The Battle of Kerbekan.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5054, 25 March 1885, Page 2

The Battle of Kerbekan.

On February 9 General Earle found the Arabs strongly posted on the hills opposite Dulka Island. Concentrating the Bluuk Watch and theStaffordshireßegimonfcina zereba. he reconnoitred the position, and the following morning advanced to the attack. The Standard correspondent thus describes the battle :■—" Our troops marched in two parallel columns, consisting of two companies of the Staffordshire Begimenfe with two gune. Taking up the ground directly in front of the enemy to occupy their attention, at eight our guns opened fire, and for some time a desultory fire was kept up between them and the enemy. In the meantime the main body of troops were advancing steadily over almost impracticable ground, pushing the enemy before them, and seizing each successive ridge by short determined rushes. This continued until the advanced troops reached the right rear of the enemy, which rested on the river. This completed the movement by which the Arabs were entirely surrounded. The position occupied by the enemy was very strong, consisting of rocky broken ground, strengthened by loopholed walls, behind which they kept up a heavy fusilade. Finding it impossible to dislodge them by musketry fire, General Earle ordered the. Black Watch to carry the position with the bayonet. The regiment responded gallantly to the order. The pipers struck up, and cheering, the Black Watch moved forward with steadiness and valor, which the enemy were unable to resist, and which called forth the admiratiou of the General. From the lospholed walls rifle puffs shot out continuously, but without check the Black Watch advanced, scaled the rocks, and at the point of the bayonet drove the enemy from their shelter. Unhappily General Earle fell while gallantly leading the troops forward to this attack. In the meantime the cavalry pushed on beyond the scene of the conflict, and captured the enemy's camp, three miles in the rear, before tho Black Watch had captured the main position. While the main attack was being delivered two companies of the Staffordshire Regiment were directed to seize the high rocky hill, which was stoutly defended by Arab riflemen. After General Earlo's fall, Colonel Brackonbury assumed command, and after the main position had. been earned he ordered the remainder of the Staffordshire Regiment to join the two companies already engaged to storm the hill at the point of the bayonet. The enemy clung' so the position desperately, and disputed the ground inch by inch, but the Staffordshire men were not to ba denied, and at last they drove the enemy from the hill. This brought the. fight of Kerbekan to a close. It had lasted five hours, and was a gallantly contested affair from first to last.- The enemy's force; consisted of Mooassir and Robatal tribesmen, with numbers of dervishes from Berber. It is impossible to judge accurately of their number, as the position extended over a large range of rocky, broken ground. Their losses are very heavy, and the dead lay piled up on the ridges they had so stubbornly defended. The leader of the rebels from Berber, and several Emirs, were among the killed." : „,.