Warfare in the Soudan.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 88, 7 February 1885, Page 5

Warfare in the Souda n.

Zuisii ! fly a couple of rockets, followed by the sharp bang of a section of howitzers. Eagerly we watched the effect, but the rockets burst upon our own men. and though the shells had been nicely timed, theyseem d to make but little impression. Breaking fr«>m Cover, the enemy sweeps with an inward curve ri^ht and left, his extreme flanks converging towards the opposing angles of our square. Now tile firing commences from the front directl assailed, the men having been cautioned to aim I^ea"er they swept, horse and foot closing on either flank, but as they came within our zone of fire they butted forward, hit to death. The Nordenfeldts have now got to work, and within a few minutes the leading mnb, for ifc was but that, fell in pile s. But fanaticism knows no check. The chosen chiefs of the Mahdi were there, followed by their own chosen henchmen. . . . . And what gallant men were they ! Right up to the cannon's mouth, right up to the rifle muzz'e, dauntless they rode, encouraging their followers with the promise of paradise to break our square Sheikh after sheikh went down with hia banner, although the Mahdi had assured each that he was invulnerable, and their faithful but misguided followers fell in circles around the chiefs they blindly folowed They never wait to be attacked. Their onslaught is furious. They sweep down on their foe in one sudden rush, and their plan of battle is invariably to throw their enemy into confusion by the rapidity of their attack, which always takes place in the open. We had to traverse dense woes and jungles on our march. The chances in their favour would have been immense had they attacked us while we were making our way through these obstacles, but their instincts and traditions taught them that such a mode of warfare would not be chivalrous — ('* With Hicks Pasha in the Soudan," by Col. J. Colborne.)

Swell : Play much whist in Australia ? Returned colonist : Yes ; a good deal. Swell : Play high ? R.C. : Not very. Sheep points, and a ram on the rubber,