Suakim, by an Eye Witness.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5116, 10 June 1885, Page 2

Suakim, by an Eye Witness.

The extract which wo publish below is from the letter of a colonist who, on his way home, had the curiosity to go out of the beaten track to see what (he Suakim campaign was like. His letter speaks for itself. It is graphic and lifelike throughout, with all the freshness of the mind new to this sort of scene :—

Suez, April 2. Instead of going on to Port Said from Cairo, we came here, and being offered a passage to Suakim by Superintendent of Transports, we thought we might go down and see the place. We were four days getting there, and were landed in a barge, our transport being ordered to an anchorage 12 miles off. The harbor is capable of receiving so many vessels only, and at present it is quite full. We passed the Ganges hospital ship. Her sides were crowded with invalids from the front. They seemed terribly cut up and patched, arms in slings, bopping on crutches, heads and faces bandaged. Here and there were the white caps and red tippels of the Red Cross ladies, angels of goodness, for they have left comfortable homes to administer to the sick and wounded. One is the daughter of the Governor of Jamaica and has an income of £1000 a year. Their missionat all events will not be fruitless. The harbor was an ani mated panorama, ships landing stores, horses, camels, and camel drivers (of these there were thousands), pyramids of fodder for animals, and food for men, natives like ants overrunning everything. There was evidence also of great waste—bales of hay, bags of grain, cases of stores, and bodies of horses and camels bobbed up and down amongst the shipping. It appeared as if all that slipped from the slinga into the water was left there; no time to pick up anything. We had a difficulty in getting quarters iv the town, but got a shakedown in a merchant's house' and we had our meals at the British Consul's, who was very kind. The town is a crush of men and camels. There is none of the pomp of war here. Officers and men in true fighting costume, no gilt or gingerbread, but stern reality. Suakim is like a besieged city, redoubts and entrenchments extend a mile or two from the city, beyond that it is not safe to venture. About six miles off are pretty high hills, and there Osman Digna is on his native heath. Between the hills and the camp is a fiat, covered with high prickly bushes. Every dark night the Arabs come down. They kill thefsentries, get amongst tents and spear the sleeping men, and play the dickens generally. The Sunday before we arrived, General McNeil, with 4000 men, 2000 camels and drivers left the camp to form some zerebas on the plain not far from the base of the hills. Knowing they were close to the enemy, you would hare thought that a proper look-out would have been preserved, but it so happened that while the soldiers were mostly engaged cutting down the bushes the enemy rushed them. An officer who was present told me it was a frightful scene, and none but British soldiers could have sived a defeat. In clouds of dust were the combatants—men and camels all mixed up together. For a long time it was hand to hand slaughter. The Marines, who were under arms at the time of the onslaught, did great service, so did the Sikh Lancers. The 17th, 28th, and Berkshire Regiments were awfully cut up, bat they gained the day and drove,the enemy back to the hills. 1300 of the enemy were buried, and hundreds more lay dead in the thick scrub. 800 camels were killed. The air is tainted with the festering bodies of men and animals. Amongst the dead of the enemy were 8 women who bad joined in the fight, and some mere boys. There were also men wearing the peculiar cap that distinguishes the Mahdi's followers, po it is supposed Osman has had reinforcements. Despite their great losses, they are not disheartened, but are now prowling about close to camp. While we were in the entrenchments we saw shells being thrown amongst them. This is a miserable war. We are manuring the ground with the bodies of a brave people who are fighting for their independence. Had England intended to annex Egypt for the purposeof giving the people a better government this war would be justified. As it ii we are conquering or destroying a brave race to put the country under oppression. The Egyptians are a miserable thieving lot, cowards and liars in the reputation they have. But there can be no peace, nor can a remnant of the people be saved whilst

they are imbued with this fanaticism They caro not for death, rather seek it in the faith of their cause, believing they enter paradise from the battle-field. Two Sbeiks the other day had an interview with Govr. Chermside. They told him the war would never end until tho Malidi was ' killed ; otherwise they must kill, kill, kill, ■—men, women, e.'ildren, and cattle, —drife them from their w,ells to perish of thirst; a frightful alternative, and not in accordance with our humane nations. As it ia, no Arab prisoner of war is taken alive, aad no wounded men of ours live in their hands,—a miserable war altogether. No - wonder our men are disgusted with it, and are praying that they may be called to Afghanistan to face the Russians. The Australian contingent arrived at Suakim ' the day we left, and rpceived quite an ovation. As an advance was to be made on Tamai yesterday, we may hear of another battle in. which the New South Wales warriors will take a hand.—Bell.