THE WAR IN SOUDAN.

Kumara Times, Issue 2397, 8 May 1884, Page 2

THE WAR IN SOUDAN.

THE BATTLE OF TAMASI

The following particulars of the battle of Tamasi (or Tamaneb), in which the forces of Osman Digrnah were routed with great slaughter, .have been received :

London, March 21

The full accounts of the battle of Tamasi, which was fought on March 13, bring into clearer relief the desperate nature of the struggle, and gallantry of the British troops engaged in it. Osman Digmah's strategy was excellent. He directed the Arabs to leave 12,000 of their number in hiding in a defile until the British approached, and then, with a united rush, to seek to overwhelm them. The nature of the country, which was unfavorable for cavalry, helped these tactics. Admiral Hewetc, detected Osman's ambuscade, but although General Graham was informed of it, he disregarded the information. The British advanced in two squares. The second brigade, commanded by General Davis, was slightly in advance. It comprised the 65th York and Lancashire Regiments, and the 42nd (the Black Watch), who formed the front and sides of the square, the men in front marching in line, and the sides in open columns of companies, the British line bringing up the rear and completing the square. Inside the square, in the rear of the left flank of the Black Watch, were the Naval Brigade, with machine-guns. General Graham, the doctors, war correspondents, and other non-combatants were inside the square. General Bullet's square was composed of the 75th Regiment on the right flank and right. lia.l£ front, the 89th on the left half front and left Hank, the oOth Regiment fuming the rear. It advanced on the right rear of General Davis' brigade a distance of 500 yards. The troops moved slowly until the leading square approached the edge of a deep, narrow valley. Snddenly, from behind a swell of the ground, 50 yards from the front of the square, upwards of 1000 Arabs, hitherto unperceived, commenced a furious charge, heraldin" their advance by showers of bullets, tlireatenint; the flanks us well as the

front square. Before the flank companies had time to face outwards they received the full attack. The front face of the square moved smartly forward full of eagerness. At the battle of El Tib the Black Watch were accused of sluggishness, because they made a too deliberate advance upon the enemies concealed in rifle-pits. In order to enable the regiment to retrieve this supposed loss of reputation, the Black Watch were placed in the position of honour and danger at Tatnasi. When the order was given to charge the enemy, the Highlanders burst into a cheer and sprang forward impetuously with fixed bayonets. The 65th failed to keep pace with the Black Watch, and a wide gap was created in the front line in addition to similar gaps in the flanks. The officers of the 65th, perceiving the imminent danger, endeavoured to halt and re-form. But before the flank company could get into line, the Arabs broke into the square like a pack of hungry wolves, utaerly regardless of the hail of bullets which greeted their appearance. This was the critical moment, when, according to General Graham, discipline was forgotten. The bulk of the York and Lancaster regiments fell back upon the marines, throwing them into disorder. Hero and there small bodies of marines and Highlanders retired slowly, firing steadily, and fighting back to back; but the square formation, having been temporarily broken, the Naval Brigade were unable to use the Gatling guns, because the fire would have slaughtered friend and foe alike. Thrice the Naval Brigade were surrounded; the sailors, however, standing by their guns even after being separated from their ammunition. They lost heavily in proportion to their numbers. When compelled to abandon their guns, the Naval Brigade succeeded in temporarily disabling the weapons, and, fighting in a confused mass, drifted back 500 yards before a terrible onslaught of the Arabs. The Black Watch, standing their ground longer than the 65th, suffered terribly, being speared behind and before. The Highlanders fought like devils. When unable to fire they resorted to their bayonets and the butts of their rifles. Even at first, when the confusion was at its height, they had 55 privates killed, while the regiment lost almost all its non-commissioned officers. Major Aitken, of the Black Watch, was killed. Colonel Green, Captain Brophy, and Lieutenant M'Leod, all officers of the same regiment, were wounded.

The extraordinary fearlessness displayed by the savages inspired much admiration. Only 15 prisoners were taken during the fight. While life lasted the wounded Arabs would be still and quiat, rarely uttering a cry or moan, but watching for a chance to strike the British with knife and spear as they advanced. The Arabs neither gave nor accepted quarter. Their skirmishers crept among bushes and behind rocks all across the British front, flanks, and rear, firing into and threatening the troops on every side. At least 800 fell in the wild charge which broke the square, while hundreds more were swept away by the British fire. After the other Brigades rallied, 1500 dead bodies were connted within an area of 200 yards on the ground where this terrible straggle occurred. Nearly 4000 dead Arabs were found on the field. Probably many more of the wounded expired subsequently. It has been estimated that the wounded numbered 5000, but itis thought that this is an exaggeration. The total number of British killed was 120, and of wounded 99. The battle was virtually over about midday, having lasted nearly four hours.