THE WAR IN SOUDAN

Kumara Times, Issue 2671, 13 April 1885, Page 2

THE WAR IN SOUDAN

[REUTERS TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. GRAHAM’S PROCLAMATION TO THE REBEL ARABS. THE MAHDI'S FORCES AT EL OBEID DESTROYED. (Received April 11, 5 a.m.) Suakin, April 10, Evening. Sir Gerald Graham has issued a proclamation calling upon the rebel Arabs to submit to him and furnish provisions and cattle for the use of the British, otherwise they must be prepared to take the consequences of their resistance. (Received April 13, 0.40 a.m.) Cairo, April 11. The news of the rising by the disaffected followers of the Mahdi is confirmed, and it is believed his forces have been completely destroyed in fighting at El Obeid. CHIEFS TENDERING THEIR SUBMISSION TO BRITISH AUTHORITY. [Per Reuter’s Special Correspondent.] (Received April 13, 10 p.m.) Suakin, April 12, The native sheiks in the neighborhood of this place, in consequence of General Graham’s proclamation, are rapidly tendering their submission, and it is expected when the British advance is completed as far as Tambourk, that nearly all the tribes will have owned allegiance to British authority. —— The following letter from the late General Gordon, addressed to a friend in Cairo, and dated Khartoum, December 14, was received in Cairo on February 24 “ All is up- I expect a catastrophe in 10 days’ time. It would not have been so if our people had kept me better informed as to their intentions. My adieux to all.—C. G. Gordon.” It is remarked that the scrap of paper received by Lord Wolseley from General Gordon, with the words “ Khartoum all right,” bore the same date as the above letter. Referring to the breaking of the British squa.e at Abu Klea, the London Daily Chronicle remarks:—This was, it appears, due to an unfortunate error on !)he part of the late Colonel Burnaby, who, although not in possession of a command, ordered the “Heavies” to press forward to meet the rush of Arab spearmen, and then—although unfortunately too late to save either his own or many another gallant life—to fall back again. The natural consequence was, that the active euemy was inside our square before it could be closed, and did some terrible execution before order was again restored. There can be little doubt, from our correspondent’s description, that had the face of the square formed by the “Heavies” remained as firm as the others, our loss would have been relatively inconsiderable.