New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-04

the revoted provinces, though Darfur and
other districts have asserted their independence
o. him.
Early in January. 1884 the British Cabinet laid
down the law that all territory south Of Wady
Halfa should be abandoned TO the tender mercles
OF the al-concuering Khalifa. Hicks and his COM
panions had been extermnated during the previous
November: Gordon at Khartoum. and Slatin. Emn
md Lupton killed captured or driven from their
respective provinces All relief expeditions from
that time forward had been annihilated.
Early in 1896 attempt 10 recover the vast
territory lost to the Mahdi. and now held BY the
Khalfa, was begun. General Sir Herbert kitcne-
ner, with fifteen thousand men. and supported by
four gunboats. began the forward movement in
March of that year. The troops were composed
partly OF British soldiers and partly OF an Egyp-
1ian contingent Sir Herbert Kitchener is the com
manding general of the Egyptian forces and rank
ing officer in the British Army. The first move
ment was against the Dervishes under the leader
ship of Osman Digna. cavalry skirrnish took
place near Akashe May l. and on June the
Dervsnes were driven out OF Firket and pursued 10
Suarda.
The four gunboats had to be hauled over the
cataracts, and finally arrived at Kosheh where
nal start was ma 1e Hahr. after a shor, bonn;
on septen1,er - ne whole Of the army crossed
DOngOa was occupied September -, after a
feeble resistance. and the gunbOats steamed up the
river and landed garrsons at Handak ed Debbah,
Kor and Merawi BY this FIRST expedition was
recovered without single warship one OF the
Nealthiest provinces of the SouGan. including 42U
miles Of the Nlc.
The campaign Of 1891 led to "A further extension Of
Egyptian Soudan. The troops started simuta-
neOusy from DJngola up the Nile and from Korosko
across the desert. Abu Hamcd was occupied 10y
Colonel Hunter August :. and the railway was
completed. since mat tilne II has been pushed
vigorously forward 1T the rate Of two miles day
until It reaches the Atbara River and probably
beyond
me gunboats were hauled up the NTH cataract.
kahlifa. which tncy sheled October -. and
then proceeded TO The sixth cataract and Osman
Digna retired hey 1nG the Atbara.
AT the beginning Of August OF the present year
General Kitchener moved his headquarters from
Abu Hamcd 10 the Atbara. in order that the oper-
atoms Of Transporting the troops might go on
under MS eye. The force that destined to
take omdUrman consisted of TWO infantry diVls-
ions. one British and one Egyptian. regiment Of
one field and Nowitzcr battery and two siege
guns Of British artillery and one horse and four
field batteries Of Egyptians. besides both British
and Egyptian Maxim guns, eight companies Of
camel corps. six CunbOats, together with eight
transport steamers and host Of sailing boats
The Egyptian infantry numbers about 1900 men,
while the British division has over 100 But. in
Guiding cavalry camel corps. etc. the land force s
over 22OO men
The KasIifa has been making great prepara-
tons for the fight. digging intrencbmcnts and
throwing up fortihcations. He Mt first thought Of
fighting at kcrreri. ten miles north OF Omdurmar
but decided To awlit the attack behind his own
walls. Omdurman ~ protected by a wilderness OF
mud houses every side except the river front
These mud works offer the most perfect protection
from rife fire.