THE FALL OF DONGOLA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 10

THE FALL OF DONGOLA.

The following narrative has been compiled from the despatches of the special correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle and from Keuter's special service :

On Saturday, September 19, Kerma was occupied without opposition, the enemy retiring to the west bank at Hafir (nearly opposite Kerma). After an unusually hot day, we inarched for two hours, and encamped at Kabodi, within range of Fatma, on the sand dunes by the river. The steamer Abu Klea went on a rock at the end of Tumbos Island, a hundred yards from the landing-place. This accident was particularly unfortunate, as the Abu Klea had the quickfiring guns of the new steamer. No lights were allowed. The cavalry left an hour before daybreak, when the infantry followed the cavalry's cloud-dust for two miles through open desert, then were guided by a tall acacia bush, debouching finally in a limitless plain, with tombs in the foreground; mud forts and houses in the middle distance, and, beyond, the tremendous ruins of an old fortress. The river here, at great width, divides a number of large green islands. The staff occupied a high sandhill, whence the Dervishes could be seen moving about in the desert. THE STEAMERS UNDER A HOT FIRE. On the other side, the enemy was making south. The artillery then opened fire, driving the enemy further into the desert. The steamers, arriving at this juncture, commenced shelling the Dervish positions. Passing higher up the stream, they received a tremendous fire, which marked the position of rifle-pits, and two gunboats were obliged to drop back. Commander Colville was wounded in the wrist. The steamers alternately advanced and retired several times, when Colonel Parsons, with 16 mule battery guns and six horse artillery and four Maxims, having made a four-mil 3 detour around the inundated flats,l[reachod the meadows opposite the Dervish forts; and 26 feluccas having been largely silenced, the steamers dashed by, hailing shell and Maxim shot into the fortifications, and, sinking Wad El Bishara's steamer, continued on their way towards Dongola. HAFIR EVACUATED. During the fire upon the enemy's boats the field battery wrecked the Dervish steamer, which, immediately upon receiving a shot, slowly turned over, and is now floating upside down. When the enemy's first position had beon thoroughly well riddled, the Dervishes were seen to move off in a north-westerly direction.

On the following morning (Sunday) everyone was up by daybreak, eagerly looking across the river towards the enemy's camp. Our Maxims and artillery continued firing throughout the afternoon, at 1200 yardsjrange, whenever enemy showed himself. The riflemen behind a low-pierced wall by the riverside were active. An Emir on a white curveting horse pranced up and down encouraging his men. Pour cannon worked by Egyptian gunners, captured at Khartoum, made fair practice. Several times they nearly fetched our boats.

A littlo lator a commotion was percoivod among the boats, and a native was distinguished waving a cloth. The stoamer Dal proceeded to the west bank, and, finding that Ilaiir had been evacuated, sent back to tho camp 27 boats manned by natives and laden with a great quantity of grain. Tho natives announced that the enemy had departed, and told the story of yesterday's fight. They stated that the Dervish commander, Wad El Biishava, was wounded by a shell which hurst in his tent, inflicting two wounds, one in th<> breast, tho other in the head, the former being severe. They added that the enemy's loss was considerable. The dead won; either buried or thrown into the river with stones tied round their necks. Shortly afterwards the news arrived that the steamers of the expeditionary force had reached Dongola, and had occupied the Treasury and grain store. Tho enemy continued their march to Dongola. They had a great number of wounded.

Wad El Bishara, it appears, -was wounded ! at noon, as he was carried out of the range of fire he exclaimed to those around him, " Allah is against me/' and he decided to evacuate the camp during the night. THE DELIGHT OF THE NATIVES AT HAEIK, At half-past 6 o'clock next morning our troops began to cross the river, Major Macdonald's brigade being the first to land. Their appearance was hailed by the natives with extravagant delight, bordering upon frenzy. They lost all control of themselves, shouting, dancing and singing in the most extraordinary manner. LONG RANGE OP THE ENEMY'S REMINGTONS. Whenever, opportunity offered our men took meals behind the shelter of a hastilyraised mudbank, the repast being disturbed occasionally by a bullet dropping in their midst. The Maxim battery was manned by men of the Connaughfc Rangers, who did splendid work under a nasty fire. One of the most striking things in connection with the fight was the long range of the enemy's Remingtons. At a distance of 1200 yards they were able to do a good deal of damage; indeed, some of the bullets carried at least 2000 yards. THE ADVANCE ON DONGOLA. The steamers Tamai, Abu Klea and Metemmeh reached Dongola at 5 o'clock on the evening of Saturday, 19th September. After the place had been bombarded for half-an-hour, Berberines swam off, and afterwards brought alongside the steamers a few boats, one containing the Beit-el-Mal (treasure-chest) and books belonging to the Mahdist general. Some 76,000 rounds of machine-gun ammunition, abandoned by the Mahdist general, were found three miles in the desert; also a quantity of old Egyptian mountain-gun ammunition.

Armourer Sergeant Richardson, who was tilled in passing l Uafir, was buried on an island opposite Dongola. In passing Hafir, the Metemmeh was struck by three shells. One went through the gun shield and one struck the hull escape pipe. The Abu Klea was struck by a shell on the hull above the water-line. Most of the Dervish fire fell two-thirds short, owing to the width of the river. Our shells and Maxim bullets were found far behind their positions peppered all over the desert. The gunboats then retired from Dongola and opportunity was taken to ascertain the effect of the enemy's fire upon them when passing up the river. It was found that the Metemmeh had received a shell which, in addition to other damage, had broken the safety valves of the boiler. The sides of all the boats were marked by bullets, which showed that the enemy's snooting was better than had been at first supposed. A bullet passed through Beatty's helmet, and the wooden part of the upper deck of the Abvi Klea was simply riddled. It appears that just before Wad El Bishara was wounded he received a letter from the Khalifa. He ordered everybody out of the tent except the messenger who had brought the letter and two blacks. At this moment a shell fell into the tent and burst, killing all present except Wad El Bishara. THE ROUT FROM DONGOLA. On Wednesday, 23rd, the gunboats, advancing in conjunction with the land forces, again arrived off Dongola, and found a force, estimated at 4000, drawn up in the town. The new steamer, Zafir, which only arrived an hour before the attack commenced, opened fire with nine and fourteen pounders, droxjping shell with such accuracy that the whole force of the enemy made for the hills, from which the sight of our forces approaching by the desert completed the rout. The cavalry, the camel corps, and the horse artillery under Major Burn-Murdoch, pursued the retreating enemy. The horsemen succeeded in charging once, killing 30 of the Dervishes. The artillery cooperating did good execution. Finally, the enemy were overtaken, and became so dispersed among the multitude of women and children and cattle, three miles out, that our men desisted from firing. Returning to the river to water, our men encountered a large body of the enemy's infantry, who made a short and determined stand; but after 20 of them had been killed, nearly 100 Jehadios surrendered to the camel coips under the command of Major Tudway.

Six miles beyond Dongola, Adams' squadron of cavalry charged the enemy's horsemen, killing- 22. The enemy kept up a hot fire from covers extending abuut three square miles from the river to the desert hills. All except soldiers had removed to the hills the night before. In the desert in the rear were found scattered household effects of every description. Nearly 1000 prisoners were taken, mostly blacks. THE MARCH OP THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. The march of the troops on the Wednesday was one of the finest spectacles imaginable. The whole force advanced in battle array, the North Staffordshire Regiment being 1 accorded the honour of escorting the field battery. The officers and men of the Maxim battery put on red coats, which, lent a welcome dash of colour to the scene.

The march, began at 5 o'clock. Everybody, judging from the reports received the previous night, was convinced that the enemy would fight. It was not until 8 o'clock that signs of their retreat were discovered. The first indication consisted in the presence of stray cattle and sheep. Gradually the force arrived before a ruined village. Here it halted for a moment, and skirmishers were thrown out; but there was no sign of the enemy. Again the force proceeded across the open plain. Then another village, containing several Dervish straw lruts, was reached. There were evidences that the huts had been slept in during the night, and a single shot was suddenly fired. Four wounded horses, which were found, were humanely killed' Several Dervishes who were nere , encountered were called upon to give up their arms and surrender, but they obstinately refused, and were shot,

Later on several horsemen who had been hiding by the river-side seized a favourable opportunity to escape. I happened (sajs Reuter's special) to be near the spot at the time, and one of them, seeing me, started in pursuit, but he was shot by one of our men when only a few yards behind me. INCIDENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. An artillery waggon which came back laden with little Dervish babies presented a droll spectacle. An inspection of the enemy's defences showed that the work had been carried out with great skill, and that if the forts had been held by a body of resolute men, it would have cost immense trouble and loss to take them. About 900 prisoners were captured, as well as six guns and a considerable quantity of spears, rifles and ammunition. But, perhaps, the greatest loss the Dervishes sustained was the capture of three small mountains of dates, sufficient to feed an enormous force. A great quantity of grain was also taken. The chief honours of the last few days fell to the gunboats and artillery. Colville, Robertson and Beatty have done yeoman service. Parsons, commanding the artillery, has also the satisfaction of knowing that his arm has done splendid work, and he has been well seconded by Young, Peake and Lawrie. The infantry, unfortunately, had no chance of coming into action, but all who watched the progress of the campaign throughout have been able to appreciate their sterling qualities, and the manner in which Colonel Hunter, who commanded the infantry division, has I manoeuvred his force excited general admiration.

Later details concerning the cavalry action show that a great number of the retreating Dervishes were killed. They gave only one opportunity for a charge. The fourth squadron, under Captain Adams, took immediate advantage of it, charging the Baggara horsemen, and killing IS. Captain Adams himself, who was loading his men, charged the Dervish leader. The shock when they met was so great that both fell, and the squadron rode over them. Captain Adams, however, was quite unhurt.

The weather was very hot. The force did not take tents with them from Kosheh, and the few tents available were given up to shelter the Dervish wounded. It was an interesting and pleasing sight to see the British and Egyptian officers protecting themselves from the sun as they best could, while the wounded Dervishes enjoyed the shelter of their tents. The island of Captoo, the birthplace of the Mahdi, ha 3 been visited by one of the Intelligence staff, who reports that the house where the Mahdi was born is surrounded by a small wall of tasteful design, and that up to a few days ago a small guard wos left to protect it. The loot captured from the Dervishes comprises some remarkable objects. There are a few coats of mail and helmets, which evidently date from the days of the Crusaders. A sword which was found has an inscription in old French. Another sword bears the motto, " Honi soit qui mal y 2)ense." There are also a number of doublebarrelled sporting guns, and one rifle of immense calibre, firing a lib ball and requiring two men to hold it.