254 Khalifa, A.D. 1898.

advance.

Battle of Firket, 7th June, 1896. Clioleiu.

Occupation of Donguht, 23rd September, 181)6. 1897. Ciapture of Abu Uameil, 7th August, 1897.

On 20th March (1896) an advanced Sudanese brigade occupied Akasha, and on the 1st May a cavalry skirmish with the enemy took place near this spot. The railway was quickly pushed on across the Batn el Hagar, and on the 7th June the Sirdar surprised and almost annihilated the Dervish garrison at Firket, pushing his cavahy on to Suarda. Cholera now travelled up the river from Cairo, and for 10 days caused considerable casualties. The railway meanwhile reached Kosha on the 4th August, and the Egyptian forces, reinforced by a British battalion,* pushed on to the Dongoia Province. At Hafir the enemy were in force, but (19th September) were driven out by gunboats and artillery, and on the 23rd of the same month the army marched into Dongoia, the enemy, under Wad Bishara, refusing to meet them in the open, and bolting southwards in a disorganised rabble. The retreat was quickly turned into a rout by the pursuing troops, and the river was occupied up to Merowe.

The railway to Kerma was completed on the 4th May (1897), and prior to its completion the construction of a new railway from Haifa to Abu Hamed was conmienced across the Korosko Desert. Abu Hamed was taken after a sharp fight on the 7th August by a flying columnf under Major General Hunter, and Berber was occupied by CAPTURED DERVISH EMIRS.

Occupation of Berber, Gth September, 1897.

189S.

Battle of tlie Atbani. 8th April, 1898.

friendlics on the last day of that month, the Dervishes evacuating it at our approach. The occupation was quickly confirmed by the regular troops (Gth September), and four gun-boats were dragged, under circumstances of exceptional difficulty, up the 4th Cataract (August).

The army was then p'aced in occupation of the river from the Atbara to Dongoia, but, in consequence of the intention of the enemy to recapture Berber, it was concentrated about this place in January, 1898. The railway meanwhile reached Abu Hamed on the 4th November, 1897, and was pushed forward along the right bank towards Berber. In March a British brigadej was despatched to reinforce the Egyptian troops, and the army moved up the Atbara to intercept Mahmud, who, with Osman Digna and a large force, was making for Berber.

The resulting battle of the Atbara (8th April) caused the total destruction of Mahmud's force§ and the capture of its commander. During the spring and summer further preparations were made for the final destruction, with the lielp of two British Brigades, of the Khalifa's power.

* North Staffords.

f No. 2 Battery Field Artillery, 3iil Egyptian battalion, IXtli, Xth ami XTUi Sudanese battalions.

I iHt battalions Warwickshire and Lincoln Hegiinents, and Se.ifurtli and t'anieioii Highlanders. The iJervishes were estimated to have lo.st over 3,0(X) killeil. Our losses were— Biitish, 3 otticers and 22 men killed, 10 officers and 82 men wounded ; Egyptian — 57 men killed, and 5 British officers, 16 Native officers, and 36;"i men wouiidcd. Total, 560 casualties.