Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-10-23
FIFTY KILLED
MAD MULLAH ATTACKS A BRIT.
ISh COLUMN.
Colonel 9wayne and His Forces
Compelled to Retreat With a
Loss OF Over Fifty Killed and q
Hundred Wounded -. Situation
Now Serious.

London, Oct. 20.-The foreign Office
has issued an undated dispatch from
Col. Swayne, commanding one of the
columns of British forces operating
against the Mad Mullah in Somaliland.
The dispatch was forwarded through
the British vice consul at Berbora, Som
-aliland. The British forces engaged
were composed entirely OF native troops
and levies. Col. Swayne says:
"My focce reached Erego this morn
ing. When about one days march
north of Mudug it 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 100 rifles. Our force then
proceedeo to collect animals for trans
portation purposes and to join the de-
tachment at Stockade camp. In the
afternoon reconnaissance was made,
and after sharp fighting the enemy was
again driven off.
81 deeply regret to report the follow
ing casualties: Col. Philips and Capt.
Angus and fifty men killed and about
100 wounded. The latter include
Capt. Howard and Lieut.. Everett, and
both are doing we'll. There were severe
losses among the transport and riding
.camels. The force will reach the stock
.ade camp tomorrow and will advance
to attack the enemy"
ReinfOrcements for Mullah.
The vice consul also telegraphs the
substance of later dispatch from Col.
Swayne, who says that as result of the
fighting at Erego October 6, which was
very severe, the Somali levies are con-
siderably shaken. The Mullah, who is
said to be in communication with Kali
and lnger, in the direction of the
Webbe river, is bringing up reinforce
ments from all sides. Col. Swayne is
much hampered owing to the necessity
for the transporting of the wounded.
He is retiring ON Bohotale. He asks
that 600 further reliable troops be dis
patched from Berbora forthwith.
The severe reverses in Somaliland
places the British force there, of
about 5000 men of doubtful reliability,
in an exceedingly perilous situation.
Since the beginning of Col. Swayue' s
second campaign against the Mullah
last May 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 Evergo.
Last December the Mullah was ro-
ported to have about 10000 men, most
ly mounted, large percentage OF whom
were armed with rifles. It is possible
that he now commands about 5000
men. With this large force harrassing
him Col. Swayne has to retreat to Bo-
hotale, 100 miles, and probably still
500 miles further to Burao, the princi-
pal British frontier post.
This march must be made under a
scorching sun and oyer an arid and
roadless desert, even if the retreat is
successful. The gravest anxiety will
be felt until further news is received.
The entire expedition will have to be
repeated on much larger scale.
The Mullah's success will set the
whole Oaden and Dolbahanta country
aflame. Trade returns at Berbora and
Buhlar have shown an enormous de-
crease since the operation of the Null
lah cut off access to the rich market of
Oaden and Dolbahanta.
1t was announced by Lord Lans-
downe, foreign secretary, in parliament
last summer that the Italians were CO.
operating with Col. Swayne, but as the
dispatch made public does not mention
Italian help, it is supposed that some
local difficulty was found in arranging
for the CO operation.