New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-20
BRITISH COLUMN IN DANGER
MAY BE OVERWHELMED IN SOMALI BY
THE MAD MULLAH.

London. oct. 19.-The Foreign Office has Issued
an undated dispatch from Colonel Cobbe COM
manding one of the columns of British forces
operating against the Mad Muah in Somali-
land. The dispatch forwarded through the
British Vice-Consul at Berbera. Somaliland. The
British forces engaged were composed entirely
of native troops and levies. Colonel Cobbe says:
My force reached Erego this morning When
about one days march north Of Mudug II was
attacked in the thick bush Two advances We're
made. and the enemy were beaten back in the
morning. Their losses were heavy. and We cap
tured hundred rifles. our force then pro-
ceeded TO collect animals for transportation pur-
poses and to join the detachment at the stock
ade camp. In the afternoon a reconnaissance
was made and, after sharp nghtne. the enemy
were again driven of.
deeply regret 10 report the following casual
ties; Colonel Phillips and Captain Angus and
fifty men killed and about hundred
wounded. The latter include Captain Howard
and Lieutenant Everett, but both are doing we'll
There were severe losses among the transport
and riding camels The force Will reach the
stockade camp tomorrow. and will advance TO
attack the enemv
The vice consul also telegraphs the substance
Of later dispatch from Colonel Swayne. who
says that a result Of the fighting at Erego
on October q, which very severe. the Somal
levies are considerably shaken. The Mullah
VINO is said TO be in communication with Kali
and lnger. in the direction Of the Webbe River
is bringing up reinforcements from all sides.
Colonel Swayne is much hampered owing 10
the necessity Of transporting the wounded and
water. He is retiring Bohoue. He asks that
six hundred more trustworthy troops be dis
patched from Berbera forthwith.
The serious reverse in SomaIiland places the
small British force there. OF about three thou
sand men of doubtful reliability. in an exceed
ingly perilous situation. Since the beginning OF
Colonel Swayne's second campaign against the
Mullah last May little has been heard Of the
expedition. The present dispatches seem TO
show that he retreatnE from the Italian
frontier northward when the Mullah attacked
him at Erego. Last December the Mullah was
reported have about twelve thousand men,
mostly mounted. a large percentage OF whom
were armed with rifles; it is possible that he
now commands about fifteen thousand men
With this large force harassng him. Colonel
SWayne has 10 retreat 10 Bohotle, $50 miles. and
probably still one hundred miles further. 10
Burao. the principal British frontier post. This
march must be made under 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 received. The en-
tire expedition will have to be repeated on a
much larger scale.
~ white officers. and has with him some Maxim
guns and some seven Founders.
The Mullah'E success viii set the whole ogaden
and Dolbahanta country afame. Trade returns
at Berbera and Bulhar have shown an enormous
decrease since the operations Of the Mullah cut
of access TO the rich markets Of Ogaden and
Dolbahanta-
IL was announced by Lord Lansdowne For
eign Secretary, in Parliament last summer that
the Italians were cooperating with Colonel
Swayne but as the dispatches made public to-
day DO not mention Italian help ii is supposed
that some local difficulty was found in arrang-
ing for the cooperation.