THE SOUDAN WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 74, 6 April 1885, Page 2

THE SOUDAN WAR.

AN ENGAGEMENT AT ABOU KLEA.

Korti, February 22.—A despatch from Abou Klca Eays : General Bullor, who arrived hero on the 15th from Gubat, com- ; menced at noon on the 15th a systematicshelling of the Arab lines. Two- welldirected shots did the enemy great damage, one exploding ar-otvg s group ongaged in p lacing a howitzeiron the summit of a lull east of our sailors' fort, and the other rumoving tho whole gun carriage. Lord C harles Boresford also did the enemy great iujury with Gardner guns. Tho honours of t ho day fell to Major Wardrop, who, with thirteen men, stole cautiously around the enemy's right, and found that tbey had ordy a few hundred riflemen on tho hills, and no reserve spearmen. Wardrop^s man, keeping out of sight, sent voli. e y ß ot tho range of 800 yards on the enemy's flank. Leaving one man at this r,oint to continue firing, ho took the twelve' others, and as quickly as possiblo rjursued the eamo tactics at three BKcceseivo hills, giving the Arabs tho impression that fresh bodies of British troops were arriving. Ihe Mahdi's forces became panic-stricken, coasod firing, and decamped toward Metemmoh, taking their guns and dead and wounded with them. A few Arab scouts only were loft throe miles off to watch our movements. There has beon no Bign of the enemy since. General Buller will advance to Gakdul as soon as reinforcements arrive from Korti. The British loss during the engagement was four killed and twenty wounded.