Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1885-06-27 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

SOITDAN WARFARE.  At a recent meeting of the United Service Institution, Sir Lumley Graham in the chair, a paper was read by Major Cowper King, A.M.A. on "Soudan Warfare." In his opening remarks, Major King pointed out that in recent campaigns against savage races, the circumstances were so peculiar as to necessitate special tactics; but it was a question consideration whether the methods adopted were for the best. Many officers of high experience and ripe judgment had questioned the suitability of the tactics employed in the Soudan, the tnassive square being described as an unintelligent and dangerous formation, that neutralised the advantages of superior training and weapons on the part of the soldier, and of skill and science on the part of the General. It possessed many inherent weaknesses, lacking mobility and being difficu't to manceuvre. It had four weak points at the angles, and the Arabs soon found this out, as Sir Gerald Graham pointed out in one of his despatches. Still it must be admitted that there could be no question about the advantages of the square where the numbers were small. At Abu Klea and Abu Kru Sir Herbert Stewart and Sir Charles Wilson had no choice, but in other battles the necessity was not so obvious. The Soudanese tactics were mainly those of shock and charge, the oldest methods in the world with brave troops, and the actual fighting was severe but of short duration. When met by a square if the latter were broken there was imminent danger of dissolution, resulting ins disordered mass indicting loss on friend and foe alike. On the other hand, where the formation was more linear success was proportionately less doubtful. In the recent Souakim engagements the square formation was rendered still more dangerous by the presence in its midst of a mass of impedimenta, and he suggested that everything that could possibly be left in the rear should be entrenched in a zereba. It was a question whether excessive care for the comfort of troops was not really productive of greater sacrifice of life in the end. Theoretically, the most suitable formation would be one that could develop a heavy fire, as as to sweep away the attack before it could close, and afford a wide front of operation so as to prevent or limit an outflanking movement, while at the same time if its flanks were turned it should still possess an intact solid nucleus incapable of being easily broken up. Possibly this might be attained by a combination of line and square based on present drill formations. In the discussion which ensued, Lord Chelmsford, Major. General Hon. W. Feilding, Sir Edward Hamley, Colonel Malcolm Green, and Colonel Lonsdall Hale took part. The chairman, in proposing a vote of thanks to Major Cowper King, expressed a general agreement with his conclusions. No doubt a series of small bodies capable of being quickly united would be found useful in dealing with an enemy like the Arabs; but probably future tactics, should the necessity arise, might depend upon altered conditions, as the Soudanese would no doubt provide themselves with modern firearms. Major King having briefly replied, the proceedings closed.  Tim Folkestone coroner has held an inquest on a commercial traveller named Henry Read, who committed suicide at an hotel in the town by shooting himself through the heart with a revolver. 'fheverdict returned was, "Temporary insanity." A SOMEWHAT serious collision recently occurred on the Great Northern Railway after midnight, within a few hundred yards of Hatfield Station. An express goods train from London to Doncaster ran into an engine and trucks that had been left standing on the main down line. Several trucks were smashed to atoms by the force of the collision, and one of the engines was greatly damaged. The guard of the goods train was slightly hurt, but the drivers and stokers suffered more severely. The line was blocked for several hours, greatly delaying the traffic. The accident is attributed to a mistake at the points. THE bill confirming a provisional order granted by the Local Government Board for the separation of Heston and Isleworth from the united district under the control of the Lower Thames Valley Main Sewerage Board ha passed unopposed through the House of Commons.