THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN. [BY TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT.] [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1778, 27 November 1883, Page 2

THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN. [BY TELEGRAPH.— COPYRIGHT.] [REUTERS TELEGRAMS.]

Later ParticularsAm:k vndkia, November 22. Tin; intelligence of the defeat and annihilation (if the Egyptian :inny hi the Soudan is now fully confirmed. The account-, received this evening .show .that (4eneial Hicks had concentrated his entire force, consisting of 10,000 men and 10 British officers, when the attack was made by the enemy under Ml Mahdi, the False jPiophefc, whose follower aie said to have numbered 300,000. On the appioach of the rebel** Hickb Pasha formed bis troops into a hollow square, and in this position withstood the attack for three days, during which time the fighting was continuous and most desperate on both sides. At the end of the third day the square wa- broken, and a general rout ensued. The enemy fell on the defeated army, and the slaughter was terrible, the whole force of 10,000 men, including General Hicks and the British offioars, being killed. • The intelligence caused intense excitement in Cairo, and it is expected that the proposed evacuation of that city by the British forces now stationed there will be postponed. Lo.vnox, November 22. The news of the complete annihilation of the troops under General Hicks Pasha is now confirmed. The number of Egyptian troops is estimated at IQ,QQQ, while those tmdeu the False Prophet Mahdi are stated to have been 300,000. Mahdi sent forward' ftp the, enemy dervishes, ,, declaring that he t would vanquish them by Divine aid. vTh©

three days, when their square was broken, and the whole of them, with the exception of a German artist and Mr. O'Donovan, a newspaper correspondent, were annihilated. Eleven English officers were among those killed. The British suggest that th« Soudan should be abandoned as far as the White Nile or White River.

November 23. It has transpired that orders have been forwarded to Admiral Sir Wm. Hewett, crnimandmg the naval squadron in tho East Indies, to proceed without delay with H.M.s. Euryalus and other vessels of his , fleet to the Red Sea, with the view of i affording British support to Egyptian in " tcrests in that locality. The Admiralty, moreover, have issued orders for the gun boat* now in the Mediterranean to proceed to the Ked Sea as a reinforcement for the Indian squadron.

November 24. A captain of the Egyptian forces, in the disguise of a dervish, has arrived at Kli.u fcoum, and reports that on the battlefield ho saw lfso wounded survivors of Hicks Pasha's army, including an artist named Power. The Egyptians are quite paralysed at the result of the conflict, and the Government is consulting with Sir Evelyn Wood, who is in command of the British troops in Egypt, as to the means of quelling the rebellion. In consequence of the recent destruction of the Egyptian army in the Soudan, tho British Government have decided to postpone the evacuation of Cairo, and the withdrawal of a portion of the British troop* " now in Egypt for the present, in accordance with the advice of Major Sir Evelyn Baring, British Diplomatic Agent in Egypt.

Alkx vvokia, November 24. Consideiable anxiety is being felt for the .safety of the Egyptian garrisons in th© Soudan. Accoiding to the latest intelligence all available troops were being concentrated at Shunaar and Khartoum, and taking up a defensive position, in view of a probable attack by the following of El Mahdi. A special cible message to the Press Association gives the following particulars of the disaster:—Through the treachery of I a guide the Egyptian army was induced to | enter a rocky, wooded, and waterless defile, where, falling into an ambuscade, Hides Pasha was unable to use his guns. He maintained his position for three days, but on the fourth, his forces exhausted by thirst, were entirely destroyed, with the exception of 30 taken prisoners. The Governor of the Soudan was killed. All the army's guns, munitions, and camels weie captured. The rebels lost heavily cluriug'the engagement. The town of Kordofau has been lost, and the entire Soudan district is .ablaze. The various garrisons in the Soudan, numbering about 4000 men, are retiring on Khartoum, where the popnlace are said to be disloyal. C.vivo, November 23. It has transpired that Sir Evelyn Baring,, British Gonsul-General, has made a recom; inendation to the Egyptian Government that the Soudan should be abandoned. Further hostilities will not be proceeded with.