THE SOUDAN WAR.

Kumara Times, Issue 2600, 6 January 1885, Page 2

THE SOUDAN WAR.

The Mahdi's forces have, the cot-re-spondent of the Standard at Don«ola says, been collecting round Khartoum, and the Mahdi has again sent to General Gordon summoning him to surrender. General Gordon sent back the answer, "Not for ten years." The Daily Nows has received advices to the effect that one of their special correspondents arrived in Kordofan after thirty-five days' journey from Edfou. He followed the Mahdi, and ultimately joided him on the banks of the Nile between Khartoum and El Duem. The correspondent of the same paper at Dongola rhvr lho Mahdi's forces are 30,000 si.ong with 2000 horsemen. When at Handak a messenger came from Gai.ernl Gordon to Abel Kadir the dis»'ii--cd taut Moiocuj merciful, liw message

was—"lt will be difficult for you to come. Bagara everywhere between this place and Debbeh." Abdel Kadir sent back the messenger to procure a small boat to wait a little below Khartoum, payiug thirty dollars. He purposes leaving in twenty days, or when he hears the boat is ready. The special correspondent of the Daily News, telegraphing from Debbeh, beyond Dongola, gives some additional details of General Gordon's success near Khartoum. He says :—" Gordon attacked the rebels at Oui Durman with a flotilla of twelve vessels, including steamers. For eight hours the engagement lasted. There were 25,000 of the rebels, and they had four Krupp guns ; one . burst. They retreated, leaving enormous numbers of dead behind them. The-fugitives retired to Markeat, but were returning with an additional force. Obeid was taken by the powerful Takala tribes, who are mortal enemies of the Bagaras and the Mahdi. The prestige of the Mahdi is waning in the country betweeu here and Obeid. Many merchants are passing through this place. The English forces will meet with no resistance in going to Khartoum, but if the rebels are not punished and intimidated for Colonel Stewart's murder, they will close round in thousands from west, east, and south. The Soudanese people are most treacherous. Particulars received here state that of Colonel Stewart's party seventeeu persons were killed, On the first day they landed armed, and they were well received, and a sheep was given to them. On the second day they landed armed only with rovolvers. They were then attacked. When the women on board saw this they flung their valuables into the Nile, On seeing the natives approaching they killed three with Remingtons. The women were cut to pieces. The cannon was too heavy to transport. A Kababbish merchant who has arrived from Orn Durman, where he had been selling goods to the rebels, says the Mahdi, with 40,000 to 50,000 men, is at Markeat, near Shat. Food is scarce. A camel load of dhoura costs no less than 30 duls. The Mahdi descended into a cave and fasted for three days. He then returned and made proclamation that Allah had declared there would be peace for sixty years, and that afterwards blood would run like a river. Then, but not until then, there would be victory.