HOW ZAG-ZIG WAS TAKEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4543, 15 November 1882, Page 3

HOW ZAG-ZIG WAS TAKEN.

Amongst the brilliant and spirited incidents of tho Egyptian oampaign, tho taking of Zag-a-Zig ocoupies a foremost placo. It was effected by the Acting Commandant of the 6th Bengal Cavalry, with Lieutenant Murdoch (Engineers) und five troops of tho 6th Bengal Cavalry. The rest of the corps had been thrown out in the headlong gallop from tho battle Sold. Tho littlo party dashed through the crowd assembled round the station, and there found four trains lnden with soldiers, with steam up and ou the point of departure. They remained in front of the first engine, and with lovelled pistols ordered the engineor to dismount. He refused, and was at once shot. Tho rest bolted, as did the passengers, including some Pashas, w hose luggage was taken ; and thousands of troops fled across tho country. The British cavalry camo up half an hour later. The losses of the campaign to the Egyptians, after making a list of estimates from all Bourcos, is calculated at 6000, from and including the day of tho bombardment; about one in overy thousand of the population. Our loss is loss than 300 from all causes during the campaign in Egypt. The cost of the war has as yot been small. Tho country round Alexandria suffeied owing to tho want of water ; but in tho interior all wont on as usual, the rapidity of the campaign happily preventing any great loss from want of labour. 3 he battlefields were in tho desert. There only remains to be considered toe damage done to Alexandria,