THE SOUDAN DISASTER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 76, 28 February 1884, Page 2

THE SOUDAN DISASTER.

m — . Statement of an Eye Witness. The Khedive hasreceiyedthefollowing despatch from, the- Governor of Khartoum, under date December 16. Ihe message states: — "The chief of the central district of the province of the "White Nile sent me yesterday a camel driver who had been in. tho service of Kwiani Bey, a merchant, but went with a native oscar in .flicks' army. This man .«ay3 that the army, on leaving D.uem, soon met the rebels, aiid engaged in skirmishes with tlieiii^

the Mahdi's men being beaten, and our side losing' a few Bashi-Bazouks and Chaigehs. We had thus arrived at Rahet, where there is a lake, and thence we filled up with the necessary water and marched towards Alouba. At this place we encountered many rebels and defeated them, passing the night there. On November 2 we left Alouba, taking what water we could, and were tf»reo hours crossing the forest. In this wo were surprised by a great number of rebels, by whom our march was stopped. We formed squares, and all day "we fought with the rebels; ' who were; finally defeated, and retired, so ..tha| .we_ passed the night on the battle ground. Upon Saturday, tneßr#, we resumed the march, bat our water soon became exhausted, and again the rebels, appearing in strong force, surrounded our army. A serious engagement ensued, in which heavy losses were suffered on either side ; but the? rebels were once more beaten. We passed that night also on the field,. and .the next day (Sunday) our arm v moved towards Kaaghil, After proceedingfor four hours, large numbers of rebels surprised us with- a powerful fusilade, Our troops were suffering great tofment from thirst, but, nevertheless, fought throughout the day. On the sth we were advancing towards the wells; which were only half an hour distant, when the rebels, who. had been hidden in the forests, suddenly attacked us on all sides. We replied by ■a 1 general musketry fire, and a great battle laged. Towards midday the entire force of the rebels came upon us in a general charge, with guns, swords, and lances, and our whole army perished, except 200 Egyptian soldiers and a few negro servants, most of these being . wounded. Abd-ul Rahman, a merchant of Khartoum, has recognised among these , the. name of a relation saved, who ; ig now at ObeioV *I myself,' the camel-driver said, ( was found wounded and sent to Birket, and there I saw the Mabdi, who took me to Obeid, whence I escaped to Khartoum with a few merchants.' The prisoners at Obeid are free, but any white men "would be killed if they tried to escape," This man further states that HioksPasha fought like a lion, discharging the contents of his revolver three times, and then using his sword. He was the last of the Staff to die. The members of -the Staff-all fell in one group. After the battle about 150 soldiers were found lying wounded, and the Mahdi ordered that no wounded man should be injured. The heads qf the Staff officers and of the Egyptian officers were struck oft and exhibited to the prisoners, and then fixed over the gate of El Obeid. The Aiabs resolved to build a tomb over Hicks Pasha's body, in recognition of his great bravery, The Mahdi directed tfia* the prisoner Vizelelly should not be injured. The caiuel-driver says that Mahdi has sent an expedition to liar/bur. Swarms of Bedouin* were joining the Mahdi, and many tribes declaring themselves his partisans. The Government of Khartouni has verified from the brother of the native officer, that this camel-driver was really with the army of Hicks Pasha. This aocount is regarded ofiicially as in substance correct ; although Sir Evelyn Wood is said to doubt the wholesale slaughter alleged, and.at the same time thinks the Mahdi's losses have been less than in pretended. ,