The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-04-30
BRITISH DISASTER
TWO HUNDRED TROOPS SLAIN
SOMALiLAND.
Detachment Under Col. Plunta..
Almost Entirely Annihilated nv
the Followers Of the Mad NM.
lah---Col. PIunketr Among the,
Killed.

London, April 24.-The war Office
has received from General Manning in
command of the British forces in
Somaliland, dispatch dated twenty
miles westward of Galadi, April Is. as.
follows:
81 regret to report that a flying col.
umn under command of Colonel Cobbe.
which left Galadi April 10, to reconoi..
ter the road to Walwal, had most 40.
rious check April II. On the mornino.
of April II Colonel Cobbs was at Gum.
berru, forty miles westward of Galadi
and had decided to return to Galadi
owing to the serious difficulty in find.
ing the road to Walwal and to the
shortness of water. He was about tn.
leave his zareba (protected camp when
firing was heard in the direction of a
small party, under the command OF
Captain Olivey, which bad been sent
in westerly direction to reconnoiter.
eat 9:15 in the morning Colonel
Cobbe dispatched Colonel Plunkett
with 100 men of the second BATTALION
of the Kings African rifles, forty-eight
of the Second Sikhs and two Maxim
guns, for The ex:rication of Captain
Olivey, if necessary. AS a matter of
fact Captain Olivey had not been en-.
gagged. Colonel Plunket, on joining the
detachment, continued to push out.
At IL AS Colonel Cobbe heard heavy
fire in the direction taken by Colonel
Plunkett, and at about in the after
noon few fugitives' came in and re-
ported that Colonel Plunkett had been
defeated with heavy loss.
"The news has been fully corrobo-
rated since, and have to report the to-
tai loss of Colonel Plunkett's party,
with the exception of 81 Yaos, who
have arrived here.
"The latest information extracted
from the fugitives is to the effect that
Colonel Plunkett pushed on after the
enemy's force to the open country seven
miles westward of Gumberru, where
he was attacked by very strong force
of the enemy's infantry, who at
tackled at close quarters. He kept back
the enemy until he had no more ammu-
milton, when be formed square and
charged with bayonets in the direction
of Colonel Cobbe's zareba. He moved
some distance in this manner, but
great many men, including Colonel
Plunkett himself, were killed or wound
ed by the pursuing enemy.
% At last the enemy's infantry over
whelmed the suqare and annihilated
them all, with the exception of the
thirty-seven fugitives above men,
toned"
The dispatch closes with list of the
officers and men missing and no doubt
killed in action. The two Maxim guns
were also lost.
Another dispatch from General Man
ming, who, on hearing of the defeat of
Colonel Plunkett, started for Gumber-
ru with AGO men, says further informa-
ton reached him from Colonel Cobbe
to the effect that the latter, with 72O
troops, was eneamping with plenty of
food and supplies and four days water.
He has about a thousand camels, and
does not thingk he can withdraw from
his position without assistance, be-
cause the scrub is thick and the enc
my's forces seem likely to act on the
offensive. General Manning adds:
81 march again directly and expect
to arrive at Gumberru tomorrow at
noon. l shall accomplish the extradi-
ton of Colonel Cobbe, with as much
transport as possible, and return to
Galadi. l can only carry sufficient wa
ter to march to Gumberru, returning
directly. l shall therefore be unable
to march against the enemy if the lat
for holds n. -