The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-20
FIGHTING IN S0MALILAND.
English Sharply Engaged with NAL
MuIIah.

London. Oct. 19.-The Foreign Office
has issued an undated dispatch from
Col. Swayne, commanding one of the
columns of the British forces operat-
ing against the Mad Mullah in SomaIi-
land. The dispatch was forwarded
through the British vice consul at Ber-
bera, Somaliland. The British forces
engaged were composed entirely of
native troops and levies. Col. Swayne
says:
my force reached Erego this morn
ing. When about one days march
north of Mudug was attacked in the
thick bush. Two advances were made
and the enemy was beaten back in the
morning. Their losses were heavy and
we captured one hundred rifles. Our
forces then proceeded to collect ami
mails for transportation purposes and
to join the detachment at the stockade
camp. In the afternoon a reconnais-
sance was made, and after sharp fight
ing, the enemy were again driven off.
deeply regret to report the fol-
lowing casualties: Col. Phillips and
Capt. Angus and fifty men killed, and
about one hundred men wounded.
THE latter include Capt Howard and
Lieut.. Everett, but both are doing well.
There were severe losses among the
transports and riding camels. The
force will reach the stockade camp to-
morrow and will advance to attack
the enemy"
The vice consul also telegraphs the
substance of a later dispatch from Col.
Swayne, who says that as a result of
the fighting at Erego, Oct. 6, which
was very severe, the Somali levies
are considerably shaken. The Mullah,
who is said to be in communication
with Kali and Inger, in the direction
of the Webb river, is bringing up re-
Inducements from all sides.
Col. Swayne is much hampered ow-
ing to the necessity of transporting the
wounded and water He is retiring on
Bohotle. He asks that 600 more reli-
able troops be dispatched from Ber-
bera forthwith.
The serious reverse in. Somaliland
places the small British force there of
about 5000 men of doubtful reliability
in an exceedingly perilous situation.
Since the beginning of Col. Swayne's
second campaign against the
Mullah last, little has been heard of
the expedition. The present dispatches
seem to show that he was retreating
from the Italian frontier northward
when the Mullah attacked him at
Erego. Last December the Mullah
was reported to have about 1900 men,
mostly mounted, large percentage of
whom were armed with rifles.
It is possible now that he commands
about $4,000 men. With this large
force harrassing him, Col. Swayne has
to retreat to Bohottle, $50 miles, and
probably still 100 miles further to
Burao. This march must be made I'M
der a scorching sun and over an arid
and roadless desert, even if the retreat
is successful. The gravest anxiety
will be felt until further news is re-
ceived. The entire expedition will
have to be repeatedson much larger
scale. sa
Col. swayne is accompanied by over
twenty white officers and has with him
some Maxim guns and some seven
Founders.
The Mullah'S success will set the
whole Ogaden and Dolhahanta country
af1ame. Trade returns at Berbera and
Bulhar have shown an enormous de-
crease since the operations of the Null
lah cut off access to the rich markets
OF Ogaden and Dolhananta.
1t was announced by Lord Lans-
downe, foreign secretary, in Parliament
last summer that the Italians were
cooperating with Col. Swayne, but
as the dispatch made public to-day
does not mention Italian help il is
supposed that some local difficulty was
found in arranging for the co-opera-
ton.
The Times and other newspapers
this morning publish editorial articles
on the Somaliland situation and warn
the government against any further
half-heartedness or half-measures
which they say have already cost so
dear, in either breaking the back of
the present rising or in the future paci-
ficatiOn of the country