The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-04-24
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.
Colonel Plunkett Lost Almost His
Entire Force.

Entire Force.
London, April 23.-The war Office TO-
Gay received from Brigadier General
manning, i'm command of the British
FORCES IN Somaliland a dispatch dated
twenty miles westward of Galadi, So
maitland. April rs. as follows.
i regret TO report that a flying col
umn under the command of Colonel
CoDDe, which left Galadi April 10. 20
Ieconnoiter the road 10 Walwal. had "a
most serious check April IT, On the
morning of April IL. Colonel CObbe was
az 6umberru, forty miles westward Of
ealadL and had decided TO return to
Galadi, owing to the serious difcuItv
IN nndlng the road go WalWal and TO
the shortness of water.
He was about 20 leave his zareba
protected camp when firing was heard
In the direction of a small party under
the command of Captain Olivey. which
had been sent in a westerly direction
20 recOnnOiter.
At 9,l5 in the morning Colonel Cobbc
dispatched Colonel Punkett with 100
men of the Second battalion of the
Kings African Rifles, forty eight Of the
second Slkhs and two maxim guns for
the eXtricatiOn of Captain Olivey. If
necessary. At a matter Of fact. Cap
tain Olivey had not been engaged Col
onel Plunkett, on joining the detach-
menI, continued to push on. AT HIS
colonel Cobbe heard a heavy fire I'm the
direction taken by Colonel Pluukett.
and at about 1 in the afternoon a few
tugitlves coming in reported that Col
onel Plunkett had been defeated with
loss.
at Close Quarters.
'The news has been fully corrob-
GRATED since, and ] have TO report the
total loss of Colonel Plunketts party.
win the exception of thirty-seven yaos,
who have arrived here.
he latest Information extracted
from the fugitives is 10 the effect that
Colonel Plunkett pushed on after the
enemy s force 10 the open country sew
en- miles westward OF Gumberru. where
he was attacked by a very strong force
or mounted troops and the enemy's in
tantry who attacked az close quarters.
He kept back the enemy until h.
mad no more ammunition. when ne
Formed square and charged with bay
onets in the direction of Colonel CObbe's
zareba. He moved some distance in
this manner, but a great many men.
including Colonel Pluukett himself.
We're killed or wounded by the pursu-
ing enemy
AT last the enemys infantry over
Whelmed the square and annihilated
them all with the exception of the thir-
ty-seven fugitives above mentioned"
Many Officers Killed.
The dispatch closes with q list Of the
Officers and men missing and no doub.
killed in action namely Colonel a
W. V. Plunkett Captains Johnston.
Stewart. Olivey. Norris and McKinnon.
and Lieutenants GaynOr and Bell. all OF
the Kings African Rifles: Captain
Whey Of the Second Sikhs. Captain
Sims Of the Indian medical staff. two
white privates, fOrty-eight of the Sec
Ond Slkhs and 124 men of the African
Rifles. The two maxim guns were also
lost
Another dispatch from General Man
ming who, on hearing of the defeat OF
Colonel Piunkett, started for Gumber-
ru with 400 men. says further informa-
ton reached him from Colonel CObbe 20
the effect that the latter. with go
troops. was encamping with plenty u
food and supplies and four days water
He has about 1000 camels and does not
think he can withdraw from his posi-
tiOn without assistance, because the
scrub is thick and the enemys forces
seem likely to act on the offensive
General Manning adds, ct march
again directly and expect TO arrive at
Gumberru tomorrow at noon. 7 shall
accomplish the extricatiOn of Colonel
C0bbe with as much transport as pos
sible and return TO Galadi I can only
carry sufficient water for the march TO
Gumberru. returning directly. I shall.
therefore. be unable TO advance against
the enemy " the latter holds back"