The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-30

wherever he might've located.
wingate. with the acumen of a true
strategist, decided to go to Gedid; from
there he could make sure Of stopping
the Khallta going west to sherketch
out Of reach, and Il would place him in
an advantageous position to strike the
Khalifa Il he tried to advance north by
the way Ahmed Fsdil had retreated, his
original plan Of advances. Our only
dimculty was the uncertainty Of finding
water. all We had as far seen even our
animals would not drink; so we sent
back all oue empty tanks with 200 cam
els from ABo Aatdei to the river. with
orders to come out again and meet US
at that place In two days time; we had
still one and n half days water. and we
reckoned that we could get to Gedld
twenty-five miles. and. II we found no
water there, could always come back
next day ond meet our water. So at
midnight we started again. and got to
Gedld about a. M; It was very hot,
and the last two, hours tired the men
very much, the stn was on their backs,
after little sleep and less water. At
.Gedid we found adeserter of the Khaii-
ia Cor spy). who told US the Khallfa
was at Masarudtn. some seven miles
southeast, the Toad to which was
through a densely wooded country. Our
useful Arab scouts. under the same
Egyptian officer. were entrusted with
the Job Of finding out the truth. and OF
they went, it being deemed inadyisable
to let our regular troops be seen until
we were near enough to strike-a wise
precaution.
Luckily we found at Gedld a large
pool Of excellent water, which relieved
us from any further anxiety on that
score. So We watered all our men and
horses and camels, filed our tanks,
cooked our hrst meal and generally
rested. At p. m. our scouts returned.
and the officer reported that he had
found no one at Mugarueln, but that he
had actually located the KhalIfa and all
his force al ON Debrekat, little north
of the former place and only about SIX
miles from our camp, the road being
fairly open and good going except In a
few places, where the trees were thick,
This was indeed good news. and we
knew then that unless the Khalifa re-
treated In the night We must get go
in at him. At / a. m. the next morning
we started with the moon about a
quarter size, well up. Our transport
we left behind with orders to follow at
"a. m. We moved most carefully. COW
cred with cavalry in front and cameis
on tanks; not sound was heard ex-
cept the footsteps Of men and horses,
and occasionally the crack Of aploneer's
axe cutting a way through the thick
bush for the column behind him to fol-
low. After three miles we halted, and
Colonel Mahon went on with few men.
and carefully felt his way. returning to
tell US they were still there, and that
the highest ground near their camp, q
slight ridge with gently sloping ground
in front of it toward the camp, was I'M
occupied and at our disposal; We at
once pushed on. and arriving at this
ridge one hour before dawn put out
pickets along our line, deployed for ac-
tlon. lay down and some Of US slept.
While we were doing the last mile we
heard the sounds of the dervIsh drums
beating in front OF US; 1t was evident
that the Khallfa meant to give US bait
tie. AT 5:15 a. m, just as the dawn
commenced, our plckets came in, and
we saw dimly the advancing dervishes,
who we're evidently meaning to take the
commanding ground we had already
occupied. They we're too late, as usual,
and our guns Immediately began to
play on them, and the fight began. 1t
was hard to distinguish anything in the
uncertain light of early dawn; the grass
also was high (two feet). and the bushes
thick, but we could tell in the OCCASION
al lulls of the firing from hearing the
enemy's shouts and waving Of their
banners, that some movement was EVIL
IDENTIFY going on, to pass round our left
and try to turn that flank. Naturally.
our FIRE was concentrated on that point.
and the flank further protected by pro-
longing 1t with companies from the re-
serve of the flank battalion OF infantry.
1t soon became evident that they could
not press the attack home, and with
our right well thrown forward we made
a regular advance OF the whole force,
sweeping the remainder Of the enemy
before US. and not stopping until we had
reached the dervish camp, some one
and a.half-miles in the rear.
There we found all the women and
children-some s.0OO-and having given
the Aman. or quarter. large numbers Of
the enemy accepted the same. throwing
down their arms and the fight was over,
the cavalry carrying on for some miles
and bringing in the remainder OF the
fugitives, who gave in at once when
they found. the Khalifa was killed.
And now for the most touching part
OF the whole affair. Leaving the troops
in the camp wIngnte and his stan rode
back to the scene of the fight to Idenh-
fy the body of Rhnlifa and make quite
sure that the rumor Of his death was
true
1t the course of what was evidently
the main attack on our right we came
across a very large number of bodies