-
feat of the Jaalin tribe and the cap
ture Of Metemnen by his forces. On
the other hand, Colonel Hunters troops
were assisted in capturing the town
by some friendly Arabs from Murad.
At present the general situation is
as follows;
The khalifa continues to reinforce
the army of occupation at Metemneh
under Mahmoud Both sides of the
river have been fortified. Mahmoud re-
Gently sent reinforcements to Berber,
but recalled them on hearing of the
advance by Colonel Hunter upon Abu
Hamed. He now threatened to advance
on Jakdul a village held by friendly
Arabs, but it is expected that the ar
rival OF the gunboats at Abu Hamed
shortly will prevent him from leaving
Metemneh with any considerable force.