NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THIS country is in, we fear, for another little war. The Mullah, who for some years has been threatening our pos- session of British Somaliland, has, it appears, gathered a con- siderable force—some experts put it at forty thousand men— and is marching through the Italian half of the country with the avowed intention of driving the British into the sea. Colonel Swasyne, his Majesty's Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief, accordingly marched to meet him with a force of two thousand five hundred men, comprising a few Sikhs, some West African soldiers, and fifteen hundred trained Somalis. On reaching Erego about October 6th, Colonel Swayne was attacked by the Ifullah in full force. He succeeded in twice repulsing the enemy, but a third attack was more successful, the Somalis gave way, and after losing two officers killed and two wounded and some hundred and fifty men, Colonel Swayne was com- pelled to retreat. As he was two hundred and fifty miles from the coast, with insufficient supplies and a disheartened force, the gravest fears were entertained for his safety and that of his little army. Happily, however, news was received on Thursday that he had reached Bohotle in safety, and though his force cannot be regarded as yet out of danger, the situation is distinctly improved. The few troops at Berbera have been ordered to reinforce him, and some detachments from Aden ; and more troops, including probably a regiment of Sikhs, are being sent from India. We trust that these reinforcements may prove sufficient, but it may still be necessary to send a powerful expedition to crush the Mullah, who otherwise may possess himself of a province essential to the command of the lied Sea, or even threaten the Soudan.
