THE BATTLE OF ATBARA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2309, 2 June 1898, Page 23

THE BATTLE OF ATBARA.

GOOD FHIDAF'S GKREAT FIGHT.

IRRESISTIBLE CHARGE! OF THE INFANTRY.

DESTRUCTION OF THE DERVISH ARMY.

Full particulars of the great battle fought on the Atbara River between the forces under General Sir Herbert Kitchener and ths dervish army under Mahmoud, the Khalifa's general, havo now been received. The following graphic particulars are from the accounts by special correspondents, telegraphed on Good Friday night, Bth April, from Nakeila :—

The sirdar marched out the whole force from Umdabia camp ab 6 o'clock last evening to a distance of about eight miles from the enemy's position. The army bivouacked in the desert till 1 o'clock this morning, when it advanced with brief halts to within 500 yds of Mahmoud's zareba. This was seen to be crowded with men, while clouds of horsemen were seen in the scrub on our left front. The attack was made at dawn. The disposition of our force was :—: — 24 guns, under Colonel Long, moving on the right flank ; 12 Maxima divided the right and left flanka and the centre, trom which the whole of Mahmoud's front was raked. The main attack was made by General Gatacre's British Brigade and Colonel's Macdonald's and Maxwell's Soudanese brigade*. The former was on the left. Brigadier-general Lewis's brigade supporting. The Camerons ware extended in line, while behind them came the Lincolnshire regiment on the right, the Seaforths in the centre, and the Warwickshire regiment on the left, all in open column and company distance. Colonel Macdonald's brigade was on tbe right centre in similar formation, the 9th battalion in line ia front. The whole force arrived within striking distance at about 4 a.m., aad halted till 5.40 a.m., -when wo advanced, the sidar and his staff being between tho two attacking brigades. At first the march was over a gravelly ridge. The formation maintained was perfect. The spectacle was magnificent, the advancing army with banners flying, as the sun peeped 2 decrees above the horizon, all in absolute silence. A 6 o'clock a halt was cailtd for - final arrangements. The regimental commanders made stirring speeches to the men, Colonel Murray, of the Seaforths, saying news of victory must be in London that night. General Gatacre, too, made a splendid address. He sitid there was no question they were to go right through the Zftreba and drive the dervishes to tho river.

ACTION OPENED BY ARTILLERY AND MAXIMS.

At 6.15 a.m. tb.B artillery on the right opened fire, shrapnel and ptu'cusiion shells raking the whole dervish comp and doing great execution. Away on the extreme left the dervish horsemen came out of the bush, but were driven baok by a withering fire from the Maxims. The rocket br.ttery also fired on the dervishes, whose camp was repeatedly set fire to. The dervishes made no response to this. They were ably bombarded for fully half an hour, when bullets were heard- whistling over our heads for a fw minutes, scd thea ceased.

THE INFANTRY CHATtGB.

At 7.30 a.m. the artillery fire ceased, and the bugles sounded the advance. Tbe Camerons' pipers at once struck up " The March of the Cameron Men." Their business was to clear the front with a hot rifle fire while alternate rompanies tore openings in the zareba or surmounted them by scaling ladders. Then followed the Lincolns, the Seaforths, and the Warwicks, the Highlanders playing a wild, march. There was a momentary pause till the Camerons reached the crest of the ridge overlooking the dervish zareba.

A WARM BECEPTION.

Then the dervishes opened a sustained rifle fire, bat their aim was high and their execution was not ' so great as from the intensity of the fire was expected. Meanwhile Colonel Macdonald's brigade advanced, the 9th Soudanese clearing the way. Only a minute elapsed from their crowning the rise bill the Camerons and Soudanese had torn down she z&reba and made a way for the vegimeats following in column, bub 30 yards from- the zareba was a strong stockade backed bj> entrenchments. Nothing was finer than the way in which the storming of these formidable barriers was accomplished. Piper Stewart, of the Camerons, was killed leading the way up to the zareba. The casualties here in taking the stockade account for most. It was a thrilling quarter of an hour, the fire hotter and more continuous than ever remembered fro. '-a dervish iutrenchments.

THE ENEMY SCATTERED.

Our magazine Maxims fired, while without a moment's flinching the British, Soudanese, and Egyptians drove a way right through the dervish camp, and the enemy who were not killed scattered across the river and into the southern desert, where they were putaucd by Brigadiergeneral Lewis's brigade, cavalry, and borse artillery. The only thing that remained to be done was to clear the camp of fugitives and wounded, many of whom kept to the dervish practice of firing. The victory was complete ; about 4000 priaor.ers were taken, including Mahtnoiid himself, who was found aiding beneath ADgfireeb by a detachment of tbsS^h Sw.dftnese. Dis capture was the occasion tor great rejoiciDjj in boih the British and Egyptian armies. Oar casualties woru over 200, principally wouuded, of which 68 were Brih..n, the majority from the Caraerona and Sa'-aforths. After the engagement was over the airdar, who had been under fire all the morning, rode over the battle field. He was received with enthusiastic cheers by every regiment of the British brigade, whom he thanked for their gallant victory. He also received an ovation from the Egyptian and Soudanese troops. Among the trophies were a great number of standards, spears, war drums, &c.

GALLANT SWOOP OP THE INFANTES:,

The special correspondent of the Daily News telegraphed : —

The artillery fire opened at 610 a.m. At 7.20 the order was given for the infantary to advance. The enemy stood their ground well, holding their fire until our men were close up. Nothing, however, availed them against the gallant swcop forward of tbe three brigades, who rushed the trenches and drove the enemy down to the river practically without check.

VIEWING THIS BATTLEFIELD.

Telegraphing later, the same correspondent says : — I have now been all over the dervish position, and estimate their dead at over 2000. Much of the execution was wrought by our splendid artillery fire. The force at Mahmoud'fi disposal numbered at leait 12,000 fighting men. Their resistance till the last moment to the heavy fire poured upon them excites great admiration among the officers and men, both British and Egyptians. ~_

IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT.

The same correspondent adds : — I accompanied the Cameron Highlanders through the aotioti. Witea the advance was Sounded the

British brigade moved to the top of a low ridge dominating the zareba, and opened volley firing by sections. The dervishes made a hob reply, the fire for the next 20 minutes being the heaviest I have ever experienced. After pouring a hot fire kneeling, from the ridge, the brigade again pushed forward under even hottee fire. The Camerons and Seafortha rushed the zareba and opened it for others to follow in, They then attaolced and cleared the trenches. This was extremely nasty work, because the whole of the interior of the zsreba was honeycombed with trenches of different sizes and shapes, which the blacks held tenaciously, bub fine discipline and the general work of the British troops were beyond all praise. They worked like one man, carrying everything before them. Their attack was made under a veritable hail of lead. The black troops were shaking hands with the British wherever they met, and the army at the pre» sent moment is loudly cheering the sirdar for his victory, in what they believe to be the mosfe brilliant and deoisire action ever fought in the Soudan.

FIRST IN THE ZAREBA.

The asual difference of opinion exists as to which brigade was the first in. The Daily Telegraph correspondent says : — I have no doabt, however, that General Maxwell's and General M 'Donald's troops particularly made the first serious attack apon Mahmoud's zareba. They were within 40 yards of It when the Camerons were hundreds of yards off. The British had the centre — tho strongest part —to tackle. When the Camerons saw themselves likely to be outstripped in the race, they quickened their pace, pausing .occasionally to "fire, although the dervishes were pouring in a terrible hail of bullets from their Remington rifleß, and our men were dropping upon all sides. It was at venomous & fusillade as troops were ever called upon to face. The Camerons did their doty nobly, however. They hauled the zareba aside, and bounded over the trenches, whilst the other brigades were firing over them. \At any rate, General Gataore's brigade had pushed and fought their way cle&n through to .the river'a bank, started the fugitives, and sounded " Cease fire," before they saw a single Egyptian or Soudanese upon that p*rt of tho scene. Mahmond's army was practically wiped out. About 1000 of his followers are taken prisoners, and orhera are coming in.

INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.

Lloyd's Weekly mentions tbe following incidents of the battle :— .. Staff-sergeant Mackay, of the Seaforth Highlanders, ia jumping the palisade, escaped unscathed, although he had a spear thrown at him, which passed through his kilt.

Staff-sergeant Wyatt, who boie a big Union Jack in the centre of the Camerons' line, was shot severely in the knee.

Within the zareba one of Gensral Gatacre's orderlies took the flag and carried it to tho rivei'.

piper Stewart's bravery.

Piper Stewart, of F Company, Caiaeron Highlanders, like all the pipers, blew " brawly," during a bit of rough and bloody work. He mounted a knoll, and stood playing the " March of the Cameron men," until, riddled by seven bullets, he dropped dead.

CAPTAIN UP.QUHART'S LAST COMMAND.

Captain Urquharb was mortally hit in the stomach. He cried to his men, " Never mind me, my lads. Go on F Company '.."

" GIVE IT TO HIM, MY MAN !"

General Gatacre was the first of the British brigade at the zareba redoubt. He and his BtftfE left their - horses behind and advanced on foot. General Gatacre seized a thorn bush with his hands and tried to drag it away, helped by Private Cross. Captain Ronald Brooke, A.D.0., and other officers also hauled at the bushes. A dervish rushed at General Gatacre, but the general stuck to pulling up the bush, contenting himself with shouting to Cross — " Give it to him, my man 1 " whereupon Cross bayoneted tbe enemy.

An Emir who, with a flag and spear, was standing up inciting his dervishes, was gallantly rushed by Private Chalmers, of theCamerons, who killed him and captured the banner.

A NARROW ESCAPE.

There were many narrow escapes. The narrowest perhaps was that of a man who, noticing a brass box inside the zareba, pocketed it, thinking it would be useful as a match box. The next instant a bullet struok it, and was turned aside.

A PLUCKY AEAB BOY.

An example of the resolution of the enemy is to be found in tbe fact that a boy ot 10, lying in the trench by the side of his dead fattier, seized an elephant gun and fired at the first comer, but just missed.

The Sirdar, in "onversation with Col. Money, referring to the slow and steady advance of the Camerons in attacking the zareba under a withering fire, eaid : "It was one of the finest feats performed for many years. You ought to be proud of such a regiment." Colonel Money replied that he was right proud of it.

Among tbe war material taken were 10 brass cannona and several elephant rifles, manufactured at Essen, and bearing dates antecedent to the dawn of Mahdism. These fired explosive bullets. A great quantity of spear* and swords were captured, also some guns with the towei mark.

CHAINED PBISONERS

In the enemy's trenches a score of men were changed together by the legs, and others both i by arms and legs, while three others were" held by forked sticks fixed round their necks, so that they could not desert

Close to the zftveba was found the body of one of oar cavalrymen, who had been missing frince General Hunter's recpnnaiasance. ,Hd had evidently been taken alive, ss his hands, feet, acd head had been cut off— aTfaVourvta dervish practice.

THE CAPTURE OF MAHMOUD.

Mahmoud, who was captured in a casemate, is a sensuous-lookiiig black Baggara, 35 years of age. He is dressed in a richly-embroidered robe, and has a shaved head. I saw the meeting between the sirdar and Mahmoud. It was very dramatic. Mahmoud was haughty and sullen. The sirdar asked him why he came making war in the Atbara country, to which Mahmoud replied, "I have to do what I am told ; so have you."

The meeting between Mahmoud and Statin Pasha was also a most dramatic one. Slatin reminded the capti?e general of their meetings ia very different circumstances in former years. Mahmoud replied " You wait till you get to Khartonm."

Mahmoud declared th»t he knew all our movements through his horsemen. He said that most of his emirs and relations were killed. When we came in sight he sounded the alarm and went round his position. He then retired to a casemate trench, and remained there.

THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN LOSSES

The sirdar telegraphed on Saturday a list ot the officers, non-commissioned efScers, and men of the British brigade who were killed in Friday's action, or subsequently died of their wounds. The officers killed were Captains Findlay and Urquharb, Cameron Highlanders } and Second-lieutenant Gore^ of the Seaf ortb.9. There were Si non»commissioaed officers and

et,<*vj killed. M list: of/ wounded has also beem lteceiv«d afe the 1 War ofßcß, from. TOhich^ if. appears- that 10 officers' and 106 men» wore, grounded' in 1 the British brigade. The Egyptian ferigad'es-loatsl men liilled'; and- 18' ofnceea and 319! rank and- file wounded 1 .

„" Accompanied^ by his. staff, and escorbed by BrigidSer-g-eneral" M'Dona'Jd'ij. brigade, witfa-five-. pqnadrons cf>' cavalry; the horse' artillery, and Batteriet, tile eirdar arrived at Btrber on. f Wednesday, Mahmoud, ab bhe head of 200Q ewvisH prisoner?, waa in the procession 1 . Ihe jvhole town was decorated, and the. natives, gave- the sirdar a most, enthusiastic uecepbion, M«hmond created the greatesfc' interest. An. enoi3mcus'orowd'Btruggled"toobtain a good-view ofliim'..

The wounded, British' officers, who are all progressing, favourably; have left Atbara by boat for G'enenifeti; Neither' the British; nor theEgypfciati' medtoaL departments* have, apparatus' |or' the Rontgen- rays with them. Though nrdWed'by tli'e Egyptian hospitals, bhe apparatus 1 did nob arrive in time. Most of the wounds were caused by-bulltets, and bhe medical officials agree that- the 1 Rontgen rays, would have been luvafualile.

THK KAISER'S CO^FGHATtrnATIONS-,

The German- Emperor, on> receiving tha news' OS the victor^,, telegraphed Bib- congratulations' to- tine 1 Hriliisb;. Ambassador in- Berlin, and requested <3iat?.b'hey might also be offered taHiord Balisßar-y and the^airdai':

ADBIT?rO3SPiSIi P^RTEeULABS

The Load'oa -corresgondent of the. Argua.iHpplies the- following additional and"interesting particulars- of the great Soudan babtla :, —

In ffce race for'fche honour of which r?gimenfe ihould be first, in i& is> hardly possible to award ctisbinctioD, as all" drove their way through the csmp. Tiie Sirdar, however, declsred' fchaS fche tteady, det'ermibed advance o£. the- Ginierons was one of the fineßb-feafe performed, for many fears-. •The haiL of buitets from: the servisl. fcrenche» did- not check for an instdnb* their fin*l irresistiblß. ooslbught, and only a minute eJagsed from the time the 1 combined' forces; crowned tha cresS of lihe ridge' overlooking the c»nap> till' bbc Csmeronß acd tire Soud-anese had- tcradowtn the. 2nteba and nsadei w*y for the followingregfmeQts, which' were advancing in column.

AN HEROIC ACT.

General Gatacre; aceompa»ied' by Private Crossi of the Ckraerons, wers actually the first to lay hands on the zareba-. Cro3S' bayoneted a big Servltbr,, who- wa» »imfng point-bFank at General GVtacre, who- cooHy" continued to demolish tfie ziireba, wMle comnaeading- tbe action of hfs - piucky protector: Pluckily the ao'cHers" spra-ng afc tfie stockaded' cover trench, five yards beyond' which were from t&ree to five rows of trenches, innumerable rifl'3 pits, and on the British front three enclosed flel'dwosks covered the one gun by which Colonel Murray bad been shot early in febe fray. highland d^sh:

A' lme of Highlanders pls.iitod theirfeet upon bhe ends of tbe plalm tree butts^ &nd' sprasg acrogrthe'trencfe. it few were shod dbwn\ pointblanlr, others were 5 speared 1 by- the dervFafees. One of" the- Cameron's had' a narrow esca-pe, -a lance-thrust tearing ». wide rent in bis kilts aa he j umpecr 1 over the lines. Tne-dervrafr p-flenien, rfcatfoaed in- th* rearwa-rd l trenckes, • rose- and fl'edtowards th«- baa£ ssnd' the-rrver. Hundreds •were shot down. The Ei&colirs' and SeH?oebns ran in cheering- voeifefsusfy, »nxi took ground to the 1 rigjiir »'nd! leflf, forcing tbe eneajy backward* vigorously. The finfes- were cl«aredi without s nsi\ oriry tiiaf skuifcers- beißg* left) WK'hm fco be de*l« wiffi I'ater on 1 . Bullets were trhi'z-zing-shri'lljpfrom-theeßemy'B'frent and ltffcv bat General Grtracre'g men heeded- them nob. Their blcrodl up-, Chey gave shot for rfioii, *s well' ag delivering- bayonet thrusts* and' blows with butted nfflea npow thane who were disputing their advance; The infuriated dervishes' made fierce- rushes upon- tih«< front line witfr swords and - spears, bub the British- officers coolly

pietoltect them or eccir them down,

Toe- enemy

befeaved 1 heeofcaPy. and endured' hh« deadliest JTam'bers- were bayoneted^ scores were killed- in each of the little fociis,. andi seacly as many in the larger huts. Indeed, the scene was one of terri&r& »nd gfaagffly carnage. Two or three groaps ofr women and chftdrea- were 9&Esed ansiolesfced' vrtjil'a' bidiifg, in. fche ! pits, THH PIGIEC BOH THE 1 KEEP. There' w&* even- s beetep flg&fc for M»hmon:d"s Bentrnl' keepi GeaeraE ShitacEe's brigade* turned that position, and thereby materially helped to end the struggle; for a± the keep>tbe Soudanese tiroops lost heav-fliy;, half of the compa-n : e3 being- liars- de- comltat., A. sinQultaß-e-ous right attack by Soudanese brigades - waj als3» at- gtrsind speciracle, Oaneral Hunter himself cheering, andi, wi*h hfs heFmet in his band 9, fed 1 the mere on. to She zare&a. But 30' yards; from the- zaneba. there wa<r;ai strong blockade, backed by entrencbmenfcs. This* had fco Be 1 - fto* med, and a thrilfng quartan- of an hour resulted. -Nothing- could be more striking or more' picturesque* than bhei -way these fosmidable baa-rieia were surmounted,, mi the face of a hot aad eontihnour firwframvthe' dferv-ish treoches. WiSbaufi; a, moment's- Hmcbisg, the British S,oiid < aneße camp*, add! those of the enemy who-wssxH uob killed -*mra sca,ttered' across the liver into- the* Southern Desert.

AJFTJiIK TKB' VK!TORy r

Wh^n vjcfcey wag complete, the rifle pits' and entrer.c- menix were; choked- wißh. dervishes, who had btc-P bvyon«ted where they stood 1 . Over 2000-tsVrvisiies were dead, in the zauebav while oufeid- thtr slain covered the gtound foe a.consid%ra.'tii'e- distance. JB'joai the moment. oE the advaccr; otj the zareba by the infantry uill 6he work was completed' *he actual fi-jhting- lasted only 23 mnvates. Ift was jvrs'i 8M *.m. when the troops gained the edge- of the steep bank to the rear of Abbara, where they drove the* last s£rvtf>ls"oab. Ma-ny of the foe vrere. shot, during, their fl'ght across the sandy bed cf bhe river. Csptains Ficdlay and! Ur.quhart, of the

Cameron H'fj-'Wandersj and- Lieutenant Gore, of 6fie Sea-furth. Highlanders,, were killed- in stormißy the- aareba. Captain PJndlay who' stood ovtr Siit 6in- in hergnfr, pressed on- yards before his eoopanyv so- his men found difficulty fn'firij'g fco> cover his front. A derviah poppad up aitd- 6£ot<him through the body. All' dervi/9hes in t'hatf trench were icstantly dealt with 1 .

thbt Ticrcra's sporx.,

Among the war material taken were 1 10- brass' camrtm- And' several eiepliatib nrtea, manufactured at Eaffen', bearing dates antecedent 'to the dawn of ftflatrdi&nr. These fired «ploair& ballete. Fn the- fcreoctes scores of men, wara chained' together by tfhfr Tegs,, and others by both arms and Jegs, while otherswere- held' by forked sticks round 1 iiheir necks,. bo etrey eoald nob desert. There were also found l six Heads* fired on pole?, one- beingdreadfully- mutilated. CTcsw to- lihe z->rtb* w*» found fc&e body of? an Egyptian cava-lrj dwu. Ke had' eviiftjnfcl^ Been taken alJve-, aa hi* ha-owfe,-Feet fc and head hfcd' been out off — a favourite derviah graetice. , The bodies-of 11 of the principal 1 emirs were Found 1 amongst the slain: Among them were Wad Bisliars,. the fjcrrmer Emir of Dbagpla. A large- number of inferior emirs were also found. After- eountiDg- 2000- d'eadi in tile-open, in i& estitnsvted th-afl the derwinh' loss all' round waa- probably- not leas' tßan. 3300. The- whole army was broken up and scattered into several parties,

aome making bheir way up thei Atbara, some bo tbe Nile. The cavalry, found it difficult to pursue, owing to the thick bush, but friendly Arabs,. Jaalin,. and! Ababdeh captured many-. The Sirdar took 10 guas, a very large number of rifle?, over 100 banner*, war drums, and quantities of the usual'- dervish loot.