Somaliland.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 274, 25 October 1902, Page 4

Somaliland.

London, Ociob« r 21

A private letter received from on officer on Colonel Swaync’s staff, written at Paio after the recent retreat, indicates that the force was iin a frightful fix. It sustained many losses, and after several stiff fights was encumbered with the wounded. The blacks were seized with funk, most of the camels were killed or captured, and water was scarce. The force had no supplies, land iittle ammunition. The Mullah

captured two Maxims. October 22.

Six extra officers join the First Bombays at Aden, going to Berbera. They will be followed ,by the Second Bombays and GrenaIdiets, from Mhow and six officers |and 400 men of the 23rd- Bombay Infantry. Er®go is in ' Italian territory beyond the southern border of th« British Somaliland protectorate. Any tidings of Colonel Swayne’s force must be transmitted along the line of posts from Bohotoleh to Berbera, thence by steamer to Aden.

The Government profess ignorance of the disasters described by the officer *n Colonel Swayne’s staff.

October 23

The Times recommends a thorough quashing of the Mullah, and that the War Office should entrust the operations to the Indian Army, as was done in China. One hundred Soudanese troops and 100 Sikhs who are stationed at Mombassa have been ordered to Berbera. Four Maxim guns accompany the Bombay Infantry.