Fighting the Somalis.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 10, 13 January 1904, Page 3

Fighting the Somalis.

SEVERE ENGAGEMENT WITH MULLAH'S EOKCES, Received 12' 10.15 p.m. LONDON 7 , Jan. 12. Two thousand two hundred regulars aiwi a thousand irregulars, un tier General Manning, advan.-ixl c.n Jidbolion the l ith iiist., where 5000 Dervishes were assembled. A mounted force under Lieut.Col. Kerma attacked the enemy's right, while tha infantry advanced to within seven hundred yards. The lavishes attempted to charge, and then broke and fled.

They were pursued for ten mil.'s, losing a thousand killed, and many .prisoners wero taken and lour liun.dred rifles captured. .Sir Charles Egerton thinks the Mullah's main force was engaged, and it is supposed he is encamped in the Stale llodu Hills, eight horns' march from Jidboli. _J£HE BRITISH LOSSES. Jteceived 12, 11.55 *.nf" LO.Vlloy 1 , Jan. 32. The British losses at Jidboli svei'e ■ —Lieutenant A. Jtowden Smith, and Lieutenant J. ]{. Welland killed, and nine officers ami live privates wounded, eight of the i.f»icers seveiviy, Captain the Hon. T. Lister is missing l . Nine irregulars r were kiijed and seventeen wounded. L*nvli<ifa!i:HJollonel Egert.jn is encamped two miles beyond JidhoH. He bas>9 hid (belief that tho enemy was tho Mullah's main force on the fact that la number of riflemen were present, and many notaries weic killed.