The march towards Dongola began last Saturday, the starting-point being
a place near the Hannek Cataract. At Kernah, the first village passed, was found an unoccupied mud-fort, and after pushing on for a little, the Dervishes were discovered to have crossed the river, and encamped near a place named Hafir. Our troops had thus the river, here nearly a mile and a half broad, between them and the enemy, and the attack had to be entrusted to the gunboats. These, as we have described elsewhere, moved up under the west bank and tried to force their way through a channel between that bank and an island. They were opposed, however, by two guns in a small work, and by a large number of riflemen hidden in cleverly protected rifle-pits. The steamers several times advanced, delivered the fire from their Maxim and quick- firing guns, and then retired to advance again. At last the artillery on the east bank got across a half dry channel on to theisland, and soon helped the gunboats to silence the Dervish fire. The gunboats were then able to proceed up stream and to make a raid on Dongola. They returned on the Sunday after making several important captures. On Monday our troops crossed the river, on Tuesday marched on Dongola, and on Wednesday occupied it.
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