The Nile Advance.

Hastings Standard, Issue 453, 18 October 1897, Page 4

The Nile Advance.

HOW ABU HAMED WAS CAPTURED. GALLANTRY OF THE TROOPS. Later particulars of the fighting which resulted in the capture of Abu Hametl a few days ago arc now to hand. An Assouan telegram says that the subjoined despatch was sent by the Sirdar to the Press correspondents on their way to the front. General Hunter attacked at dawn on the 7th in line, the 11th Regiment being on the right, then the 3rd, then the 9th, then the 10th with the guns between the 11th. The column first carried the high -ground overlooking the village. The houses were held by a force of a thousand Dervishes, of which 150 were horsemen and 500 riflemen. An advance was then made on the village, and a stubborn house-to-house fight instances the artillery were obliged to advance before it was possible to carry the position. BRITISH LOSSES. The heaviest loss was amongst the 10th Regiment, who, besides two British officers, lost 14 killed and 34 wounded, out of a total of 21 killed and 61 wounded of the whole force. Major Sidney fell mortally wounded while leading his men, and died five-minutes later. Lieutenant FitzClarence was shot at the same time through the heart. Three Egyptian officers received gunshot wounds of a serious nature. THE CONDUCT OF THE TROOPS. General Hunter describes the conduct of the troops as in every way excellent. They showed great steadiness and dash throughout the attack. The village of Abu Hamed is a network of houses crowded together and separated only by twisting, narrow alleys. Most of the fighting was at the point of the bayonet, the Dervishes repeatedly charging "in the narrow lanes anij streets. When the Dervish horsemen had lost about half of their number, the remainder fled, being the first of the enemy to do so. They were followed by about a hundred infantry, and these were all of the garrison that escaped. The Dervish commander, Mohammed Zein, was made prisoner. One well-known Dervish Emir stubbornly defended himself with some followers in a strongly fortified house, and was only killed eventually when the building was destroyed by artillery fire. THE GENERAL SITUTIOX. The following is fchegeneralsituafcion: The Khalifa continues to'reinforce Mahmoud's army at Metewmeb, where

both sides of the rivsr arc fortified. Mahuioud recently sent sonic reinforcements to Berber, which wore recalled on f ho n.?w:s of the advance upon Aba itamifl npd now threatens to ndvmice op. Ju!-:d;i!, which i.? at present hold by friendly Ar.-b e It is exported that the arrival at Abu Ihi-r-.cu of the gunboats, which are now being pas.-ed over the fourth cat ira.ct, will prevent him leaving Mctemmeh with a large force.