The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-09

ATBARA CAMP, Nubia, April S.--The
Sirdars force numbered $4,000 men, with
twenty-four guns, under Colonel Long, and
twelve Maxims. The enemy left Shendy
with 10000 men, but they have suffered a
good deal from assertions since. The enemy
at first practically concealed under
ground in a strong zariba running around
the whole position. We left yesterdays
camp al p. m. and bivouacked in the desert
We reached Mahmoud's position at a. m.
to-day. The enemy was evidently aware of
our approach. After an hour of heavy bonn
bardment the brigades were formed up and
carried the position at the point of the
bayonet under tremendous fire from the
enemy. The zariba was torn away, but the
enemy chung obstinately in the trenches and
were bayoneted in them. During the
whole admirable bOmbardment by Colonel
Long not a single Dervish was visible. The
cavalry was now in full pursuit, and moth
ing could have been finer than the behavior
of the troops. The sirGar (Sir Herbert
Kitchener) received a tremendous ovation
after the position was taken.
Mahmoud was captured by the Tenth
Soudanese battalion. He was under ground
the whole time his men We're fighting. Os-
man Dgna fled as usual. The prisoners say
numbers before the battle The enemy's
guns, baggage, animals and standards were
captured Our loss would have been much
heavier If the enemy had not fired high.
This will be called the battle of Atbara.
I4ater-The British and Egyptian troops
are still cheering each other this evening.
The river bed and the thick bush down
to the river are full of Dervish dead. Late
last night the Sirdar issued orders saying
that he was sure every man of the force
would do his duty, but he hoped they would
all remember God. The Dervish fire was
heavy, but too high: and the British
zariba Colonel Murray had his horse
shot under him and was wounded
in the arm. The enemy certainly behaved
with great bravery. The prisoners say they
lost heavily by the bombardment before the
advance Some of the enemy tried to break
across the river at an early stage. but were
beaten back by the Dervish horsemen The
rockets under Captain Beatty set the enc
my,s camp afire in many places. Bashari
Redi fell at the head of his men. Ten guns
were captured. The prisoners say Osman
Digna fled early during the commandment.
The authorities call to-day's battle the
most brilliant ever fought in the Soudan.
everything having been carried straight
through without hitch or check. While
the position was shelled by the Maxim
Nordenfeldts and shrapnels. the Dervishes
hardly attempted reply. Nothing was Wis
ible in front of the position except solitary
wabbling camel, but in the trenches the
large number of mangled donkeys and cam
els proved the terrible effect of our fire.
The Dervish loss is estimated at more
than two thousand. The night march was
as weird as that of Tel FL Kebir. Our troops
observed a funeral silence on nearing the
enemies zariba at Makheiba. No smoking
was permitted Egyptians, Soudanese and
British strove to be first in the glorious
race and to be first in the attack AS usual
several brigades claim the honor The
enemy opened with such a terrific fire that
our men were dropping on all sides. 1t was
rs venomOus a fusilade as troops were ever
called upon to face. Mahmoud's army is
practically wiped out. Four thousand of
his followers have been taken prisoner and
hole under bed. He is tall dignfied, SEN
suous-looking, black Baggara, about thirty
five years of age, with a shaved head.
When taken he was dressed in a richly en-
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