The Battle of Omdurman.

Opunake Times, Volume IX, Issue 429, 21 October 1898, Page 4

The Battle of Omdurman.

THE SIRDAR'S GREAT VICTORY

The following additional particulars of the great fight on the Nile on September 8 are culled from the London Daily Standard of September 6. The Sirdar telegraphed from the scene of the engagement on the evening following the battle: — " The remnant of the Khalifa's force has surrendered, and I have now a very large number of prisoners od my hands ; the cavalry and gunboats are still in pursuit of the Khalifa and his chiefs, who have with them only about one hundred and thirty fighting men, and are apparently making for Khordofan. " The left bank of the White Nile is so difficult of approach, owing to the banks being overflowed and covered with thick bush, so that the gunboats cannot effect a landing, and therefore I can only rely upon the cavalry to effect a capture. " I visited Khartoum to-day. The town is a complete ruin, but the lower portions of the principal houses are still standing. The people were naturally delighted to see us. " As far as I see at present, Khartoum is the best position. The town is extensive, and the stench unbearable. I have therefore moved the troops down to Khor Shombat, where •we are now in a good camp on the river.

" All the British wounded go down the river with this telegram. They are all doing very well; there are no cases which cause grave anxiety. All the European prisoners, including Sister Grigolini, Joseph Ragnotti, and a number of Greks, have been released and are well.

The Standard's special correspondent telegraphed from Omdurman on September 4th:— The account I was able to telegraph yesterday of the battle outside Omdurman was of necessity incomplete in some particulars. More must be said of the second, and, in most respects, more serious phase of the engagement. I have already described how, when the fire from behind our zareba developed, and the rush of the Dervishes was checked by hot fire of our artillery, machine guns, and rifles, the enemy moved to our right flank and occupied the crest of a hill in large numbers. To all appearance they were throroughly disorganised by the terrible slaughter of their comrades, whose corpses were strewn in the plain below. Some of the Sirdar's Soudanese -were cautiously making their way across the field of battle, their duty being one which, however hateful it may seem to the theoretical humanitarian, warfare against a savags horde like the followers of the Khalifa makes imperative. _ There is no need to dwell on such incidents. It is enugh to say that, as everyone with experience of fighting in the Soudan knows too well, a wounded Baggara may often be more dangerous foe than a Baggara without a scratch on him. Concealing his agony, and feigning death, he can still deal a fatal blow at his unway enemy. As the Sidar's black troops were doing what had to be done to make a safe path across the scene of conflict, the sharp whistle of buttlets came from the ridge to their right front, where, as I have said, the faltering bands of Dervishes had come to a stand. It was then seen that they had been reinforced by the Khalifa's reserves, who had come up from the rear. The Egyptian Camel Corps had halted not far from the foot of the hill.

The enemy's fire was followed by a rush. The Dervishes evidently imagined that they had the Camel Corps at their mercy ; and within a few seconds a swarm of them would have been spearing the camel sowars, and hamstringing the animals. But they had reckoned without Macdonald's Black Brigade, and the gunboats.

The Camel Corps, a splendid body of Soudanese, who have done invaluable work as scouts, and are no less admirable as fighting men, now fell back steadily without a sign of confusion. Before the enemy were on them, the gunboats in the river opened fire with their maxims, covering the retirement. Then General Macdonald deployed his brigade, and poured volley after volley into the Dervishes, still advancing, but with their ranks thinned by the gunboat fire. But still they came on; their jibbabs gleaming white against the green of the scrub and the blue of the sky. .It was like sea waves crested with foam. Tne sight was magnificent. As more Dervish reserves streamed round the mountain, those left on the ridge swept down the hill, and in a moment the engagement became general, as the Dervishes threw themselves on Macdonald's front. But, sharp as it wes, the fight did not last long ; and, as I have said in my first telegram, it ended in the final and complete repulse of the enemy with heavy slaughter, A further telegram gives a more detailed account of what was, perhaps, the most critical incident of the engagement, when, rallying after the terrible slaughter inflicted by the fire from the Sirdar's zareba, the enemy nerved themselves for a desperate charge on a portion of the Khedive's forces. The Camel Corps was in an exposed position outside the zareba, and was only saved by a well-directed fire from the gunboats, as it fell back in good order. Still the enemy came on, and Brigadier General Macdonald's Brigade, coming into the open, was hotly engaged. An official telegram from the Sirdar contains a brief record of what happened after the battle. The colors of Great Britain and Egypt have again been hoisted on the walls of the Palace of Khartoum, where Gordon fell. Meanwhile the cavalry and gunboats had been sent in pursuit of the

flying Khalifa, who is accompanied by a handful of his shattered host. He is said to be making for Obeid, the capital of Kordofan, which is twelve caravan marches, or five post marches, from Khartoum. Riding for his life, the leader of the Dervishes, though his frame is worn by luxury and excesses, might perhaps do the distance in less. But Kordofan will scarcely be a safe place of refuge for a defeated general. Even before the Sirdar's army had left the camp on the Atbara, messages came from Obeid saying that the people were tired of Dervish oppression, and would gladly welcome the Anglo-Egyptian force as deliverers. The cavalry pursuit had to be abandoned, men and horses being worn out by their exertions during the battle, in which it will be remembered the 21st Lancers had a particularly trying experience. The gunboats were equally useless in the pursuit, as owing to the state of the river banks it was impossible to land. Our losses were comparatively small, the total casualties being 46 killed and 829 wounded. Had the Dervishes acted on the defensive, and remained within the walls of Omdurman, the losses might have been far heavier. Tbere is little doubt, however, that the bombardment of Omdurman, on the day before the battle, confirmed the Dervish leaders in their resolution to attack the Sirdar's camp, rather than to be attacked themselves. The Queen received with great satisfaction the news of the great victory at Omdurman. Her Majesty at onse telegraphed to the Sirdar, congratulating him and the brave men under him on their great success, while regretting the sad loss of life, and hoping the wounded were doing well.