DESTRUCTION OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1179, 27 November 1883, Page 1

DESTRUCTION OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY.

Alexandria, Nov. 22. Intelligence has reached here that the Egyptian array in Soudan, under General Hicks Pasha, has been totally annihilated by the rebel followers of El Mahdi, the false prophet. Nov. 23. The forces under Hicks Pasha when the campaign against the Soudan rebels opened some time back consisted of 8600 infantry, 1400 cavalry, and four batteries of artillery. It is not definitely known how many menj were directly operating against the enemy prior to the recent defeat, but it is supposed that fully 5000 men were actually engaged in the battle, which resulted in the total annihition General Hicks’ force. Nov. 25. Considerable anxiety is being felt for the safety of the Egyptian garrison in the Soudan. In accordance with the latest intelligence all the available troops were being concentrated at Sennar and Khartoum, and taking up a defensive position in view of a probable attack by the followers of Mahdi. London, Nov. 22. The nows of the complete annihilation of the troops under General Hicks Pasha in now confirmed. The number of Egyptian troops is estimated at 10,000, while those under the False Prophet Mahdi are stated to be 300,000. Mahdi sent forward to the enemy Dervishes declaring that they would vanquish them. The small force of Egyptians fought hard for three days, when their square was broken, and all of them (including General Hicks Pasha) with the exception of a German artist and O’Donovan, a correspondent, were annihilated. Eleven English officers were amongst those killed. The British suggest that the Soudan should be abandoned as far as the White Nile or White River. Nov. 23. A captain of the Egyptian forces, in the disguise of a dervish, has arrived at Khartoum, and reports that on the battlefield he saw 150 wounded survivors of Hicks Pasha’s army, including an artist named Power. The Egyptian Government is quite paralysed ut the result of the conflict, and is consulting with Sir Evelyn Wood, who is in command of the British troops in Egypt, as to the best means of quelling the rebellion. It has transpired that orders have beeu forwarded to Admiral Sir W. Hewitt, commanding the Naval Squadron in the East’ Indies, to proceed without delay with 'H.M.S. Euryalus and other vessels of his fleet to the Red Sea, with a view of affording British support to Egyptian interests in that locality. The Admiralty, moreover, have issued orders for gunboats, now in the Mediterranean to proceed to the Red Sea as a reinforcement for the Indian squadron. Later.

Through the treachery of a guide the Egyptian army was induced to enter a rocky, wooded and waterless defile, where falling into an ambuscade, Hicks Pasha was unable to use his guns. He maintained bis position for three days, but on the fourth hiVforces, exhausted by thirst, were entirely destroyed, with the excep tion of fifty taken prisoners. The Governor of the Soudan was killed. All the arms, guns, munition and camels were captured. The rebels lost heavily during the engagement. The town of Kordofan has been lost, and the entire Soudan district is ablaze. The various garrisons in (he Soudan, numbering about 40,000 men, are retiring on Khartoum, where the populace are said to bo disloyal. V Nov. 24.

In consequence of the recent annihilation of the Egyptian army in the Soudan the Britith Government have decided to postpone the evacuation of Cairo and the withdrawal of a portion of the British troops now in ■ for the present, in accordance with advice from Major Sir Evelyn Baring, British Diplomatic Aj,ent in Egypt. Cairo, Nov. 23.

It has transpired that Sir Evelyn Baring, the British Consul-General in Egypt, has made a recommendation to the Egyptian Government that Soudan should be abandoned, and that further hostilities should not be proceeded with.

The European officers commanding the Khedive's forces operating against the followers of the False Prophet were:— Commander-in-Chief, Hicks Pasha (Majorgeneral Hicks, late of the Bombay staff) ; staff— Lieutenant-colonel the Hon. J. .Colborne, late major of the 11th Foot; L : eutenant-colonel Coetlagen, late Major of the 70'h Foot; Major Martin, lute captain of Baker's Horse in South Africa ; Major Farquhur, late caftain of the Grenadier Guards; Captain Forestier Walker, late lieutenant of the Buffs or East Kent Eegiment; Captain Massey, late lieutenant of the Duke of Cambiidge's Own (Middlesex "Regiment); Surgeon-major Eosenberg, Major Warner, Captain W. Page Phillips, and Mr JS. B. Evans (Intelligence Department). The cavalry was under the commadd of Major Martin ; the artillery, with Nordenfeldt guns, was under the command of Captain Forestier Walker.—Otago Daily Times.