General Buller's Retirement on Gakdul and Korti.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 97, 11 April 1885, Page 6

General Buller's Retirement on Gakdul and Korti.

New York, March I.— A cable special from London of February 28 says : —There i8 an intense feeling of relief throughout England at the now assured safety of General Buller's troops. Special telegrams have been received in London to-night from Charles Williams, correspondent of the London " Chronicle," which prove that the escape of the British column from annihilation was almost miraculous. The courago of the men, their splendid behaviour in time of "extreme danger, and their perfect discipline, were the elements which safely carried Buller's army back to Gakclul. General Wolseley has decided to hold both Korti and Gakdul. He believes that by adopting these tactics he can prevent the Mahdi from attempting to advance on Korti by way of Abou Klea, and even were the latter inclined to attempt such a move—which is, however, doubted—with the best wells in the English hands, it is thought the Mahdi will deem it impossiblo to water and feed any large force marching across the desert. English foraging parties almost daily discover in the hills small wells, hitherto unknown oxcopt to the natives. These wells

are either held or destroyed in order to paralyse an attempted advance over Stewarts desert route by the Mahdi during the coming summer. Korti, March B.— General Wood has ordered the complete evacuation of Gakdul by March 4th. Lord Beresford's naval brigade is here. They heard, en route, that the whole of the Hassanyieh tribe intended to harass the English retreat. The Mudir of Dongola lias started for Merawi.