THE ANNIHILATION

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3323, 26 November 1883, Page 2

THE ANNIHILATION

OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY. FURTHER PARTICULARS, By Electric Telegraph—Oopyrigut. [Reuter’ Agency.] (Received Nov. 24, 1883, 4.30 p.m,) London, Nov. 23. It has transpired that orders have been forwarded to Admiral Sir W, Hewitt, commanding the Naval Suadron in the East Indies, to proceed without delay with H.M.S. Euryalus and other vessels of his fleet to the Red Sea, with a view of affording British support to Egyptian interests in that locality. The Admiralty, moreover, have issued orders for gunboats now in the Mediterranean

to proceed to the Bed Sea as a reinforcement for the Indian squadron. (Received Nov. 26, 1883, 0.35 a.m.) Nov. 24. In consequence of the recent annihilation of the Egyptian army in Soudan, the British Government have decided to postpone the evacuation of Cairo and the withdrawal of a portion of the British troops now in Egypt for the present in accordance with advice from Major Sir Evelyn Baring, British Diplomatic Agent in Egypt. Alexandria, Nov. 25. • Considerable anxiety is being felt for the safety of the Egyptian garrison in the ' Soudan, In accordance with the latest intelligence all the available troops were being concentrated at Sonnar and Khartoum, and taking up a defensive position in view of a probable attack by the followers of El Mahdi [Special to Press Association,] London, Nov. 22. The news of the complete annihilation of the troops under Hicks Pasha is now confirmed. The number of Egyptian troops is estimated at 10,000, while those under the false prophet El Mahdi are stated to be 300,000. El Mahdi sent forward to the enemy dervishes, declaring that they would vanquish them by Divine aid. The small force of Egyptians fought hard for three days, when their square was broken, and the whole of them, with the exception of a German artist and O’Donovan, a correspondent, were annihilated. Eleven English officers were among those killed. The British (?) suggest that the Soudan should be abandoned as far as the White Nile or White River. Nov. 23.

A captain of the Egyptian forces, in the disguise of a dervish, has arrived at Khartoun, and reports that on the battle field he saw 150 wounded survivors of Hicks Pasha’s army, including an artist named Power, the Egyptian Govern" ment is quite paralysed at the result of the conflict, and are consulting with Sir Evelyn Wood, who is in command of the British troops in Egypt, as to the best means of quelling the rebellion. [The European officers commanding the Khedive’s forces operating against the followers of the False Prophet were : Commander - in. Chief, Hicks Pasha (Major-General Hicks, late of the Bombay staff) ; staff LieutenantColonel the Hon. J. Golborne, late Major of the llth Fool; LieutenantColonel Coetlagen, late Major of the 70th Foot; Major Martin, late captain of Baker’s Horse in South Africa; Major Farquhar, late captain of the Grenadier Guards ; Captain Forestier Walker, late lieutenant of the Buffs or East Kent Regiment; Captain Massey, late lieutenant of the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment); Surgeon - Major Rosenberg, Major Warner, Captain W. Page Phillips, and Mr E. B. Evans (Intelligence Department). The cavalry was under the command of Major Martin ; the artillery, with Nordenfeldt guns, under the command of Captain Forestier Walker.] Destroyed by Treachery. London, Nov. 23.

Through the treachery of a guide the Egyptian Army was induced to enter a rocky, wooded, and waterless where, falling into a ambuscade, Hicks Pasha was unable to use his guns. He maintained his position for three days, but on the fourth his forces, exhausted by (hirst, were entirely destroyed, with the exception of 50 taken prisoners. The Governor of the Soudan was killed. All the arras, guns, munitions, and camels were captured. The rebels lost heavily during the engagement. The town of Kordofan has been lost, and the entire Soudan district is ablaze. The various garrisons in the Soudan, numbering about 40,000 men, are retiring on Khartoum, where the populace are said to be disloyal.