GEMAIZAH. December 20th., 1888.
Reading edition
The Arabs having again advanced in force on Suakin, and preparing by the construction of trenches and redoubts to invest the place, General Grenfell, commanding the British and Egyptian troops there, resolved to attack them. The men were under arms before dawn on December 20th., and at half-past five the action commenced by H.M.S. “Racer” opening fire on the trenches of the enemy. The garrison batteries and forts also poured a heavy fire on the enemy’s redoubts, which was hurriedly returned. General Grenfell and his aide, Captain Maxwell, then rode to the front, and having made a hasty inspection, ordered the troops to advance. The first brigade, under Colonel Kitchener, of three regiments of Soudanese, was on the right, and the second, under Colonel Holled Smith, consisting of Soudanese and two Egyptian regiments, were on the left. The cavalry, comprising the 20th. Hussars, and Egyptian Mounted Infantry, numbering about three hundred men, with the 25th. and 41st. Regiments, were held in reserve about five hundred yards in the rear. The advance was made about seven o’clock, the British Infantry opening fire to cover the Soudanese, who rushed on the Arab entrenchments. They were received with a hot fire, and the enemy brought a heavy gun to bear on them, but the Soudanese dashed at the gun, and drove the Dervishes out of their trenches. At the same time the redoubts in spite of a determined resistance were carried, and the Arabs were completely routed, and pursued by the Hussars. H.M.S. “Starling”[228] and the Egyptian steamers then shelled the wells. At half-past eight the fighting was over, and the enemy dispersed, with the loss of about four hundred men, all their matériel, and camp. The British casualties were four men of the 20th. Hussars killed, and two officers and three men wounded. The loss of the Egyptians was also trifling.
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