EVENTS ON THE UPPER NILE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 36

EVENTS ON THE UPPER NILE.

London, April 15. The Forte lately protested against the action of the Aiussulmaus in fighting their co-religionists without consulting the Caliph.

Tho Cairo authorities replied that tho Dervishes against whom the expedition is directed were heretics, and there could bo no infringement of the Sultan’s firmans since tho object was tho reconquest of Egyptian territory. Upon this the Sultan gave way and acquiesced in the views of tho Egyptian Government).

Three armoured steamers will be sent up tho Nile in Juno to Ferlceh, midway between the second and third cataracts. Paris, April 15. Tho Government has decided to reinforce

all tho French frontier posts in Africa, the spread of Dervish fanaticism. Cairo, April 17.

Friendly natives at Tokar defeated Osman Digna, and killed eighty of his force, their own loss being only nine. Tho friendly Arabs are rapidly being disciplined, and tho supervision of tho whole eastern bank of the Nile has been entrusted to them.

Five friendly tribes in tho vicinity of Wady Haifa will patrol both sides of the Nile.

Major Sydney has routed 1500 of tho Dervish cavalry and 1000 infantry at Tokar. Fenwick’s Egyptian cavalry routed a second attack, killing 150 of the enemy. April IS. Osman Cigna is retiring to Adarma. ITALY IN ABYSSINIA. Rome, April lb. General Baldissora, commander of the Italian troops in Abyssinia, advises the Government that he will await the result of tho peace negotiations before relieving Adigrat.

Special despatches regarding the battle of Adowa. show that the rout was complete, but tho Shoans did not follow up tho pursuit, and large detachments of troops and parties of stragglers, who wore supposed to liavo perished in a general inassacro, but who were only separated from tho main body in tho flight, were constantly coming in for days after.vard to tho Italian camp. It soems that General Baratiori decided on February 215 to withdraw to Addicaio, in order to be nearer to his victualling base. The order was, however, cancelled on tho following day, and on the 29th the general resolved to attack tho enemy on tho day following. Almost all the generals and oifieors of higher rank were favourable to this plan, though several were opposed to it. Tho Italian troops accordingly set out on their march on tho night of the 29th in throe columns. All accounts agree that General Albortono’s force pushed on too far, and became engaged in a regular battle, which raged with great fierceness. The Italian artillery, 14 guns, poured a crushing lire on tho onomy, and then tho whole Snoan army dashed against Albertono s force, in spite of tho bravery and tenacity of his Askaris, tho general had to fall back and ask for reinforcements. 'J hen once more Albertone delivered an attack in admirable fashion under cover of the guns, which were splendidly handled, and sustained a hot fire until midday almost, long after the final retreat had been sounded. General Baratieri meanwhile remained inactive, being under the impression that Albertone, finding that lie had advanced too far, was falling back to tho lino which had been originally assigned to him. Onroceiving General Albortono’s request for reinforcements, tho Commander-in-Chiof ordered General Arimondi’s brigade to support that of General Albertono, but Arimondi’s column had got rather behindhand, and somo precious time was lost while it was moving up to tho first lino. In tho interval tho worst had happened. After four hours’ fighting, the Askaris under Arimondi had taken to flight, and had rushed back on their supports with tho Amhara in such hot clmso that pursuers and pursued wero mingled together. The Italian white troops, in their turn, wero packed together on the Robin Anomie position, where there was not space enough to hold them. There was no room to deploy, and this mass of men could do nothing to help their native comrades. The result was panic and demoralisation. Borne few companies fought gallantly, but the rest remained passivo spectators, and before long began to break up. From that time

the Dalian left was out (Hulked, and tho Amhara charged into the very midst of the dill'erent brigades. The flight, which was soon a rout, followed. Baratiori and Arimondi, revolvers in hand, sought to slay the panic-stricken men, but nothing could stop the general impulse to fly which had seized the troops. Numerous episodes of personal acts of valour performed by oilicers and soldiers are recounted.

The news of the disaster at Adowa caused consternation in Italy.