SOMALILAND CAMPAIGN.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 920, 19 June 1903, Page 3

SOMALILAND CAMPAIGN.

COBBE’S FORCE ON HALF RATIONS

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyrigh: London, Juno 17.

Tho Daily Mail’s Aden corrcapondcni assorts that Colonel Cobbo’s force in Bo muliland is on half rations.

BERBERA ANI) BOIIOTLE .THREATENED.

REINFORCEMENTS BEING HASTENED TO SCENE.

MULLAH AVOIDS CONTACT.

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. Received 11.1!) p.m., June 18. LONDON, June 17. The lines of Berbera and llohotle are threatened.

Three companies of ilampshires and three hundred native troops are leaving Aden for .Somaliland. The 18th Kajpoots, 27th Punjauhs, two companies of British mounteus, and two sections of Native mounted* at •Simla, have been warned to be m readiness.

fourteen thousand Abyssinians are operating at Oerlogubi, Jigwigga, Milnut, and llarradiggit.

The Mullah avoids contact, and is reported to be trying to reach .Suleimar district.

THE DEFEAT OF COLONEL COBBE.

Under date May Ist, a London correspondent writes : it is impossible to view with entire equanimity the results of tne recent operations in Somaliland, for it is very evident that with tne lorce lie has at present at his disposal General Manning cannot hope to bring the campaign to a speedy conclusion unless the Mullah materially alters his tactics, and plays the game as we should like to see him play it, namely, mass his forces, and put his fate to the test in one big pitched battle, lie, however, has shown no disposition to “ (day 'possum,” and makes the most oi the advantages he possesses in having at his disposal for the purposes ol strategical movements to the rear a vast tract of well-nigh waterless desert, m whicn Ins pursuers can only venture, accompanied by a commissariat train of prodigious dimensions, or by having recourse to the costly expedient oi building lignt railways to keep the army supplied with lood and water, and ammunition. Against such a uionile and elusive foe it seems it would be sheer waste of money to indulge in light railway construction as a means to victory, for tne lines would have to be held m lorce ; and if it be true that the Mullah has some eighty thousand armed lolfowers, it would be scarcely possible to keep our communications suiliciently intact to ensure the pursuing forces against lack of food and ammunition Last week we had news oi a sonie-f what serious “ check ” to a small British lorce under Colonel Cobne , he was out reconnoitring in the direction of Wardair, and, apparently, failing to find cither the enemy or water, had decided to return to GaJadi, out whilst doing so, he ■ was suddenly attacked by the Mullah’s men in force, alter a skirmish, in which the enemy managed to kill Captain Chichester and a couple of the fcjomali Mounted infantry, but then retired. This was on April Hi. .Next day the Colonel sent out a small force under Captain Olivey and another uiiher Captain Luard, to reconnoitre. Captain Olivey discovered signs of the enemy being in force some miles away in Lhe direction in which Colonel Cobbe desired Lo retire. The latter sent out reinforcements to Olivey, and the little force some two hundred strong, continued its advance. Three miles further on it was attacked by a force estimated at twelve thousand, mainly spearsimm, who surrounded the British Croups, and by dint of mad charges, smashed up the square, and literally “ wiped out ” the force. They killed 1/0 men and tea otlicers and only forty-one men (most of them badly wounded) managed lo get back to Colonel Cobbe's zareba. According to the accounts received, our colored troops fought splendidly until all their ollieers tvere killed a.ud their ammunition was exhausted. 'llien they tried the bayonet, but against sucli overwhelming odds that they stood no earthly chance. The enemy, it is said, suffered severely, before they got the upper hand, but their “ enormous losses ” apparently leit them strong enough to threaten danger to the remains of Colonel Cobbe's force if he left his zareba. Ile at any rate despatched messengers to Galadi, asking for reinforcements, and on receipt of the news of the “ cheek,” General Manning despatched Major Kcnua with one hundred mounted infantry to assist Colonel Cobbe, and himself followed w Uh a force of some four hundred foot—Sikhs and King’s African Rifles Major Kenna joined hands with Colonel Cobbe on April IS, and thus reinforced the latter moved out of his zareba to meet General Manning and effected a junction with the relieving force next morning, after a series ol skirmishes en route. The whole force then set out for Galadi, which was reached without further opposition. Apparently the Mullah had had enough fightiug for the time be.ug, and though news came to hand oi a victory by General Manning over the Mullah, in which two thousand ot the enemy had been killed, the rc P°rt received no confirmation, and tne truth seems to be that General Manning is ■at present (May first) not in a position to continue active operations anil that for the time being the campaign is at a standstill. Evidently the suppressing of the Mullah is going to take a long time.