THE DEFEAT OF OSMAN DIGNA. DESPERATE BRAVERY OF THE ARABS.

Te Aroha News, Volume 1, Issue 45, 12 April 1884, Page 3

THE DEFEAT OF OS MAN DIGNA. DESPERATE BRAVERY OF THE ARABS.

Oilman Digna Makes a Night Attack. Souakim, March 12.~The Highlanders working on the entrenched fort at Seariba were attacked by Osman Digna's advance at 6 o'clock last evening. Only 422 marines were left to defend the forts at Souakim. Scouts from the direction of Tamanieb report Oaman with 7,000 men moving toward Seariba, in the hope of destroying the British stores in a series of night attacks. Osman retains asadherents thegreat tribeof Huddridowas, whose sheik urged that these night assaults were the best kind of strategy against England's arms of precision. Osman Digna has sent the women, children) and baggage to the hills, His men are

eager for a fight. ' > Rebel reinforcements are constantly arriving. The British forces reached Baker. Pasha's position at Tariba, Tuesday at midnight, and went into camp. Abyssinian scouts reported Osman Digna was in a position and surrounded by a large force of rebels. After dinner, at about one o'clock, tbe British started for the rebel camp, advancing in a square. The rebels are without the entrenchment. Five thousand of the enemy have been sighted, and a battle is imminent. The rebels are twelve miles distant from Souakim. A spy reports that Osman Digna, with 700 men, intends to take a position in a narrow defile, allow the British to pass, and then attack them in the rear. March 13, 2.20 a.m.— The British have a position one mile from the rebel camp. The attack will be made at daybreak with seven Gatling guns. The cavalry will probably fight dismounted. Hidden in trenches and pits are hordes of rebels, and British scouts are frequently fired upon.

Account of the Battle. Souakim, March 13.— -The rebels opened fire on General Graham's forces at one o'clock this morning. The British forces at once formed to repel the charge, but no attack came. The men were thereupon ordered to lie down again. The fire of the rebels continued all night, but the British did not reply. One officer and two men were wounded, and one man killed. Fighting began at daybreak. The infantry and artillery completely routed the enemy from their pits and trenches. The battle had not j lasted more than half-an-hour, when a victory of the British was made certain. A despatch from General Graham, dated "Osman Digma's camp, March 13th, 11.40 a.m.," says :—" The camp of the enemy has been taken after hard fighting. Since eight o'clock this morning over seventy British were killed and 106 wounded." London, March 13.— A despatch from Souakim says:—' 'The enemy was enabled to penetrate the second square and capture by the movement the guns of the Black Watch regiment, which advanced impetuously and broke ranks. A number of the rebels still hover around the camp, and fire when tho cattle are being watered. The native guides bolted when the square was broken. Further fighting is improbable. The battle raged two and a-half hours. The rebel loss is estimated at 4,000 killed and 6,000 wounded."

AN UNPLEASANT BIVOUAC. A later despatch says :—": — " The bivouac last night was exceedingly unpleasant. The Arabs kept up a persistent fusilade till just before daybreak. A bright moonlight rendered objects distinctly visible at a long distance, but prevented the enemy from attempting a sudden onset. The rebels directed their fire especially to the hospital waggons, which were conspicuous in the moonlight. The surgeons and General Graham's staff officers had many narrow escapes. At sunrise a Gardiner gun and a nine-pounder were turned against the rebels, who were within 1,300 yards of the British position, and afforded a most excellent target. The Arabs were | soon compelled to retire to their main position, near the Tamaii wells. Colenel Stewarts cavalry arrived at half-past six, and took a position on the British flank, so as to turn the enemy's right. General Graham has taken quarters for the present in the camp from which Osman Digna and his rebel hosts were driven. The enemy fought most stubbornly. The battle was much heavier than at Teb. The sailors, the Black Watch Regiment, and the York and Lancaster Regiments suffered the heaviest losses. Osman Digna's loss is 2,400.

DESPERATE BRAVERY OF THE ARABS. The British forces advanced in two brigades, which were thrown into the form of squares. A series of encounters followed soon after leaving Sariba. A great body of rebels charged the leading" square, piercing many British sailors inside the square, but it was immediately closed up, and the rebels were repulsed with great slaughter. The advance was again resumed, when immense hordes rushed upon the British from both sides, and a terrible struggle ensued. The Arabs fought with the greatest pluck and bravado, but nearly all were killed. The Second Brigade met with an obstinate resistance, and was at one time repulsed. I The Gatling and Gardiner guns fell into the hands of the rebels, and were only recovered j after a severe fight, when the British likewise gained possession of the rebel camp.

THE BRITISH WAVER. Another account says: As the British squares advanced and fired, the rebels, under cover of the smoke, crept up to the British line and dashed against the Marines and Sixty-fifth and Black Watch Regiments, throwing themselves on the bayonets of the British, and giving and receiving fearful wounds. Great confusion ensued, and the Sixty-fifth began retreating, crowding the Marines, when all became inextricably mixed. Graham did his utmost to rally the men, retreating 800 yards to enable them to reform. Assistance from the other brigade prevented a serious disaster. There were many narrow escapes among the officers. The horse of General Buller was shot from under him. The pluck shown by the rebels is unexampled. The rebels penetrated the second square upon their hands and knees, beneath the muzzles of the Ratling guns. They then commenced slashing with their weapons, doing terrible execution. The British were no match for the rebels at close quarters. The British will return to Souakim to-day. The Hussars made a forward movement to cut off the retreat of the rebels to Sinkat. They hope to save the families of the massacred garrison.

RETURN TO SOUAKIM. Souakim, March 14.— General Graham and Colonel Stewart, with their staffs, have returned to Souakim. The wounded will return to-day. The latter are doing well. While destroying the rebel ammunition the troops unearthed and destroyed 2,000 Remington rifles. The wounded rebels state that Osman Digna's nephew and many chiefs were killed in Thursday's fight. Osman was present early in thought, but fled when defeat was inevitable. There were 1,500 rebel corpses found in one pit. The immense volumes of black smoke which rose from the burning camp and villages made a greater impression upon the fugitives than the British proclamation made. Before the battle Osman Digna went twenty miles to a holy spot to pray for success.

ENGLISH LOSSES. General Graham telegraphs that 5 officers and 86 men were killed, 8 officers and 103 men wounded, and 19 men are missing. The rebels number from 10,000 to 12,000. Three officers and 7 men of the' naval brigade were killed at the guns. Over 2,000 rebels were killed. The rebels charged regardless of their great loss.