THE BATTLE AT SUAKIM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1847, 31 January 1889, Page 3

THE BATTLE AT SUAKIM.

By the arrival of the K.M.S. Rome at Albany we (Melbourne Argus) are in receipt of the following from our London correspondent:— London, Dec. 21. General Grenfell made his attack on the dervish entrenchments outside Suakim in the early morning of Dec. 20. The battle was excellently planned and carried out, and half an hour sufficed for the allied British, Egyptian, and Soudanese force to drive the enemy from their trenches in headlong flight. Ou the preceding night the gunboab Starling and two other steamers proceeded to Handoub to deal with the enemy's forces there, and present their junction with those at Suakim. At half-past four o'clock in the morning, H.M.S. Racer opened the engagement by shelling the enemy's intrenchments, while the sound of firing up the coast showed that the Starling was similarly employed. All the ships in Suakim harbour, and also the forts, soon took up the firing, and for an hour there was a tremendous cannonade. Under cover of the artillery fire, the troops prepared for the attack, and the whole force marched out from the camp towards the enemy. On the left flank the Naval Brigade with some machine guns accompanied th» infantry. The mounted force, consisting of twenty hussars and mounted infantry, scouted in front, and protected the flank and rear from a sudden rush by the dervishes. Having reached tho point indicated by the general they halted until the artillery had done its work.

THE POST OF HONOK in the attack was given to the black troops, who advanced in two lines, composed of battalions in double companies, while the British and Egyptian troops were held in reserve. The Scottish Borderers and the Irish regiment lined the trenches connecting the quarter forts, while the genera! and bis staff took np a position on the left of the water fort. At 5 o'clock the fire increased in intensity, and as daylight to break a great storm of shot and shell was ponred upon the enemy's trenches, the mortars and cannon in the forts firing salvoes, which must have been very destructive, as the exact range of the trenches had now been obtained. At half-past seven o'clock the order was Riven for the advance, and, after a terrific fire for a few minutes from the black regiments and white troops in our trenches, the former rushed forward upon the left flank of the enemy's intrenebments. The dervishes stood their ground bravely, but the charge of the black troops was irresistible. With wild shouts, they rushed forward, suffering but slightly from the hasty fire the enemy opened upon them as they advanced. The moment they reached the redoubt the battle was virtually won. The dervishes, spears in hand, ran to meet them, and a good many of the Soudanese were more or Joss wounded by the spears, but their fire swept away tbo rebels before they could come to close quarters, and the bayonets finished the fow who came up for a bund to hand tight.

IN HAIF AN HOTJK from the order being giving for the advance the battle Wus at an end, and all the works thrown up with so much labor by the enemy were in our possession. The dervishes, driven from the works, fled to the bnsh, where large numbers of their friends were lurking. The cavalry and mounted infarstry at once started in pursuit, dashing among the boshes and cutfog down those who tried to make a stand, while the guns of the forts and ships sent their shells far overhead into the bush I beyond, sweeping it in every direction, and sending the dervishes flying at top ape3d towards Handoub and Hasheen. A body of their mounted men made a gallant effort to cover the retreat by charging boldly at the twenty hussars. The latter gdthered as the enemy neared them, and surged in splendid style, riding through and over them, killing many, smri driving the rest into headlong flight after their companions. This feat was not, however, unaccompanied by loss on our side, as four hussars wore killed. Two of our troopers' swords were broken clean off close to the hilts by the Arabs' swords. As soon as ihe fignting was over our troops advanced te capture the position, and began to demolish thefaee looking towards Suakim and construct a breastwork on the side facing the bush, in case the enemy should rully, and attempt after nightfall to regain possession of the entrenchments. The 'sanerai opinion of those best qualifiod to -judge is that the enemy's force amounted lo abcttt 3000 men, of whom about half

were in the entrenchments, and the remainder in reserve in the bnßh behind. THE DASH AND RAPIDITY with which the black troops rushed nfc the works and turned the enemy out, gave tho reserves no time to come up and take part in the defence. Their exact loss iB not yet known, as so many fell in the bush from the fire of the artillery and infantry, and the Bwords of the cavalry. It is probably not far 6hort of 500 men. Our loss was not severe, the only Englishmen killed being the four hussars mentioned above. Several were wounded, including two officers attached to the Egyptian troops. The Soudanese lost two killed <»ud about fifty wounded, Among the prisoners taken were Osman Digna's nephew and twelve dervishes. Not one surrendered, however, for all were disabled from either fight or flight by wounds. Osman Naib, the leader from Handoub, was wounded by the Egyptian cayalry in tho last reconnaissance. The prisoners all toil tho same Btory of privation and cruelty suffered from the Khalifa and Osman Digna. None of them wished to fight, but all of them were forced io do so, with the added promise of loot in Suttkim and a further reward. The trenches were bare, no food, clothing, or money having been found, The prisoners know nothing of the reported capture of Emin Pasha and the Equatorial Province. Some Snider rifles and ammunition were found in the trenches.