THE SOUDAN DISASTER. Hicks Pasha Decoyed into a Defile—His Entire Army of Eleven Thousand Annihilated.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 29, 22 December 1883, Page 3

THE SOUDAN DISASTER. Hicks Pasha Decoyed into a Defile— His Entire Army of Eleven Thousand Annihilated.

London, November 22.— The "Times'" Khartoum despatch, dated November 20th, sa y S : __" The most trustworthy sheiks in the service of the Government, who arrived at Daiveri yesterday, reported that 11,000 men, including Hicks Pasha, GovernorGeneral, and his entire staff, were annihilated in a defile at Kashgate, whither they were led by a treacherous guide. On the morning of November Ist Hicks Pasha and his entire army marched from Milbae, and the guide led them to a rocky, wooded defile, which was without water, and where an ambuscade had been prepared by the rebels, who were armed with rifles and artillery. Hicks Pasha was unable to use his guns. For three days the army, worn out by thirst, defended itself, but on the fourth day it was annihilated to a man. Vizetilly, Artere, and fifty soldiers who were outside, came in andwere taken prisoners. They were carried to El Obeid. The rebels captured thirty-six Krupp, Nordenfeldt and mountain guns, all munitions of war and camels, with Hicks Pasha. Besides these beforementioned, Surgeon-General George Bay, Captain Anatyoga, Morris Brady, late Ser-geant-Major of the Royal Horse Artillery, and certain pashas and beys, in all about 12,000 officers and men, were killed. Korderfan is virtually lost. Colonel Coitlogan was at Daiveri when the sheiks arrived there. He at once proceeded to Khartoum, which he is arranging to defend. He is also arranging to sup press an expected revolt by calling in all the outlying garrisons. Colonel Coitlogan and your correspondent are the sole surviving Englishmen in Soudan. The entire Soudan is in a blaze. The army will retreat Berga if possible. It cannot master 4,000 regulars all told. I will try to reach Suakim. The population of Khartoum is disaffected, and a crisis there is expected.

The 111-Fated Army. New York, November *23vcL— The "Star's" London cable special says: — " General Hicks's army had suffered severely on the march of 230 miles through a hostile region. They were short of provisions, and the intense heat caused the men and beasts to drop by hundreds, arid in addition to those ills they were harassed constantly by marauding bands of native tribes. The entire force of General Hicks comprised about 25,000 men, but the necessity of keeping open a strong line of communication with his base of supplies had largely reduced his fighting force, and it is supposed that the troops actually engaged in the terrible battle did not exceed 10,000 men. The orders of Hicks Pasha after leaving the Nile en route to El Obeid Mere very concise He was to establish several posts along the route, and hold himself in readiness to retire whenever the enemy was found in superior numbers to his own command. Among the troops in Hicks Pasha's army was the First Regiment of Egyptian Infantry of 600 men, which was formerly under command of Arabi Pasha, but then under command of an English officer, Captain Herith. An Austrian officer, who formerly commanded an Uhlau regiment, was the principal drill officer of Hicks Pasha's army. The last letter received from Edmund O'Donovon, the London " Daily News " correspondent, was from Duem, thirty miles southwest of Khartoum, and announced that the army had abandoned its base of operutions and practically burned its ships. The following officers were with Hicks Pasha's t xpedition : Colonel Farquhar, Chief of Staff ; Majors Warner, ZeckendorfT and Massey ; Captains Heath and Walker ; Surgeon, Major Rosenberg ; LieutenantColonels, Coiborne and Coitlogan, and Major Martin. The latter commanded the cavalry. Cairo, November 23.— Colonel Coitlogan, who was with Hicks Pasha, telegraphed from Khartoum to General Evelyn Wood, contirming previous reports of the disaster to Hicks Pasha's army. He says the whole country has risen. The Government asked Baker Pasha to send 1,000 gendarmes to Suakim to help clear the desert, hut he refused to send them, thinking they were required in Upper Egypt. It is stated that Turkey has offered to send 20,000 troops to re-establish Mussulman authority in the Soudan Intense excitement prevails everywhere in Egypt. The country it not safe above the second cataract of the Nile. The Khedive has ordered the evacuation of the military posts of the Blue Nile and White Nile. Troops from the posts on the former river m ill be massed at Ennar, and those from posts on the latter at Khartoum. The three principal officers at Khartoum have been ordered to consult and adopt defensive measures. If necessary, Ennav^will be abandoned and the troops massed at Khartoum. A telegram from Mr Power, the artist who was with Hicks Pasha's expedition, and who is now at Khartoum, reports that the first attack by the Egyptian army was successful. It was not until the enemy was believed to be routed that Hicks Pasha accepted for a guide an emissary of El Mahdi, who lei the army into a waterless defile, where it was annihilated. London, Nov. 26th.— The British Government has received intelligence from Major Evelyn Baring that the siege of Khartoum by the False Prophet is imminent. It is considered that the town, which has six detached forts and a garrison of 40,000 troops, can be defended against twice that number of El Mahdi's forces. Reports have reached Cairo that despite the terrible slaughter of Egyptians, many English subjects were simply taken prisoners and are still alive. Hopes, in consequence, are entertained that many English officers,and also O'Donovan, of the London " News," Visetellik, of the London " Graphic," and other Europeans are safe. Accordingly emissaries bearing a flag of truce are believed to have left Khartoum for El Mahdi's camp with the object of ransoming these prisoners.

The Disaster Foreseen. Vienna, November 23.— The "Presse" publishes a recent letter from Major Seckendorff, with Hicks Pasha. Major Seckendorff reports great misery among • the troops on account of the scarcity of water. "El Madhi," he wrote, "possessod 15,000 breech-loading rifles, 14 guns and numerous excellent cavalry. His adherents were possessed with fanatacism, and would fearlessly ride to death. Hicks Pasha had 10,000 men, 6,000 camels and many packhorses and mules. The baggage proved a great impediment. The letter thus concludes : "If our cavalry suffice for outpost duty success is possible, otherwise the issue will be very disastrous. If we are defeated not a soul will return, and the entire.Soudan will be irrevocably lost, since all tho natives will believe El Mahdi is the Messiah.

Somebody said to Robert Hall — "How many discourses do you think, Mr Hall, may a minister get up each week ?" Answered Hall— "H he is a deep, thinker and great condenser he may get up one; if he is an ordinary man, two; but if he is an ass, sir, he will produce half-a-dozen. ?'