The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-02-11

a band OF slaves in this fight. He fell back
TO Da-ah with about 1000 men, and won a
victory over the Anaha trihesmeu sent out
:, check him. Next he returned upon kitch-
ener's regiments at Handoub. The Bag
CARA horse charged the English forces and
swept all before them. In The following
April Osman wss Joined by Abu Girseh. at
the head Of 5000 men.
The British. to their profound chagrin.
were compelled 10 open negotiations with
the man whom they had SO lightly under
taken TO subdUe. Osman Digna received
the emissaries 1t the head Of his forces.
He listened TO what they had to say. but
they could not move him an inch. He de-
clared that he would attack every armed
force found within the limits OF what he
deemed his own territory. He was. low
ever. disposed TO allow trading within cer-
tain limits.
Playing His Own Game.
This really meant that the Mohammedaa
commander would 90 anything calculated TO
promote traffic in slavery. That enriched
him. The English were far from satisfied.
Their vessels patroIled the coast night and
dav. But they could not break up Osman's
pet traffic. The slaves continued to be cap
| turea and exported in large numbers. This
SEfd. lISli1I ~ ~ - - N"o
desert. He was playing 4 game that meant
the more 70 him the longer it lasted. He
laughed the British power TO scorn.
The man who first realized this situation
was Kitchener. He saw clearly that his
country was playing into the Khalifa's
hands =, long as the scandal OF the sitUa-
ton in Suakin was permitted TO endure. He
advocated an entire abandonment Of the
plan OF camyaicn- II seems Incredible now.
but il is a fact that the Cabinet in London
refused to entertain kitchener's project for
a recognized military movement. ! was in
formed by a prominent member OF the Turf
Club in Cairo last year that Lord Cromer
Threatened to resign if Kitchener were not
given his way.
The history Of the next few years is but a
repetition of what went before. Osman
Digna held his own. which was all he want
ed to hold. He ran down to Omdurman.
perfected his plans. sold his slaves and en-
riched himself. Kitchener set abou; his
great work OF organization. He now paid
no particular attention to Osman. That
worthy remained as elusive as the eel. Am
bilious Colonies and Majors tried to capture
him. Pitched battles ragged.
On the whole, however, the Mohammedan
slaver's power declined. England was no
longer playing his game. The religious in
nuence OF the Mahdist movement waned.
Long before the great day at Omdurman
the Soudan's fate had passed out OF Os-
man Digna's hands. He had sunk 10 the
level of a bandit at large within its limits.
When Kitchener went to khartoum os-
man Digna WAS never out of his thoughts.
Positive orders We're given TO take the slave
trader. dead OF alive. But although the
great Enslishmau started the quarry. he
could not run it to earth Osnian came out
Of the fray alive and free. He had lost
some credit in the last few years even with
his own following. The events at Atbars
and at DOnsola revealed the slave trader
in his true coiors as d self-seeker.
What news have you and how fare the
faithful" inquired Abdullah ON one occa-
sion when Osman came TO Omdurman to
report.
Master" replied Disua. Il led the faith
full to paradise"
Then why did you rot SO with them:'
| retorted Abdullah.
"God," replied the slave trader. hath not
ordained II So"
| The end came inEloriously last week. Ever
| since the fall OF Khartoum OsInan Digna
| has been a hunted man. He returned 10 his
| old haunts near Tokar. Suakin has long
been garrisoned by the English. The COM
nm expedition and ran Osman Digna to
earth in the hills. The old slave trader 10
| now under lock and key in the city he has
tesieged 50 Often. ~