The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-24
BRITISH SQUARE
ANNIHILATED
Somalis Kill Ten Officers
and $50 Men in a
Battle.

ALDEN, Arabia, April 23.-The British
transport Hardinge arrived here today
from Berera, the capital of Somaliland,
East Africa, and confirmed the report,
of q British defeat in Somaliland. The
officers of the Hardinge say that 10
officers and $50 men, out of total
British force of 220 men, We're killed
recently in an engagement with. the
Somalis.
LONDON, April 23.-The war Office
today received from Brig. Gen. Man
ming, in command of the British forces
in Somaliland, a dispatch dated TWEEN
ty miles westward of Galadi, Somali-
land, April 10, as follows:
"A flying column under the command
of Col. Cobbe, which left Galadi, April
10, to reconnoiter the road to Walwal,
had most serious check April II. On
the morning of April IL Col. Cobbe was
at Gumburru, forty miles westward of
Galadi, and had decided to return to
Galadi, owing to the serious difficulty
in finding the road to Walwal and to
the shOrtness of water. He was about
to leave zareba protected camp,
when firing was heard in the direction
of a small party, under the command
of Capt. Olivey, which had been sent
in a westerly direction to reconnoiter.
AT 9:15 in the morning. Col. Cobbe
dispatched Col. Plunkett with 100 men
of the Second battalion of the kings
African rifles, 4S of the Second Sikhs
and two Maxim guns for for the -extri-
cation of Capt. Olivey If necessary. AS
a matter of fact Capt. Olivey had not
been engaged. Col. Plunkett, on join
inc thp n
on.
AT 11:45 Col. Col,be heard a heavy
fire in the direction taken by Col.
Plunkett and at about l o'clock in the
afternoon a few fugitives coming in
reported that Col. Plunkett had been
defeated with loss. The news has been
fully corroborated since and 1 have to
report the total loss of Col. Plunkett's
party, with the exception of 81 Yaos,
who have arrived here.
1.-The latest information extracted
from the fugitives is that Col Plunkett
pushed on after the enemys force to
the open country, seven miles west
ward of Gumburru, where he was at
tackled by very strong force of
mounted troops and the enemy's in
fantry, who attacked at close quarters.
IlS hcpI DdCh Tie tilSIIiy uIllll lie HdQ
no more ammunition, when he formed
a square and charged with bayonets
in the direction of Col. Cobbe's zareba.
He moved some distance in this man
ner, but a great many men, including
Col. Plunkett himself, were killed or
wounded by the pursuing enemy. At
last the enemy's infantry overwhelmed
the square and annihilated them all
al.
fugitives above mentioned"
The dispatch closes with a list of
the Officers and men missing, and no
doubt killed in action" namely, Col. A.
w. V. Plunkett, Capts. Johnston, Stew
art, Olivery, Norris and McKinnon and
Lieuts. Gaynor and Bell, all of the
Kings African rifles; Capt. Whey, of
the Second Sikhs; Capt. Sims, of the
India medical staff; 2 white privates,
48 men of the Second Sikhs and 124
men of the African rifles. The two
Maxim guns were also lost.
Another dispatch from Gen. Manning,
who Immediately on hearing of the de-
feat of Col. Plunkett, started for Gum
burru with 460 men, says further in
formation reached him from Col. Cobbe
that the latter, with 220 troops, was
encamping with plenty of food and
supplies and four days water. He has
about a thousand camels and does not
think he can withdraw from his posi-
ton without assistance because the
scrub is thick and the enemy's forces
seem likely to act on the offensive.
Gen. Manning adds: II march again
directly and expect to arrive at Gum
burru tomorrow at noon"
Eyes. know Mrs Sappy. She lives in a
fiat. doesn't she?