Warfare in the Soudan.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 5465, 24 January 1885, Page 4

Warfare in the Soudan.

Zuisii ! fly a coupie of rockets, followed by tho sharp bang of a section of howitzers. Eagerly wo watched tho efl'oct, but tho rockot3 burst upon our own men, and though tho bhclls had been nicely timed, thoy seemed to make but little impression. Breaking from cover, tho enemy sweeps with an inward curve right and left, his oxtromo Hanks converging towards tho opposing angles of our square. Now file-firing commences from tho front diroctly assailed, the m«n having been cautioned to aim. Nearer thoy swept, horse and foot closing on either flank, but as they came within our zone of fire thoy butted forward, hit to death. The Nordonfeldts have now got to work, and within a few minutes the leading mob, for it was but that, fell in piles. But fanaticism knows no check. The chosen chiefs of tho Mahdi woro them, followed by thoir own chosen henchmon

And what gallant men worq they ! Right up to the cannon's mouth, right up to the rifle muzzle, dauntless they rode, encouraging their followers with the promise of paradise to break our square .Sheikh after sheikh went down with his banner, although the Mahdi had assured oach that ho was invulnerable, and thoir faithful but misguided followers fell in circles around the chiefs thoy blindly folowed They never wait to be attacked. Thoir onslaught is furious. Thoy sweep down on thoir foe in one sudden rush, and their plan of battle is invariably to throw their enemy into confusion by the rapidity of their attack, which always takes place in the open. We had to traverse dense woods and jungles on our march. The chances in their favour would have been immense had they attacked us while we were making our way through these obstacles, but their instincts and traditions taught them that such a mode of warfaro would not be chivalrous.—(" With Hicks Pasha in the Soudan," by Col. J. Colborne.)