CABLE NEWS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 89, 18 March 1884, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

[Per Electric Telegraph—Copybight.] [Reuter’s Telegrams.] THE SOUDAN WAR. FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE. DESPERATE FIGHTING. London, March 14. Further particulars are now to hand respecting the battle fought near Tamaneb. It appears that the British troops advanced on the enemy in two squares, and were received with a heavy fire. The rebels attacked our troops in a most fierce and determined manner, breaking the leading square, capturing some of our guns, and driving back the first battalion of the York and. Lancaster Regiment (65th foot). The marines and troops, however, speedily rallied, and further heavy fighting took place. The rebels were finally driven back completely defeated, and the guns lost early in the battle were re-captured. The fight lasted fully two hours and a-half, during which time the whole of both forces were actively engaged. The rebels are said to have lost 3,000 killed and 4,000 wounded. The previous telegrams stating the British loss at 70 killed and 100 wounded, are confirmed. The Ist Battalion of Royal Highlanders (52nd foot) were the heaviest sufferers. March 16. In the House of Commons yesterday Lord Hartington, Secretary of State for War, in reply to a question, announced that intelligence had been received that the telegraph wire bet ween Shandy and Khartoum had been cut and that a steamer from Khartoum had been fired upon. It was assumed (his Lordship added) from these facts that the tribes inhabiting the country between Shendy and Khartoum were now in rebellion. Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, Political Secretary of the Foreign Office, replying to a question, stated that orders had been sent to General Graham not to advance upon Berber. COLONIAL FEDERATION. The Hon. Evelyn Ashley, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, replying to a question in the House of Commons yesterday, announced that the Government would shortly nominate a High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, whose duties would be entirely distinct from those of the Governors of Fiji and New Zealand. Mr. Ashley further stated that the Government had informed the various Governments of Australasia that if their Parliaments pass resolutions in favor of federation by June next, the necessary Enabling Bill will be introduced in the Imperial Parliament during the present session. THE EGYPTIAN ARMY. Sir Chares Dilke, President of the Local Government Board, in the House yesterday made a statement to the effect that if the Opposition succeed in forcing a dissolution of Parliament the Government will take care to appeal to the country not upon their Egyptian policy alone but upon their policy generally.

The farmers in Manitoba are agitating for separation from the Dominion of Canada, although they desire to remain British Colonists. RETREAT OF THE ENEMY. Cairo, March 15. The latest telegrams from Souakim report that Osman Digna, with the remnant of his followers, has retreated to the hills near Tamaneb. It has been definitely proved that, in the recent battle, the rebels suffered more heavily than was at first supposed. Their loss in killed alone is now set down at fully 4,300, and the wounded exceeds that number. The whole of the British troops engaged in the battle near Tamaneb are now returning to Souakim. Major-General Graham telegraphs from Souakim that the Sheik Mahomed, a prominent Arab chief in Eastern Soudan, has expressed his belief that the recent victory of the British will have the effect of pacifying the natives of that district, and that the road to Berber will now be open. BURNING OF VILLAGES. March 16. Telegrams from Souakim announce the return of General Graham to that place. His forces are now arriving there also. Before leaving the scene of the recent battle, all the villages in the neighborhood of Tamaneb occupied by Osman Digna’s followers .were burned to the ground. FRANCO-CHINESE WAR. FURTHER PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY. Paris, March 16. Telegrams from Tonquin announce that the French forces have achieved a victory over and are pursuing the Chinese, and driving them from their various positions in the neighborhood of Bacninh. The Paris Press generally urges that the troops should advance towards the Chinese frontier. TERRIBLE EXPLOSION. New York, March 15. Telegrams are to hand announcing that an explosion has occurred in a coal mine at Pocahontas, Illinois, which has caused the death of 150 miners,