THE SOUDAN WAR

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 119, 24 March 1885, Page 2

THE SOUDAN WAR

A FIERCE BATTLE FOUGHT. UTTEK DEFBAT OP THE ENEMY. 1000 ARABS KILLED. HEAVY LOSB TO THE BRITISH. [bivtru tilkobams.] Suakim, March 20. A considerable ferce of British troops started at daylight to-day for Hasheen, where immediate work will proceed in the construction of entrenchments. Intelligence has c»me in that the British force which left here at daylight for Hasbeeo. came up with the rebels, aider Osman Digna, and a severe engagement ensued* The fighting lasted for fully five bour», and resulted in tbe complete defeat of the rebel*, who were driven from all of their positions with heavy loss in killed and wounded. Later. Afternoon accounts of the battle, which took place yesterday in the neigh' borhood of Hassees with tie rebels under Oiraaa Digneh, in which the British were victorious at all points, give the tatter's lots at twenty-two killed and forty-tour wounded. Loxbot, March 22. New* has been received here that a large body of rebels left Oiman Digneh's headquarters with th« intention of inter* sectinf MeNeilPs force, but their moveuents are beiag observed from the British xereba. There basbeenaheavy cannonade opened upon them, with the result that the advanoe was checked, and a large number killed and wounded. Received March 23, 11 p.m. Lokdost, March 22. Renter's special correspondent with General Graham's army telegraphs from Suakim, under data midnight of 22nd, that the British troops, nnder the command of Major-General McNeil), formed a lareba at a point about sjj miles along the road to Tamai. The position had only been occupied a short time when it was attacked by a large force of Arabs numbering fully four thousand men, who made a violent onslaught •• the sareba. Fighting, which was of a most desperate character, lasted about twenty minutes; after which time the enemy were repulsed with a loss which is estimated at over a thousand men. The British casualties are given as five officers and fifty one rank and file killed, and ene hundred and seventy wounded. ° ' ' 'Later. Further intelligence is to hand from. Suakim respecting the engagement between the rebel* andrlhe British troops under Major-General McNeill at the! sareba on the, road to Tamai. It i« stated the. British, low wan not so great as at first reported. The British casual ties are now set down to two officers and twenty four rank and file killed and thirty three wounded. The Daily News this morning publishes n telegram from India announcing that a force ef 25,000 men are now being mobilised. They will be placed under the command of Lieut-General Sir Frederick .Roberts, and will , occupy Peshin, » P?*ce about 100 miles te the south e%s* of Kandahar. The same telegram also states that rajah Seindia, of Gwalior, hat offered, the services of his army to the British' for employment if required in Afghanistan. ','.,; ; . . ' _ Caibo, March 28. Lord Wolsrley, with the nrinctpnl members of his staff, proceed from Korti teDongelaU-merrow. :