Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-16
ROOSEVELT SEES
OLD BATTLEFIELD
GOES TO KERRERI, WHERE
THOUSANDS FELL
SHOWS HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE
THAT is SURPRISING
Former President Dismisses His Ma
tive Servants, Giving Each
Cash and Present-Ad-
dresses Students
Associated Pressl

KHARTOUM, March 15.-Col. Roose-
velt's second day in Khartoum was
given up largely to sightseeing. Inc
most interesting place of all TO the
former president was the battlenela
of Kerreri, which lies seven miles norIh
of Omdurman. 1t was here that the
advance of the Anglo-Egyptian army
under Sir Herbert Kitchener was con-
tested by the khaliff and 10000 men.
and it was here that the bodies OF
L 600 dead dervisheS were counted the
following day. -
Col. Roosevelt, accompanied by MRS
Roosevelt. Miss Ethel and Kermit, Sla-
fin Pasha. inspector general of Egypt;
Major Wilson, governor Of Khartouln'
Prince Auerspert, Mrs. Asser, an mt
mate friend of Mrs. Roosevelt, ana
others, went to Omdurman on the Sir
dar's yacht, Elfin, and from there on
camels to the scene of the great palle
of September 2, 1898.
The cavalcade started with cavalry
escort in front and in the rear Inc
first halt was made at the monument
erected to the Twenty-first Lancers,
who here received their baptism of Ilre.
In this battle the Lancers made des-
perate charge, but fell into an ambush
at one of the dry water courses seam
ing the plain, ana many Wele 0N
by the dervishes.
The guides took the party TO the
Donga. where the spearmen were con-
realed. and described the annlhnatlon
of the LancerS.
Thence they went to a hill overlook
ing the battlefield. Slatin Pasha eX-
plained the position and plan OF at
tack and graphically described the oP-
erations. Col. Roosevelt astonlshed the
inspector general with his knowledge
of the history of Omdurman and the
military tactics employed by both
British and the khaliff's troops.
Cannot Return via Pacific
Tho ex-nresident expressed his regret
+odav that he would be unable to re-
turn to the United States by way of
san Francisco, as the approaching mar
riage of his son, Theodore. jr., necessl-
tated his presence in New YORK early
in June. ..
This was in response to invitations
extended to him by various western
cities to pay them visit on his Jour-
ney homeward. -.
This evening a dinner was given at
the palace. at which some thirty covers
were laid. the guests, in addition to
Colonel and Mrs. Roosevelt, and their
son and daughter including Slatlh
Pasha, Colonel and Mrs. Pink, Lieu
tenant Colonel and Mrs. e. Z. Ber-
nard, Major P. R. Phipps, Bishop
GWinne, sir CQlnDeIl b2ulllSl anu A"iN
Enroll.
After breakfast this morning Colonel
Roosevelt summoned to him the native
servants who had accompanied him
throughout the expedition and bade
them good by. Each received present
of cash from Colonel Roosevelt and a
gift from Mrs. Roosevelt.
The sightseeing program began with
a visit to Gordon memorial college,
whence a drive was taken through the
town. Colonel Roosevelt Mrs. Roose-
velt. Miss Ethel Roosevelt and Major
General Sir Rudolph Baron Won Slatin,
inspector general of the sirdars star,
made up the party.
Later in the forenoon the RooseVelts
abandoned their carriage for a motor
car and drove into the suburbs
The tentative plans of the Roose-
Vets provide for their departure from
here on a special train Thursday night.
On the way to Cairo a stop of one
day will be made al Assouan, Upper
Egypt, and two days will be given
over to a visit to Luxor.
Col. Roosevelt upon his visit to Cor
don Memorial hall addressed the stu
dents informally, expressing great in
terest in their work and remarking
upon the splendid progress made by
British energy within the few years
that its influence had been eXerted in
Khartoum.