THE SOUDAN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1141, 14 March 1884, Page 3

THE SOUDAN.

t airo. March 4. Telegrams are to han i from SoUaair. stating that the British at Tokar and other places in the neighbourhood are leturning to Trinkitai, where ihe whole foies wi.l concentrate to-morrow, prior to being reembarked. The destination of the transports is not definitely known, but it is expected they will convey the troops to Souakin. Intelligence is also to hand that a oon-side-able number of inhabitants of Tokar, and the Egyptian troops who Formed the garrison of that town prior to the relief by General Graham, are now arriving at the Souakin. March 5. The latest telegrams from Souakim report that Admiral H“witt, commanding the East Indian squadron, will very shortlv proceed on a mission to Abyssinia. The object of the same has not, however, transpired. Major General Graham, commanding fie British forces in the Soudan, has arrived at Souakim from Trinkitat. March 5 (evening). To-day’s despatches from Souakin J state that the rebels under Osman Digma, who encamped near that place, have assumed a bellicose attitude. The British troops from Trinkitat are now proceeding to, and will disembark at, a point to the south of Souakim, from whence it is expected an advance will be made against the rebels. March 6. Intelligence has been received to-day that the British trooos from Trinkitat have arrived at Souakin and landed there, the orders to disembark them at a point to the southward having been countermanded. Nows is to hand that hostilities have broken out in Kordofan between the rebels and certain loyal tribes. An engagement was recently fought at a place to the northward of Obeid. The followers of El Mahdi mustered fully a thousand, but the loyal Arabs mustered a strong force, and inflicted a severe defeat upon the rebels. March 7. The first and second battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment have been ordered to proceed to Siout, a town about 150 miles south of this city, on the Nile in Upper Egypt. The ultimate destination of the troops has not transpired. News has been received from Jeddah, a seaport in Arabia en the eastern shore of the Red Sea, that the Bedouin Arabs living in the neighbourhood have broken out in revolt, and have already committed great excesses. London. March 4. In the Houoo of Commons this afternoon Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, Under-secretaiy for Foreign Affairs, stated, in reply to a question, that the Government did not in tend to order the Briti-h troops in the Soudan to relieve the garrison at Kassala, a town near the border of Abyssinia, and which was reported to have been threatened by the hostile natives, as it was now belie ed that the garrison would be able to withdraw any molestationMarch 5. The remainder of Baker Pasha’s guns and a quantity of plunder have been recovered near Tokar, and the Arabs appear cowed. Mr K. S anley, M.P., has given notice of a motion for refusing to vofe war supplies until the policy of the Government in regard to E-ypt and the Soudan is fully explained to Parliament In the House of Commons to-day the Marquis of Hartinutnn, Secretary tor War, in reply to a question, slated that it had been left to the option of Major-general Graham whether an attack should be made upon the rebels upon Osman Digma, who is now menacing Souakin. March 7. Major-general Graham has determined to attack Osman's forces unless they at once disperse. Cairo, March Bth. The latest telegrams from Souakin an nnunce that General Graham has ordered the rebels under Osman Digma to disperse, hut no heed is being taken of the summons. It is ruinomed that Osman’s followers are deserting him. The hussars at Souakin have b«>en sent to reconnoitre the enemy’s position, but General Graham has given strict or lers that they are not to advance unless there is a certainty of finding Osman. March 9 hj. Telegrams to hand from Souakin state that it is expected that Massowat, a town on a small island belonging to Egypt, situated off the east coast of Abyssinia, will shortly be proclaimed a free port. Osman Dignen. the leader of the rebels in the Eastern Soudan, has refused to surrender to the British force, and lias announced his determination of fighting. General Graham’s troops will advance against the rebels on Tuesday next, and it is expected a battle will then take place. Telegrams have been received from Gordon Pasha stating that he is unable to make arrangements for relief to the garrison at Khartoum without the aid of a military force. London, March 9. Osman Digma is preaching a holy war. Major General Graham hopes to induce the friendly Arabs to block Osmans’ retreat to the mountains. '1 he following special cables have appeared in the Melbourne Aye. The latest intelligence from the Soudan is that the Arabs, after their d-feitat, HI Teb, he»t a hasty retreat into the mountains, where th- y are now biding. Durh g the battle tit El Tu ! > deserters front the E'.yptia" troops at Toka-worked the Kruno guns placed in position behind tne earthworks which the British troops stormed. Tne insurgeons we e very badly armed Amongst the thousands who fought only 1000 were armed with rifles, the remainder having spears. S > tar as can be ascertained 2000 Arabs were killed. Bdc-r Pasha was wounded ill the face and Colonel Burnaby in the arm. The garrison at Tokar, which submitted n Osman Digna on the 16t,n ult.,bave re joined the Britis troops. March 10 th. Governor Gordon advocated the emp'oyraent of a British cavalry force to te open communication with Berber, while the infantry in company with Sir E Wood’s force operate ou Wadyhalfa, An emissary from the Mandi is endeavouring to induce the Arab trbes north of Khartoum to rise, and Governor Gordon admits the situation to be critical. Cairo, March 10th. Latest intelligence from Souakin is to the effect that a battle between General Giahnn’s troops and the followers of Osman Digma '8 expected to take place on Friday next. It is probable that the British force will afterwards advance to Sinkat. London, March 11th. The telegraph wire to Kbaitoum has been on r The House of Commons has passed the vote for the expense nf the Konkin expedition. The Government are unwilling that Yehober should be entrusted with the government of Khartoum, and are anxious that General Gordon should himself run tin there.