Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-04-27
BRITISH DISASTER
TWO HUNDRED TROOPS SLAIN IN
SOMALlLAND.
Almost Entirely Annihtlatcd by
the Followers of the Mad Mul-
lnh...Col. Plunketu 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 flying col
Nmn under command of Colonel Cubbe,
which left Galadi April 10. to recono-
ter the road to Walwal, had most Sc
rious check April Il. On the morning
Of April Il Colonel Cobbe was st 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 10 the
shortness OF water. He WAS about to
leave his zareba \protccted camp when
firing was heard i'll the direction Of u
small party. under the command OF
Captain Olivey. which had been sent
IN westerly direction to reconnoiter.
AT 9:l5 in the morning Colone!
Cohhe dispatched Colonel Piunkett
with loo men Of the second batta,ion
vi the King African rifles. fprtv-nisht
OF the Second >ikhs ami two Maxim
guns. for he ex:ricatim of CAPTAIN
Ollvev. II necessary. As matter of
tact Captain Olivev had not been en-
gagged, Colonel Pluuke,. on joining the
detachment. continued II push out.
At / :45 Colonel Cohbe heard heavy
fire in the direction taken by Colonel
Plunkett. and AT about / in the after.
noon a few fngiNves came in and re-
ported that Colonel Plunkett had been
defeated with heavy loss.
'rhe news has been fully corroho.
rated since. and have TO report the to-
tai loss OF Colonel plunkelt's party.
with the exception Of ). Iaos. who
have arrived here.
The latest Information extracted
from the fusitivos is to the effect that
COLONEL Plunkett pushed on after the
enemy's force to the open country seven
miles westward Of Gumherru. where
he was attacked by a very strong force
ot the enemy's infantry. who at
tackled At close quarters. He kept back
the enemy until he had no more ammn-
milton. when he formed square and
charged with havonets in the direction
OF Colonel Cohbe's zareha. He moved
some distance in this manner. hut a
great many men. including Colonel
flunkett himself. were killed or wound
Ell by the pursuing enemy.
AT last the enemy's infantry over
whelmed the snQare and annihilatei
them all. with the exception OF the
th'r.y-seven iugitives above men
toned"
The dispatch closes with lis. OF the
officers and men missing and no douh.
killed in action. The TWO Maxim guns
were also lost.
Another dispatch from General Man
ming. who, on hearing OF the defeat Of
Colonel rlunAet.. started for Gumh
I'll with 400 men. says further iniorms-
,ion reac red him from Colonel Cohte
10 the ..ft'. tina, the latter. with 20
troops, sas encampins with plenty Of
io-d and supplies and four days water
He has shon. a harsan .amels. ans:
icas no. thinsk he can Withdraw irom
his position withou; assistance. be
csuse the scrub il .h ck and the sns-
My's forces seem likely 10 sc, ON the
offensive. General Manning adds:
Il march asaln Directly and expect
IA arrive ST Gum,sr-u tomorrow at
noon. shall accomplish the ex,rsdl-
;lor al Colonel Cobt~. with IS much
,raaspo., as possible. and return -
Galadi. can only carry sntSsien: VS.
ter to march 10 Gnrlterrr, returning
directly. shall therefore ~ unable
10 march aeains, the enemy ii the lat
ter hal4s hack"