War in the Soudan

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 105, 19 February 1885, Page 2

War in the Soudan

(bevtbb's TXLBOBAIIB.) Caibo, February 18. f Major-General Buller, in charge of the column at Metemneh telegraphs that the Royal Irish Regiment reached Gubat on the 1 1th inst. An eyewitness of the capture of Khartoum by the rebels states that after the death of Gordon and his party no fighting took place, and that no women or children were killed, but that the Madhites sacked Khartoum. Mblboubnb, February 17. The Victorian Government have offered 700 men, consisting of a Naval Brigade and mounted infantry, for service in the Soudan. If the Imperial ; Government accepts the offer, Parliament will be summoned to ratify it. Adelaide, February 17. The South Australian Government i have offered 250 men for service in the Soudan. Sydnbt, February 17. The Governor received a telegram to-day from Lord Wolseley, dated Soudan, February 16th, in which His Lordship says: — "Please inform tho troops coming here that I look forward with pride and honour to have Australian soldiers under my command in the field." Arrangements for despatching the troops are progressing favorably. In addition to the Iberia the steamer Australasian will probably be chartered as a transport. The enrolment of the force is nearly completed. It will consist in all of 734 officers and men and 200 horses. Mr James Tyson, the well-known squatter, has subscribed £2000 to the Patriotic Fund. The steamers Iberia and Australasion has been chartered to convey* troops to the Soudan, and are getting in readiness. Receiving February 19, 0.50 a.m. London, February 17. The first batch of the reinforcements have sailed for Suakim. It has transpired that the Government has decided to decline the offera of the Canadian and Victorian troops for Soudan, as it is believed they could not arrive on the scene of oper- ! ations in time to be of service. Received February 19, 10.60 a.m. London. February 18. A telegram from Lord Wolseley announces that a body of rebels, acting as an escort to a quantity of guns and supplies being sent from Khartoum to Metemneh, came up with ihe British detachments which were convoying a party of wounded at a point about eight miles from Gubat. The rebels opened fire on the oonvoy, which was responded to by the British, and after an hour's skirmish the enemy werrfe. driven off and retired. ™