The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-05

Our whole force was engaged in fight
/ ing from $50 am. until Sundown. In
stead of waiting for us in Omdurman,
where they could have made a resistance
that would have cost US thousands or
lives, they advanced to meet us. The
sight was extraordinary. Some 1909
men, in four brigades, attempted to rush
our Zereba-
With desperate gallantry they were re-
pulsed. suffering huge loss. Our Maxim
guns, especially, made terrible lanes in
in in the town, which was full of women
The Deryish army of $4,000 is utterly
broken, but We are fully prepared to
nght tomorrow if they wish it.
The Standards war correspondent also
pays tribute to the magnificent courage
OF the Dervishes. but adds:
fortunately for us their leaders
showed little or no wisdom in choosing a
battlefield. By not occupying the hill on
our left front the enemy missed his op-
Dortunlty. That would have left the sir
either accepted the challenge or elected
to make wide detour into the desert to
reach Omdurman
In the former case we chould have been
compelled to meet the DeryisheS in the
open. In the latter case the enemy'S
chances of offering a prolonged resist
ance would have been materially in
creased, but the Baggara have lost none
of their former courage, and were re-
solved to attack US where we stood.
trusting to sheer weight of numbers and
against
with an irresistible rush.
Describing the attempt of the Baggara
horSemen to retrieve the days fortunes
by a final charge, the correspondent says:
DaShing across the level stretch OF peb-
bly, soil, the khalifa's cavalry rode madly
at the stationary line of infantry. Our
troops awaited the charge without finch
ing. On came the Dervishes, but again
the deadly fire poured into them did it's
deadly work. Men and horses fell thick
and hardly a rider in that desperate
charge escaped.
A large body of the enemy's infantry
undismayed by the slaughter, could be
seen preparing to follow the cavalry. but
our field artillery and Maxims descending
from the hill on which they were posted,
came again into action and the conflict
enerted a new phase.
The attack on our camp had been re-
pulsed and the only question was whether
the defeat of the enemy was complete.
1t was not long before the DerviSheS
We're seen in full fight toward the right,
Practically the whole army of the khalifa
was destroyed. Our casualties numbered
over 200.
Our losses in the Zereba when the enemy
first attacked up were small. considering
the number of the enemy. Our artillery
and rife fire was terribly effective. The
Dervishes fought well. displaying cour-
age that would have seemed marvellous
had we not known their spirit.
The march to Omdurman after the great
fight was comparatively without incident.
The Sirdar, with his chief of staff Gen
eral Rumble, Colonel Wingate and Slatin
Pasha. rode behind two companies of
Egyptians and Soudanese who proudly
carried with them the khalifa's flag. the
black banner which was to lead his
troops to victory
AS we neared the place the people living
in houses outside the wall poured out in
regiments to welcome the victors. Pass
ing through a long street, we came to
the wall itself, solid piece of rough
masonry. There had been no need to en-
ploy forty-siX Founders to effect a breach.
An entry was found near the river and
the sirdar rode into Omdurman unop-
posed.
The city seemed deserted save for wom-
forward to make submission and lay down
their arms. Around the ruined tomb of
the mahdi the city extends on all sides
like a rabbit warren.