THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5063, 7 April 1885, Page 2

THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN

[Eeute/i'3 Special Telegbams.]

[Received April 7, 2.10 p.m.] > Suakim:, April 6 (morning). The British zareba at Hasheen has been abandoned, and the stores which were forwarded there hare been brought back to Suakim,

The Coldstream Guards and the Colonial troops have formed a zareba at a point about fire miles from Handoub ; the work is to bo completed to-day, and a general advance on Handoub will take place on Wednesday.

A report is current that Lord Wolseley is coming here from Cairo.

Suakim, April 5.

The whole of the troops under the command of Sir Gerald Graham returned here to*day with the exception of the Indian Native Infantry, which remains behind to garrison the zareba until -Monday, when' they will return here, aud the adjoining camps and zareba will be abandoned. The movement will com* mence on Monday 1 for the concentration of the troops along the railway line to Handoub, which is making good progress, and it is hoped the force will be able to reach that place in about three weeks' time.

London, April 5.

A telegram has been received by the War Office from Sir Gerald Graham, in which he praises the demeanour of the Australian troops during the recent advance on Tamai, stating that they cheerfully shared in the hardships of the movement, and proved themselves worthy of their comrades. Cairo, April 4. A report has reached this place to the effect that an engagement recently occurred between the Mahdi's forces and a number of deserters from Kordofan, with the result that the, followers of the Mahdi were completely defeated with great loss.

[Age Specials.]

London, March 26.

The evening papers state that the autumn campaign in tbo Soudan will probably be abandoned. General McWeill, who is in command of the troops'forming zarebas oh the road between Suakim and Tamai, is generally censured for allowing the forces under hia command to bo surprised by the Arab attack on Sunday last.