The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-03-02
Chat With a War Correspondent
From The SOudan.
WAS APPOINTED BY KITCHENER
Represented the London Post-vI-
Measuring Up the Fighters.

Mr.. Il. Valentine Webster. a gentle
man who ~ as war correspondent; for
the Morning Post ULondonl in the
Soudan campaign. and narrowly es-
capped with his life at the battle OF
Atbara, was through passenger on
the Alameda from the Colonies yes
terday en- route to the States. lie Is
interested in tea plantations situated
near Colombo. He Is a fine a-nletic
man in the prime OF manhood. and an
intimate friend OF Arab Pasha. For
u length OF time he was Arabi's next
door neigbbor in Ceylon. MIR. Webster
was travelling around the world in the
interest of his company. and had just
been in Russia. when he reached Egypt
and heard of Iitchener's SOudan Ex-
petition being fitted out. Having held
a commission for some time In the
Ceylon Mounted Infantry. he applied
for service in the Egyptian Mounted
Infantry. then starting for the Soudan.
and got an appointment in charge OF
the Civil Transport. ~ once proceed
ing TO the front.
Whilst he was at Berber with the
British Brigade the order came TO adj
vance towards Atbara. to meet NAH
moud. the Khalifa's general. He was
then appointed assistant on the field
to the officer commanding the Army
Service Corps. and was appointed spe-
cial correspondent to- the Morning Post.
y-bfcb aD@OE,4r,o,E co-,o st,rr,,o1, E-g4
chener himself. In the battle OF At
bara he had two narrow escapes. Two
horses he was riding on that day were
wounded one after the other. 4 bullet
whilst he was riding penetrated his
left boot.
Speaking of the battle. he said: We
left a place called Muttras at p. IN.
on April Z. marching out into the des-
ert. Perfect silence had to be main
tanned, and no lights were allowed. no;
the DerviShes zareba. and then waited
until day began to dawn. At O'Clock
the glow Of the rising sun began to- APP
pear on the desert horizon, and we
could just discern countless number
of the enemy running to- and fro on
the top of their stockade. evidently in
a great state OF excitement. Our Brit
/ sh brigade numbered 5000 men. under
General Gattacre. and the Egyptian
division. under General Hunter. about
1000. We afterwards found that the
enemy numbered about $4,000. At 5:15
we advanced to within 500 yards OF the
zareba. Ii was beautifully clear
morning. the blue sky overhead being
without cloud. At 6:15 we approach
ed to within 500 yards wnen the order
was given for the Egyptian artillery
to open fire. and then indeed we be-
gan TO realize that the long expected
battle was imminent. The first shell
Iexplcded within the zareba. II was a
the Dervishes disappeared from view
into their dug-out trenches. For an
hour and 20 minutes the Egyptian ar
ltillery kept up tremendous roar OF
cannon. discharging in that time i.i0C
rounds At 1885 the general advance
was sounded, the buglers began to call
the bagpipes to skreel. and the kettle
idrums to beat. and the enemy was ap-
preached in n most imposing order
When within 400 yards our infantry
opened fire. Up to this few shots were
fired by the enemy. and none took ef'
feet; but the moment our infantry
opened nre we were met with hail o
bullets, which ut first were discharge,
too high. but in a few minutes begaI
to find their marks. telling heavily II
, our ranks as we advanced. The frs
man to fall always produces a thrillin.
effect in an engagement, and so Il DIT,
here. Ii raised the heat of our British
blood, and the advance was dashingl
made to the edge OF the zareba, whicl
consisted of = thick. thorny hedge. 70
a moment we were checked in maxim
way through il, but as soon as thi
was effected there was a tremendOu
dash made for the stockade. and
shocking hand to- hand fight ensuet
. The carnage was awful. Several of
GERS, as well as men, fell; but IN ]
minutes the enemy was in full fiigh
across the Atbara River. and at So
a. m. the cease firing" was sOunde'
Three thousand fallen DervishC
We're counted within the zareba. an
1000 more were wounded or take
prisoners. The Anglo-Egyptian force
y lost 1OO in killed and wounded"
Did the Anglo-British army surpris
them, them"
mo. 1 cannot say that. for we learn
ed from Marmoud. whom We captuI
ed. that word was passed to them b
the Old fashioned way OF lighted fire
land they merely knew within m hou