New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-19
bloody battle this precautionary and humsni-
tartan expedient may not have occurred to the
Sirdar. I. N F.
Mr.. BENEFITS CHARGES.
WOUNDED DERvIsHEs KILLED AFTER
OMDURMAN-INDIGNIT TO THE
MAHDrs CORPSE PILLAG-
ING THE CITY.

ING THE CITY.
e ~ Bennett in The Contemporary Review
II is Of course. an open secret that in all our
Soudan battles the enemys wounded have been
killed The practice has ever since the days Of
Tel-el- Kebir become traditional in Soudanese
warfare. At the battle of the Atbara Il was an
nounced that three thousand Dervishes had been
klled--there was practically no mention of the
wounded. Yet even under the deadly fire of
modern rifles the wounded will always largely
outnumber the killed-n fact. a proportion OF
four wounded to one killed would actually be
far under the mark. How. then was II that no
wounded were accounted for at the Atbara?
Immediately after the repulse of the first
Dervish attack at Omdurman our troops ad-
vanced in echelon toward Omdurman. and as
marched with Colonel Lewiss Native Brigade on
the right we soon came across dead and wound
ed Dervishes. On our left along the lower slopes
Of Gebel Surgham large number OF campbell
busy among the whitehead figures which lay
stretched in little groups as our shell fire or the
long-range volleys of the Lee Metfords had
struck them down. These hooters had armed
themselves somehow or other with rifles, spears,
and even clubs. and made short work Of any
wounded man they came across. Poor wretches
who in their agony had crawled under the
scanty shade Of rock shrub were dubbed
10 death or riddled with bullets by the irrespon-
sible brutality OF these native servants who
were in such wholesome dread of a Dervish.
even when PROSTATE. that they frequently fired
several shots into bodies already dead before
they advance to strip the corpse Of It's gibbeh
Of arms
KILLED BY BLACK AND BRITISH SOLDIERS.
This wholesale slaughter was not confined to
Arab servants. 1t was stated that orders had
been given to kill the wounded. Whether this
was so not do not know. but certainly no
protest was made when the Soudanese dis
patched scores Of wounded men who lay in their
path. The Dervishes who were stretched
the sand within few yards were
bayoneted. or, in some instances. stabbed
with their own spears. One OF the blacks
~ I'D
former owner still showed some feeble signs OF
life. drove it right into his face and then plant
ing his boot upon the Dervish'S head, dragged
the spear out again by main force and carried
off the bloodstaned weapon. Arabs who lay
further out in the desert at some little distance
from the line Of march, and happened unfortu-
nately for themselves. to move or turn over In
their agony. were Immediately pierced by rife
bullets.
Now. there does exist a full and ample justih
cation for some OF this slaughter Of the
wounded. 1t has always been found. throughout
the whole series Of our campaigns in the Sou
dan that great risk was incurred in approach
ing an armed Dervish lying wounded upon the
ground. Instances are undoubtedly on record
of British troops having been shot by wounded
Arabs. sometimes in the most treacherous fash
ION ! have myself seen a wounded Baggara
raise himself from the ground and fire his Rem
ington at our column as 1t marched past The
bullet went high and passed over our heads.
Another Dervish suddenly up and stabbed
less than seven Egyptian Cavalrymen be-
fore he was despatched.
men have been injured by wounded Der
wishes are, after all. extremely few in number.
and in any case 1t does not seem fair. because
OF occasional acts of treachery On the part OF
individuals to decree the slaughter Of the
wounded Unfortunately. Every one who has
had any experience Of Soudanese warfare will
admit the perfect right OF a soldier to kill
wounded enemy who levels his rife or attempts
to use his spear. Add the Dervish &c often
as crafty he is fanatical. it may be conceded
that wounded Arab -~No 49, a weapon within
reach may be dispatched. as a precaution
against injury, by any troops who find it nee
essary to march past him But no justification
whatever exists for the butchery of unarmed or
manifestly helpless men lying wounded on the
ground. This certainly took place after the bat
tie of Ondurman Dervishes who lay with hat
tered legs or arms, absolutely without weapons,
were bayoneted and shot without mercy: This
unsoIdieriy work was not left to the ex
elusive control OF the black troops our own
British soldiers took part In It.
PUTTING THEM OUT OF THEIR MISERY"
1t may, Of course. he urged that 1t is better to
finish off desperately wounded man than leave
him to die lingering death on the burning
sand. Personally sympathize with the view
when It is absolutely certain that death must
ensue and in several cases have walked up to
hopelessly wounded men intending to shoot
them through the head, but found that they
were practically unconscious. and so left them
alone. If one sees man absolutely eviscerated
by shell and still alive, surely the best and
klndest service render him is to put a
bullet through his heart or brain During one
of campaigns against the Pathans British
sergeant captured by the enemy and nor
ribly tortured. Among other horrors MS eyes
had been torn out and he was partially Mayed
] knew Of the party who found him In this
terrible condition, and he told me how the ser
geants best friend with tears rolling down his
cheeks put the muzzle Of his Martini against
the victims head and killed him in mercy AT
the same time many people view the practice or
euthanasia with horror. and In no case can IL be
justified unless one is absolutely certain that re-
covery is impossible. Hence the plea OF putting
them out Of their misery" cannot serve TO ex-
tba to1fc ,f,,of Gle n
campaigns
Another pallation which is offered in defence
Of finishing off the wounded is that the DerVlshes
always kill our wounded and mutilate our dead
This is undoubtedly true: but the Dervlshes
might use the first half Of this argument against
ourselves. for the practice began at Tel-el-
Kebir and the news no doubt spread southwark
that the Inglizi killed their wounded enemies
Moreover, a disciplined force under European
general ought TO be above reprisals 1t is worth
remembering too. that not single white pris-
oner was put to death by either the Mahdi or
khalfa despite the fact that some OF them mao
borne arms against the former.
OF course, as long as human nature continues
on Its present lines there VIII always be DIM
Guilty In observing the laws or war amid the IN
toxication of victory or in the face OF desperate
resistance when mems blood Is hot and the
frenzy Of slaughter is strong upon them. Onder
such conditions as these much may fairly be con-
ceded 70 ones natural impulses, put al Onuur.
man no such ground could possibly be alleged
for our slaughter Of wounded Dervishes. In
battle where the casualties on one side amount
70 per cent and on the other to over oO there IS
absolutely no room for that wild and unbridled
fury which occasionally overtakes civihzeo
troops who have at length triumphed over a
formidable enemy after long hours OF hard and
sanguinary fighting. Any man who. AFTER the
killing and wounding of 10000 Dervishes. with
the total loss to his side of some oOV
casualties all told. was still unsatished and lust
ed after the blood Of wounded men, must De
little better than a brute beast
DERvIsH WOUNDED LEFT TO DIE.
No attempt was made. either on the day OF the
battle or next day, to do anything for the wound
cd Dervishes Thousands OF these, who had
feigned death or else escaped II by having fallen