THE SOUDAN CAMPAIGN

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 34, 26 September 1896, Page 2

THE SOUDAN CAMPAIGN

Cairo, September 22. EIGILT of the late Hicks Paeha's gunners wore forced'to serve with the Dervishes, but in loading th« gnus they omitted to insert, the fuses in the shells. Subsequently they deserted from the ranks. The shells fired from the Dervishes' guns repeatedly hit the Egyptian gunboats, but as the fuses were absent they failed to do any damage. One of the shells dropped into the magazine of one of the gunboats. Cairo, September 2.'J. The gunboats have bombarded Dongola, and caused the dismounting of one gun. The troops are at Zowarat, five miles from Dongola, and fighting is expected immediately. Bishara's Arabs are hastily raising earthworks. September 24. At a sight of the troops the Dervishes abandoned their camp, and are being pursued by the cavalry and gunboats. Six guns, and large quantities of grain and war material have been captured. Several of the leading Emirs have yielded, and it is thought the Dervishes are likely to evacuate the province The natives left Zowarat at five in the morning, and the place was occupied by the cavalry five hours latter. The services of the infantry were not required. The gunboats shelled a force of oO(K) Dervishes who were preventing the seizure of the grain. A few of the Baggaras, who refused to surrender, were killed. The main body, however, is fleeing into the desert, and in their desire to effect their escape many dropped their children in the sand and left them to their fate. Bishara's Arabs left early in the morning, but Colonel Burn Murdock, who is in command of the mounted forces, overtook a section in the desert, and caused great havoc in their ranks, besides securing 500 prisoners.