THE SOUDAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1754, 4 July 1885, Page 8

THE SOUDAN.

Cable specials ot May 21 say that the v/ithcli'ii will of 15rir.isli iroopsinthe Roudan lias had the etl'cvi of reviving and immensely strengthening the posver ol Osman Digma among the Keel Hea HttoiMl. Tribe-, which have been wavering in their choice between an allegiance to the Mahdi or Great Britain now declare for the former, and with them have gone thousands of Arabs who had declared their friendship for England. Many hundreds had absconded from the British camp itself, and carried with them arms, with which they were plentifully supplied. The British evacuated Handotib on May 24, under a galling fire, part of which came from their own rifles in the hands of treacherous enemies. An army train at Kuakiu surprised a body of rebels on the 2-Jth. tearing up the rails of the now railway, and opening fire on thorn, killing .sdvoral luuulred. Tho Guards, who stopped at Alexandria while cv rnnl- from fsuakiu to England, have gone with tho camp lo await further orders. EmissHrio,-. from Xl Mahdi come daily into Suakin. , .Sick soldiers hi Suakin are increasing in numbers. The Indian troops suffer teiribly, and the. rcbe.l forces are, beginning to renew their attacks on Kuakiu. More tribes, hitherto friendly to the, English, are wavering in their fealty/ El' Mahdi has sent 10 guns and a supply of arms and ammunition to Osman Digma. The English troops will leave Assouan for Cairo about the, middle of June at the, rate of 1500 a week. The rebels havo occupied Korti, and it is expected they will advance upon Dongola, where the English are gone. The intention to present the Berber mil way plant to Cyprus has been abandoned.