The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-24
VerY Few Escaped.

London. April 23.--The War once today received from Brigadier General Manning, in command of the British forces in so- maitland. dispatch dated twenty miles west of Galadi. somaliland dated April IS. as follows:F 'Ss
 T regret to report that fiying column, under tho command of Colonel, cobbe, which left Galadi. April 10. to cover the road to Walwal. had most serious att tack April II. On the morning of April 1T, Colonel Cobbe was at Gumberu. fifty miles west of Galadi and had decided to return to Galadi owing to the serious dif- ficulty in finding the road to walwal and to the shortness of water. He was about to leave his seareba (protscted csmp) when firing v'as heard in the direction of a small party. under the command of Cartain Olivey, which had been sent in a westerly direction to reconnoitre.
 At SIS in the morning Colonel Cobbe dispatched Colonel Plunkett with leo mon of the Second battalion of the Kings Af- rican rifles. forty-eight of the Second sikhs and two Maxim guns for the extrf- cation of Captain Olivey if necessary. As matter of fact. Captain Olivey had not been engaged. Colonel Plunkett, on join. ing the detachment, continued to push on
 At 11:45 Colonel Cobbe heard heavy fire in the direction taken by Colonel Plunkett and at about o'clock in the af- ternoon few fugitlves coming in report ed that Colonel Plunkett had been de- feated with loss hssss s ''The news has been fully corroborated since and have to report the total loss of Colonel Plnnkett's party with the ex- ception of thirty-seven Taos, who have arrived here.
 ''The story of the fsiEitives Is to the ef- feet that Colonel Plunkett pushed on af- . ter the enemy's forces to the open coun- try seven miles westward of Gumburru, where he was attacked by a strong force of mounted troops and the enemy's in fantry which attacked at close quarters
 .'He kept back the enemy until he had no more ammunition when he formed a square and charged with bayonets in the direction of Colonel Cobbes seareba. He moved some distance in this manner, but q great many men. including Colonel Plunkett himself. were killed or wounded Atlast she enemy's infantry overwhelmed the square and annihiiated them all with the exception 0e the thirty-seven fuzitives above mentioned. ."%-v-.ss..
 The dispatch closes with a. list of off, cers and men missing. md no doubt Killed in action, namely: Colonel A. W. ". Plunkett. Captains Johnstone.s Stewart. olivey, Norris and McKinnon, and Lieu tenants Gaynor and Bell all of the King African rifles; Captain vizey of the Sec ond Silhs: Captain Sims. of the India Medical staff: two white privates; forty eight men. of the Second Sikhs. and PA men of the African rifies. The two Max i'm guns were also lost.
 Another dispatch from General Man ming. who immediately on hearing of the defeat of Colonel Plunkett started for Gumburru with 4s0 men. says further in- formation reached him from Colonel Cobbe to the effect that the latter, with 20 troops, was .encamping with pieaty of food and supplies and four days water.
 "fIe has about 1000 camels and does not think he can withdraw from his position without assistance because the south is thick with the enemys forces, who are likely to act on the offensive"
 General Manning adds:
 T march again directly and expect to arrive at Gumburru tomorrow at noon. l shall accomplish the relief of Colonel Cobbe with as much transport as possible and return to Galadi. can only carry sufficient water for the march to Gum burru. returning directly. shall, there fore, be unable to advance against the enemy if the latter holds back"