OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1926, Page 15

OBITUARY.

OSMAN DIGNA, Cairo, Dee. 8. The death has occurred of Osman Digna, the famous Sudanese leader and opponent of the late Earl Kitchener. Osman Digna, the once-famous Arab leader in the Sudan, was born in the j early ’thirties. He belonged to the Hadendoa tribe and was originally a slavedealer in Suakin. When Britain began to introduce order into the Sudan, the Mahdi rose in revolt in 1883, and Osman, with his tribe, joined his army, which won a victory at El Obeid. After this the Sudan was abandoned. Osman, who was appointed Emir of the eastern portion, besieged the Egyptian garrisons at Sinkai and Tokar, and defeated relief columns, notably at ElTeb, where General Baker’s force was almost wiped out. The two garrisons were overwhelmed. But General Graham met Osman at El-Teb and defeated him in February, 1884, and, although he managed to break a British square at Tamai, he was beaten again there. Nevertheless, his prestige remained high and his operations extended as. far as Wady Haifa. Failing speedy relief, General Gordon was killed at Khartum on January 26, 1885, and in March 13,000 men set out from Suakin to deal with Osman, who was met at Hashim and Tofrik, but without decisive results. Further operations led to some of the tribes deserting their chief, who, though a brave and skilful general, was a cruel and oppressive ruler. In June, the Mahdi died, and the British evacuated the Sudan, whereupon Osman wreaked vengeance on the unfaithful tribes and, moving south, captured Kassala. The Abysinnians now took up arms against him and in September the most disastrous defeat of his career was inflicted on him by Ras Alula. Disaffected tribes then captured. and destroyed his headquarters. Tamai. Late in 1887 he moved on Suakin and was defeated by Kit-

chener, but in 1888 he besieged the town. The garrison made a sortie and defeated him at Gemaiza. In 1891 he was thrice routed by Sir Charles Smith, and was quiet until 1896, when he attacked the Italians in Eritrea and drove their forces into Kassala, which he besieged. Hearing, however, that Kitchener was advancing up the Nile, he hurried to Suakin, but was defeated at Taroi and went off to aid the Khalifa in warding off the main attack and to defend the line of the Atbara. In 1898 all the Khalifa's forces were routed by Kitchener, both on the Atbara and at Omdurman. and Osman fled, but was captured at Tokar in January, 1900, having been deserted by his followers. He was imprisoned for a time, but was later allowed to live at Wady Haifa under Government supervision.