The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-04-26
NEARLY ANNIH|LATED
Disastrous Defeat of the British in
Dast Part of Africa,
HUNDREDS ARESLAIN
So Great We're the Losses of the Red
Coats That Only Thirty.Seyen
Escaped From Sanguin.
arv Affair.

London, April 24.-The war office
has received from Brigadier Genera
Manning, in command of the British
forces in Somaliland a dispatch dated
twenty miles westward of Galadi Som
aliland, April IS. as follows: Il re
gret to report that flying column un
der command of Colonel Cobbe, which
left Galdl, April 10, to reconnoiter the
road to WalWal, had a most serious
check April II, On the morning of
April II, Colonel Cobb was at Gum.
burru, forty miles to the westN ard OF
Galadi and had decided to return to
Galadi owing to serious difficulties in
fndlng the road to Walwal and to the
shortness of water. He was about to
leave his protected camp when firing
was heard in the direction of small
party under Captain Olivey, which
had been sent out in westerly direc-
ton to recOnnOiter. At 9:l5 in the
morning Colonel Cobbe dispatched
Colonel Plunkett with $50 men of Sec
ond battalion of the Kings Africans,
eight of the Second Sikhs and two
Maxim guns for eXtrication of Captain
Ollvey, who had not been engaged
Colonel Plunkett on joining the de-
tachment continued to push on. At
11:45 Colonel Cobbe heard heavy fir
ing in the direction taken by Colonel
Plunkett. At about l O'Clock in the
afternoon a few fugitives who were
coming in reported Colonel Plunkett
had been defeated with loss. The
news has been fully corroborated
since, and | have to report the total
loss of Col. Plunkett's party with ex-
ception of thirty-seven Yaos. who have
arrived here. The latest information
extracted from the fugitives is to the
effect that Colonel Plunkett pushed on
after enemy's forces to open the
country seven miles westward to
Gumburu, where he was attacked by
very strong force of mounted troops
and enemy's infantry, who attacked at
close quarters, He kept back the en-
envy until he had no more ammuni.
ton, when he formed a square and
charged with bayonets in the direc-
ton Of Colonel Cobbe's lirba He NOV
ed some distance IN this man
ner, but a great many men,
including Colonel Plunkett him
self, were killed or wounded by the
pursuing enemy. At the last the enc
my's infantry overwhelmed the
square and annihilated all with the
exception of thirty-seven fugitives
above mentioned. The dispatch
closed with the list of officers and men
missing and killed IN acuon, namely:
Colonel A w. Plunkett, Captain John
son Stewart, Olvey, Norris and Nc
Kinnon and Lieutenants Gaynor and
Bell, all of Kings African rifles; Cap
tain Whey of Second Sikhs; Captain
Hims of India medical staff. two white
privates. forty-eight men of Second
Sikhs and 124 men of the African ri
1es. Two Maxim guns were also lost
Another dispatch from General Mar
ming, who Immediately on hearing of
the defeat Of Colonel Plunkett started
for Gumburru with $50 men says fur
Their information reached him from
Colonel Cobbe to the effect that the
latter with 220 troops was encamped
with plenty of food and supplies and
four days water, He has about 1000
and does not think he can
withdraw from his position without
assistance. because the scrub is thick
and the eTemy's forces seem likely
to be on the offensive General Man
ming adds: II march again directly
and expect to arrive at Gumburru to-
at noon, I shall accomplish
the extrication of Colonel Cobbe with
as much transport as possible and re-
turn to Galadi. can only carry suf-
fcient water for the march to Gum
burru returning directly. shall there
fore, he unable to advance against the
enemy If latter holds back"