Egypt

Manawatu Herald, 6 September 1898, Page 2

Egypt

OMDURMAN CAPTURED.

FLIGHT OF THE KHALIFA. A sandstorm is delaying telegrams from the Soudan. Tba gunboats shelled the camp of the Dervishes at Kerreri on Tuesday. A force of Lancers skirmished in front of an outpost where 200 Dervish cavalry were drawn up, killing several of the latter. The skirmishing party sighted a considerable foroe with many standards. General Kitchener, with the main body of the Anglo* Egyptian foroe, his reached Sumrad, 10 miles from Kerreri. The Dervishes appear determined to fight. Admiral Keppel's gunboats demolished all the forts on Lubi Island and on the right bank of the Nile, capturing four guns. There were no British oasnalties. The dome of the Mahdi's tomb and the mosque at Omdurman have been partially destroyed. Thirty five thousand Dervishes are outside the city awaiting the arrival of General Kitchener. The Khalifa with his entire force advanced and made a bold and determined attempt to envelop the British fl&nkg, but was repulsed after one hour's fighting. The fighting was renewed by General Kitchener, who advanced and again repulsed the Khalifa with heavy loss. The Dervishes were completely dispersed, and Omdurman was occu I pied by tb,e British with but slight resistance. The Khalifa fled, the cavalry and gunboats pursuing the retreating Dervishes.