| Photo by Duffus Bros., Johannesburg] | [per London Stereoscopic Company. |
GENERAL VISCOUNT KITCHENER OF KHARTOUM.
(To face p. 265.)
CHAPTER VI.
FROM MAY, 1898, TO THE FINAL DESTRUCTION OF THE DERVISH POWER (END OF 1899).
After the battle of the Atbara (8th April, 1898), the Khalifa concentrated his forces at Omdurman, and began making every preparation for resistance. The chief outlying force of Dervishes was one of between 5,000 and 6,000 men at and round Gedaref, under Ahmed Fedil, and these, after moving towards Mahmud, had returned to Gedaref. In addition to these, there were small Dervish garrisons at places up the river; at Bor (Upper White Nile, 1,200); and in Kordofan.
Meanwhile the Anglo-Egyptian preparations went on steadily, and by the 24th August the following troops were moving along the western bank of the 6th Cataract:—