THE SOUDAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2022, 27 December 1888, Page 2

THE SOUDAN.

ALLEGBI) DEFECTIVE WEAPONS.

(pur pr^ss association.)

London, Dooember 22 to 24

In the course of a speech at Scarborough yesterday, Lord Salisbury said the Government were Hound by Mr Gladstone's promise to the Khedive to maintain too Red Sea ports. Government, therefore, were not prepared to abandon the Soudan. Ten of the allies were killed, and eighty wounded m the battle on Thurs day morning. Large quantities of the enemy's ammunition was captured. The W ftr Office will hold a searching inquiry into the statements that some of the weapons used by the British troops m the recent fight outside Suakim were defective, with a view to discovering by whom such weapons were supplied. The reported failure of weapons, especially the swords of the Hussars, has given rise to the fear that the quality of the weapons supplied to the cavalry generally may be inferior. Suakim, December 21 to 24. Osman Digna has reinforced Handoub. Both European and. Native opinion agrees that an immediate attaok on Handqub would completely quell the rebellion. Colonel Kitchener is engaged m the erection of forts on the site of the trenches, from which the Dervishes urere expelled on Thursday laafc. The British troops have now returned to this ctyy. The Dervishes have reformed their scattered forces, and wo harassing the outposts. It is reported here that General Greenfell is much disgusted at the rumored, decision of the Imperial Government to withdraw from the Soudan, and that he will desist from the further pursuit of Qsm.an Digna,