THE BATILES IN EGYPT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1166, 17 April 1884, Page 3

THE BATILES IN EGYPT.

Despatches from Trinkitat of March Ist say that on Thursday night General Graham's expedition encamped near Fort Baker. The troopj were all assembled before sunset,, except the 65th Eegiment,, which arrived at, 8 on Friday morning. Tho forces, about 4000 .strong, formed in an oblong square, the front and rear being longer than the sides. Tbe 75th Regiment (Gordon Highlanders) formed in advance, with two Gatling guns and one Gardiner in the r ght corner and four Crardiners and one Gatling in the left. The 87th Regiment (Irish Fusiliers) formed on the right hand side of the squaro, and the Black Watch Regiment in the rear. The length of the front was 350 yards. The Hussars acted as scouts, advancing in a semicircle, a thousand yards ahead, covering the front and flanks. The main force of the troops advanced over the sand knolls and scrub for a mile from Fort Baker along the Teb road, when the rebels opened fire with Remington rifles. The range was so long that the shots proved ineffective. The rebels in swarms reached the high, ground in front and on the flanks of the British army. They retired slowlv as the British advanced, keeping about 1200 yards from the main body of the British force. The Rritish cavalry followed, covering the rear upon the left, and formed in three lines, distance 900 yards from the main body of the army. The road towards Teb was studded with hundreds of corpses of Baker Pasha's fugitives, tilling the air with pollution, and around which swarms of carrion flies hovered. After advancing three mileß the earthworks of the rebels came in Bight. Their guns were mounted and standards flying, and the British stepped forward ai if holding parade, the bagpipes playing and the Highlanders singing cheerily. They advanced until within 800 yards of the rebels' position, j where there was an old sugar mill surrounded I by a number of huts, and wbere two guns were situated. The rebels began the battle J with a shell from a Krupp gun. It passed wide of the square. The next shots were aimed with greater accuracy, and shells broke close to tbe British, wonnding several. The rebels maintained a ratttling fusilade with i small arms. The English advanced steadily in square without answering lhe fire tilt they I passed north of the rebel word. At this place a piece of shell wounded Baker Pasha, and twenty men were hit. After an eohelon I of a thousand yards a halt was ordered, and ] the kcd directed to lie down. It was now] noonday and clear, and the wind dispersed the smoke of the rebel fire discloiing their 1 movements. The British opened fire with their guns and Martini rifles, causing the j enemy to rapidly slacken fire and almost cease. At this the bugles again sounded and the tr rose and wheeled on the centre of the square, and again charged the rebels, who were in no military order, but were soattered here and there so as to take advantage of the abundant cover which the ground afforded. They clung to their position with desperate tenacity. There were 2000 rebels directly in front, while many hundreds hung around the two sides as the British moved forward, firing as they advanced. The rebels, armed with spears and huge cross-bilted swords, rose within 200 yards of the advancing lines and rushed against tbe British at break-neok speed, heedless and fearless of death. The rebels fell right and left, and though some of the brave fellows reacked withia five paces of the square, none of them bolted, they only fell back sullenly when they were forced. Having cleared the ground in front with their Martini rifles, the British attacked the fort. Colonel Burnaby was first to mount the parapet, firing a double barrelled shot gun into the enemy around the workß. The rebels fought | with furions energy, and a frightful melee of bayonets and spears took place. At last tbe | British gained possession of the fort. They captured two Krupp guns, and at once turned them against the enemy, but the Arabs still contested every inch of ground. They would not submit to be driven off, and could only be killed. The British next directed their attention to the old sugar mill, a brick building containing an iron boiler. This they stormed, and succeeded in dislodging 200 rebels, who leaped forth and charged from every opening. At ten o'clock, after an hour of incessant fighting, the rebels gave way, and bolted outright ; Gatling guns and Martini rifles bad caused great havoc. The British pursued the rebels as thev fell back, and advanced as far as the fresh water wells of Teb, where tbe enemy made their last stand. The' Sheiks, who advanced empty handed to show that they bore charmed lives, ware stricken down with bayonet thrusts. The Highlanders next carried the earthworks, capturing three guns. At the md of four hours' arluous fighting the British gained possession of the rebel c»mi s, huts and wells. The cavalry on the right flink charged the retieafc ng rebels, w io did not bolt at all, but met the troopp, who rode among them, giving them blow for blow. A splendid display of heroism was made by three mounted rebels. They resilutily main a ; ne 1 their gro md against the shock of two cavalry charges. In the third charge they were cut down, but not before they had killed several men and Vounied Colonel Barrow with their spears The enemy retired sullenly, and in consequence the Br.tish kept up their firing for a long time after the fortunes of the day had been decided. The British loßaes were 100 killed and 46 wounded. The British captured four Krupp guns, two howilzjrs, one machine gun. Fifteen hundred rebels were killed. Four officers of the English force fell and nineteen received wounds, including Baker Pasha and Colonel Burnaby, both severely. The British troops entered Tokar at noon on Saturday, March lit. There was no fighting. The march to that phce was accomplished in four hours from Teb. The garrison numbered seventy men, win were half staged. The peop'p of Tofcar kissed General Graham's hands as he entered tbe town, and there were great rejoicings. The rebe's who escaped went over t> O min Dignu, and General Graham and the British force returned to Souakim to organise an expedition against the rebel chief. A battle occurred on the 13th March, and the Arabs fought with more persistent

braveiy than at Teb. Their force numbered 12,000 The British ion-es advanced in two brigade:, which were thrown into the form ..f squares. A Series of eticoui tirs fo'loweri scoa af;er leaving Sariba. A great body o! rebels charged the leading square, for.ins; many British sailors inside the square, but ir. was immediately closed up, and the rebels were repulsed with great sl»Uihti<r. The advance was again rejumed, when immen-e hordes rushed upon the British from both Bides, and a terrible struggle ensued. The Arabs fought with the gnatest, pluck and bravado, but nearly all were killed. The Second Brigade met with an obstinate resistance, and was at one time repulsed. Gatlmg and Gardiner guns fell iato the hands <>f the rebels, and were only recovered after a severe fight, when the British likewise gained possession of the rebel camp. Another account Says that aB the British squares advanced and fired, the rebels under cover of the smoke crept up to the British lines and dashed against the Mariues and the SistyFifth and Black Watch Regiments, throwing themselves on the bayonets of the British, giving and receiving fearful wounds. Great confusion ensued, and the Six'y-Fifth began retreating, crowding the marines, when all became inextricably mixed. General Graham did his utmest to rally by retreating 800 yards to enable them to re form. Assistance from other brigades prevented a serious disaster. There werj many narrow escapes amongst, officers. The hors.> of General Buller was shot from under him. The pluck shown by the rebels was uneumpled. The Arabs penetrated the second square upon their hands and knees beneath the muzzles of the Gatling guns. They then commenced slashing with their weapons, doing terrible execution. The British were no match for the rebels at close quarters. The . rebel loss is estimated at 6000.