WAR IN THE SOUDAN

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 94, 24 January 1885, Page 3

WAR IN THE SOUDAN

VICTORY FOR THE BRITISH.

(be web's telegrams.) Caibo, January 21. Intelligence has been received here that a severe engagement has been fought near Gakdul between ,the British troops under Sir Herbert Stewart and a body of rebels j numbering fully ten thousand. Heavy j fighting proceeded for some time, but Col. Stewart finally 1 gained a brilliant victory, and inflicted heavy loss on the enemy, fully eight hundred of whom were left dead on the field. The British casualties are set down at nine .officers and sixty-five men killed, and nine officers and eightyfive men wounded.' .After tho battle the enemy retired, and Colonel Stewart will advance forthwith to Metemneh, from which positiou it is hoped communication will be opened with Khartoum. January 22.

Later despatches state that in the battle near Gakdul the enemy numbered fully fourteen thousand, including nine hundred riflemen. Colonel Stewart had a narrow escape from death, his horse being shot under him.

London, January 23. An official telegram from Lord Wolseley states that, on Saturday last, the British column under Colonel Stewart inflicted a complete defeat on ten thousand Mahdites, who were occupying a position at Abukela Wells, between Gakdul and Metemnoh, Colonel Stewart, leaving the camels and baggage at the camp, advanced with his forces in a square, the whole force being on foot: He outflanked the enemy, who charged bravely under a withering fbe and succeeded in penetrating the left of the square. The British, were admirably steady, and maintained a hand to hand fight with the rebels, who at length were driven off completely defeated. The continuation of Lord Wo's 'ley's telegram.—" While fighting was * roee -ding on the left, other parts ef the square were filing heavily on the enemy, who were finally repulsed, leaving eight hundred dead and a number wounded. The Hussars have since occupied tbe enemy's position at Abukeia and Colonel Stewart is now advancing on Metemneh. The British loss is nine officers killed, including.Qolonel Burnaby, nine wounded, including Captains Viscount St. Vincent, and Earl Airlie, sixty-five men killed, and eighty, five wounded. Coionel Stewart believes bis victory will dishearten tho enemy, and that future fighting will be less obstinate on their part.