Further Defeat of the Egyptian Troops.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4872, 11 December 1883, Page 4

Further Defeat of the Egyptian Troops.

♦— THE BATTLE OF BQUAKIM. SEVEN HUNDRED KILLED. DBXAILB OF THE ENGAGEMENT. [Reuter's Telegrams.] CAIRO, Dec. 9. Despatches to hand from Souakim dated Dec. 5, Jstate that an attack in force was made on that date by Arab hillmen upon the Egyptian troops who bad been despatched as reinforcements for the garrison at; Souakim. The attack was made some distance outside the town, and resulted in the destruction cf five companies of Egyptian troops. Further intelligence to hand from Souakim shows that- the recent destruction of Egyptian troops by Arabs is a more eeriono disaster than was at firet anticipated. It now appears that seven hundred Egyptian troops were killed, and tbat theße comprised the elite of the force sent to occupy Souakim and to operate againßt the rebels. Great

dismay prevails here at the continuous I success of the partisans of El Mahdi. I

f Special to Press Association.] LONDON, Deo. 10. Farther engagements with the rebels have taken place in the Soudan. Five hundred soldiers, with two hundred Bashi Bazonks, twenty cavalry and some mountain guns, were attacked by Oaman Muhi, a partisan of El Mahdi, twenty miles from Souakim, on Deo. 2. The Bazouks broke helplessly, throwing the others into great confusion. The latter resisted bravely, and defended their position with clubbed muskets. The rebels, who numbered three thousand, however, completely overwhelmed them, > and with the exception of 45, who escaped, they were all killed. The followers of El Mahdi lost heavily during the fight. A detachment of Baker Pasha's gendarmeß arrived at Souakim after the termination of hostilities. An attack on Dongola and Khartoum is expected daily.