THE SOUDAN. A SEVERE DERVISH DEFEAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 47

THE SOUDAN. A SEVERE DERVISH DEFEAT.

REPOIITED DEATH OF THE KHALIFA.

CAIRO, November 24.

The Egyptian army defeated 2500 derVishes, headed by Ahmed Fedil, at Abua 'Adel, killing 400 and taking many prisoners.

The dervishes gallantly charged within 80 yards of the Egyptian guns, but the Maxims mowed them down. There were only three casualties among the Egyptians.

November 26,

The Khalifa's two 'brothers, the Mahdi's son, and Ahmed Fedil, the Khalifa's cousin, and his leading general were killed at Gedid. Osman Digna fled when the first shot was fired.

LONDON, November 25.

An official report states that Majorgeneral Wingate, director of the military intelligence in the Egyptian army, secured a . decisive victory over the dervishes at .Gedid, on the Blue Nile, south of Khartoum. -The Khalifa was killed.

-A later report says that the dervishes ■were defeated after a sharp fight. All the Khalifa's bodyguard and principal emirs •were killed or captured. Osman Digna escaped.

Thousands of dervishes surrendered, and the enemy's camp was taken.

Three Egyptian soldiers were killed and 12 wounded. •*

The Soudan has been declared open to trade.

[Abdullah al Taashi joined the late Mahdi shortly after the latter had announced his jehad, and became one of the Mahdi'^ lieutenants. On his deathbed the Mahdi nominated Abdullah as his successor. The Khalifa proved a ruthless and bloodthirsty tyrant, who, in order to secure hiniself in power, did not hesitate about compassing the death of the relatives of the Mahdi. Mr Neufeld, one of the Khalifa's prisoners released when Omdurman was captured, expressed a strong conviction that- so long as the Khalifa is alive there will be disturbances; while, had ha been captured after Omdurman, trouble would then have vanished.]