THE SOUDAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 129, 6 May 1885, Page 2

THE SOUDAN.

During Buller's retreat from the Nile, an incident occurred which shows what a lew determined men, armed with the rapid-firing rifles of the present day, can do. Major Wardrop, with four Hussars, and Lieutenant Tndway, of the Monnted Infantry, stole up a W:idy m the direction of Stewart's zareba, keeping well under cover of the hills, and maintaining touch all the while of Buller's left. Moving cautiously m this way, the little force crept round the enemy's right. Seeing there were only a few hundred riflemen on the hills, without any reserve or spearmen, Wardrop sent volleys at 800 yards' range into the enemy's flank, leaving a man at the spot to continue the firing as rapidly as possible, but without showing himself above the skyline. Wardrop then descended, and galloped with his men to the next hill still further behind the enemy's right, and from hero he repealed the tactics just described. This done, he pushed on to a third hill, again carrying out the same plan, rlis procedure wa* based on the belief that the Arabs would not stand if taken m the rear. And so it proved, the firing from so many different quarters, completely 'surprised the Mahdists, and threw them into something like a panic. They evidently thought that bodies of fresh troops ware arriving, and having no horsemen at hand, they began at about 2 30 to make off for Metemneh. By three o'clock their firing had ceased, and the main body of the enemy had disappeared, taking with them their guns and dead and wounded. The Arabs were actually forced to retreat by six men. (BY ELECTRIC TELEQUAPH. — COPYkIGHT.) (SPECIAL TO UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION) London, May 3. At the banquet at the Royal Academy, the Duke of Cambridge m his speech, stated that the Australian Contingent m the Soudan were performing their duties thoroughly well.