THE SOUDAN CAMPAIGN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3283, 6 April 1885, Page 2

THE SOUDAN CAMPAIGN.

(From Better's Special Corbespqn- 1: dent.) .- o Ptaeeived 1.30 p.m., April 4tb.l ] SotfAxiM, April 3(6 p.m.). * The force under the command of Sir a Gerald Graham, advanced as arranged this t morning, and succeeded m ocoupyicf I

OsmanDigna'spositionatTamai,theenemy retiring on the approach of the British troops - after exchanging a few shots. General Graham, ■ finding only a very small supply of water which was useless for drinking purposes, only remained two hours at Tamai, and the froops are now returning to Souakim. It is the intention of the British commander to push forward the construction of a railway to Handouh as fast as possible, and a force is to be stationed at that place to await any attack that may be made by the Arabs. The British casualties during the skirmish were one private killed, and one officer and ten rank and file wounded, including two membeis of the New South Wales contingent. The enemy's loss was only slight. (PerElectkic Telegraph. —Copyright. ) (Rbuteb's Agencx . ) (Received 0.40 a.m. April 6th.) London, April 5. A telegram has been received by the War Office from General Graham, m which he praises the demeanor of the Australian troops during the recent advance on Tainai, stating they cheerfully shared the hardships of the movements, and proved themselves worthy of their comrades. Cairo, April 4. A report has reached this place to the effect that an engagement recently occurred between the Mahdi's forces and a numher of deserters from Kordofan, with the result that the followers of El Mahdi were completely defeated with great loss. Souakim, April 5 (morning). Renter's special correspondent says -. — The whole of the troops under the command of General Graham, returned here to-day with the exception of a single Indian Native regiment which remains behind to garrison the zareeba until Monday, when they will return here. The adjoining camps and the zareeba will be abandoned. A movement will commence on Monday for the concentration of troops along the railway line to Handoab, which is making good progress, and it is hoped the force will be able to reach that place m about a week's time. (By Telegraph.) (By the mail steamer at Auckland.) On March 9th Lord Hartington, m moving for an additional 30,000 men for the army, explained that the cost of the Autumn expedition to Khartoum would be included m the expenses of the next financial year, and would require another credit. Before leaving the subject he wanted to express the gratitude of Parliament and the country for the services already rendered by General Wolseley and his troops. Continuing, he said General Graham's troops would disperse the rebels, occupy Osman Digna's position, , and prevent the rebels from again concentrating. General Graham would then open the route to Berber as far as possible. If he reached Berber m time ho wonld co-operate with General Wolseley m his advance on Khartoum. The Souakim railway would be a purely military structure, but would doubtless eventually lead to the construction of a permanent line of railway, and be an enormouß advantage m the operation of troops. The Government were making arrangements for short lines of railway and tramways, m order to avoid the Nile cataracts, and also for light draught steamers. The cost of these would be included m next year's expenses. Tlie motion was carried by 98 to 21. On the motion for £992,000, for military expenses. Mr Pease (a Liberal) moved a reduction of £100,000 m the cost of the Souakim railway. I Bir Stafford Northcote thought this railway was the keynote to the policy of the Government to establish order m the Soudan. The Conservatives, therefore, wished to help the Government m the objects it bad m view. Mr Pease's motion was rejected by 173 to 56. The minority consisted of all the Parnellites, one Conservative, and the remainder Liberals. A resolution to charge to India the cost of Indian troops engaged m the Soudan was carried by 88 to 23. A London despatch says all classes are satisfied with the determined attitude of the Cabinet, and there is a remarkable and reassuring display of loyalty, throughout the country.