THE SIEGE OF SINKAT UNKNOWN Resistance.

Te Aroha News, Volume 1, Issue 45, 12 April 1884, Page 5

THE SIEGE OF SINKAT UNKNOWN Resistance.

You will have heard by cable of the fall of Sinkat, and how the gallant band of Turks shut up inside were, after a desperate sally, overcome and cut to pieces. The news reached here on the Tuesday after (February 12), and created a great sensation. I fear Gladstone's Government is now doomed. Their vacillating policy in Egypt has disgusted friends and enemies alike, but they might have weathered the storm if they had given Tewfik Bey the assistance he so agonisingly begged. The idea of British troops lying inactive within a day's march of the starving and beleaguered garrison at Sinkat has naturally revolted everybody. The "Pall Mall Gazette" tells the story of Tewfik Bey's stern resistance as follows :— The news that the garrison of Sinkat has at last met the fate which s© long has impended over it is the more to be regretted because it involves the sacrifice of one of the few Egyptian officers who in the recent crisis have displayed heroic courage. Tewfik Bey, the gallant commander of the doomed garrison, who blew up his fortifications, spiked his guns, and perished at the head of a sortie of all his troops, has been contending with rebellion in the Eastern Soudan since August last year. The story of his gallant resistance to the insurrectionary forces to which he has at last succumbed is told in considerable detail in the despatches of Consul Moncrief which appear in the lastpublished Blue-books. The first detailed account of Tewfik Bey is given in the despatch dated August 24 (Egypt, No. ], 1884, p, 12), written at a time when Consul Moncrief believed that the insurrection in the Eastern Soudan had entirely collapsed, owing, he said, to the courage and conduct of Tewfik Bey, the Governor of Souakim. On the 2nd of August, Tewfik, then at Souakim, heard for the first time of disloyal meetings at ten hours' distance from Sinkat. Sinkat was at that time garrisoned by only sixty men. Tewfik at once proceeded thither, and ordered Osman Digna, the chief of the revolted tribes, who defeated Baker the other day between Trinkakat and Tokha, to report himself at Sinkat. Osman at first refused to come. Two days later, however, he not only arrived himself, but he brought 3,000 armed men with him, halting 2,000 yards from the barrack*. He sent messengers with two letters from the Mahdi to IWfik Bey, stating that since the Egyptians were worse than Christians, Jews, or even Kaffirs, debasing the Koran, all arms, ammunition, and Government property must be surrendered to Osman Digna, the vizier of the Mahdi. The messengers added that if these demands were not complied with they would put every man to the sword. Tewfik's position was serious indeed : he had only sixty men, in a mud- built barrack large enough to accommodate 200, while he was exposed to the immediate attack of 3,000 of the fierce tribesmen, whose courage was brilliantly attested when 1,000 of them put to flight the 3,000 troops under Baker's command. Not for one moment, however, did he think of surrender. To gain time he told them that he had two superiors without whose order he could not comply with their demands. When the messengers returned with this answer, he set to work te loophole the barracks and pile up sandbags at the gates. For four hours, during which the messengers kept coming and going, Tewfik and his men were strengthening their position ; but at last Osman Digna lost patience, and swore thathe would attack them before the shadows where six feet longer. Tewfik bade him come on and do his worst. The insurgent army swarmed up to the attack. Fortunately, Tewfik's men were almost all blacks, who fought with unflinching bravery. The garrison, however, was too small to hold the whole of the position, and at least twenty Arabs penetrated inside the barracks. These intruders were killed to a man, and in half an hour the assailants were beaten off with a loss of 100 killed. Of Tewfik's force seven soldiers were killed, and one officer and ten men wounded — not excluding Tewfik himself, who received five severe blows with the sharp stakes of the insurgents. Just afterthe rebels had recoiled from the assault, a reinforcement of 800 men reached them, but they fortunately had nodesire to renew theattack. Had they done so, Tewfik's fate would have been sealed, as he had only twelve rounds of ammunition for each of his reduced garrison. His soldiers, however, were full of courage and gaiety ; their wives sang to cheer them on during the fight, and the incident concluded with a general dance of both sexes. Theoddsagainstthem, however, were so desperate that some of his officers advised Tewfik to give up the arms, for resistance was hopeless. Tewfik shared their views as to the impossibility of success, but refused to listen to any suggestion of surrender. Had he given in, Souakim and Tokha would have fallen, and there would have been no Egyptian authority left in the north of the Eastern Soudan. He received seventy men and a mountain gun from Souakim, and stood on the defensive. A week later a fresh rising threatened Tewfik once more with destruction, and he was strongly urged to retire on Souakim. He refused, however, and showed so bold a front to the rebels that one by one the tribes lost heart, and by August 20 the insurrectionary movement had dwindled down to Mohammed Tahir and Osman Digna and a few hundred men. Tewfik had telegraphed to Khartoum for reinfororcements, maintaining that without 2,000 infantry, 200 cavalry, 6 mountain guns, and 3 mitrilleuses, he could not hold the district, especially if any disaster happened to Hicks Suleiman Pasha. The Governor of the Eastern Soudan, however, thought otherwise, and no reinforcements except a few Bashi-Bazouks were sent. Tewfik, said Consul Moncrieff, " knows the people well, and has much influence personally, and was more likely to be right than Suleiman; but probably one complete battery of artillery, twoorthree mitrailleuses, and five hundredinfantry, with a man-o-war, if sent immediately, would meet every requirement." The concluding passage in this despatch will be read with peculiar interest to-day, now that the brave Tewfik is no more: — "Suleiman Pasha expressed himself to me in the highest terms regarding Tewfik Bey, and said that the whole of this part of the country would have been lost but for his gallantry and ability. I feel bound, Sir, to add my own impressions. He showed courage and tact throughout a most difficult and critical situation. He, held a tumble - down building, wretchedly prepared for defence, against an apparently overwhelming force primed with fanaticism and sure of victory. That the latter could only oppose clubs, spears, and swords to Remington rifles, rendered his success possible, but does not detract from the gallantry of the feat) neither does the fact that it was his bounden duty to attempt it. Had he declined it, or failed, the consecjuences would without any doubt have oeen such as Suleiman Pasha described them. I believe also that these would be partially actual or imminent Had he not had the firmness to con-

tinue to hold Sinkat;,, and that I should not be able to report to you that I believe that, while reinforcements are desirable* there appears no. longer any immediate danger to the authority of the Khedive's Government in this part of the East Soudan. I trust, Sir, that I am not exceeding my duty in begging you, should you think fit, to bring Tewnk Bey's gallantry and able conduct to the notice of his Highness, (Egypt, 1, 1884, p. 16.)" From that day till this month no com* munication was received from Tewfik, with the exception of fragmentary messages asking for relief. His garrison was raised to 600 men, but, the insurrection breaking out with great fury, he was shut up in Sinkat ; and the one capable ruler in the Eastern Soudan was practically a prisoner. The story of the abortive attempts to relieve him are set forth in another column. All failed. At the end of January the news received from Sinkat was most heartrending. The people had eaten all the dogs in the town, and had nothing but horse 3 and skins. There was only one bag of barley, and by the Ist of February nothing would be left. If no relief came Tewfik said that he would sally out and try to fight his way to Souakim, as he preferred death in battle to starvation. It was no empty boast. One last appeal he was still to make. On February 8 a heartbreaking letter was received at Souakim from Tewfik. At the time he wrote he was in ignorance of the rout near Tokha, and he implored that assistance might be sent to him. The garrison were then starving, and the men were chewing the leaves of trees to allay their cravings. At last human nature could endure no more, and the siege of Sinkat closes in a gallant sortie, which does much to redeem the lustre of Egyptian arms. The last scene of all is thus described by Mr Cameron in this morning's "Standard" : — " The heroic garrison of Sinkat, after for three months repulsing every attack, have been slaughtered almost to a man. For weeks they have been living on half rations, for a fortnight subsisting on roots and leaves, and it must have been an enfeebled band indeed who issued out at last to die in the midst of the hordes who surrounded them. Only four men, thirty women, and the Cadi of Sinkat have been spared. Tewfik is reported to have pointed out to his men that by fighting they might save themselves, by remaining all must in a few days die of hunger, while flight was impossible. Having animated his men with his own spirit, he burned all the stores, spiked the guns, and blew up the magazine. Then, each man having filled his pouches with as much ammunition as he could carry, the six hundred issued out. Osman's hordes at once rushed down to the attacs. Tewfik and his men fought nobly, and for a long lime repulsed every effort to break their ranks, but at last numbers prevailed. With a tremendous rush the Arabs burst into one of the sides of the square, and a general massacre then took place, not a single man escaping. It is supposed that the four men spared were left behind sick and unable to march." Not even in the annals of England's wars do we find many warriors who have displayed greater courage or more patriotic devotion than the Egyptian hero, Tewfik Bey, the defender of Sinkat.