l despatches of Lieutenant-General Sir
Francis Grenfell, who commanded the British troops in Egypt, and of
the Sirdar, relating to the battle of Omdurman:--

THE OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

Headquarters, Cairo, _September 16, 1898_.

SIR,--1. I have the honour to forward a despatch from
Major-General Sir H. Kitchener, K.C.B., Sirdar, describing the
later phases of the Soudan Campaign, and the final action on 2nd
September.

2. The Sirdar, in this despatch, recounts in brief, simple terms
the events of the closing phase of one of the most successful
campaigns ever conducted by a British General against a savage
foe, resulting in the capture of Omdurman, the destruction of the
dervish power in the Soudan, and the reopening of the waterway to
the Equatorial Provinces.

3. The concentration of the army on the Atbara was carried out to
the hour, and the arrangements for the transport of the force to
the vicinity of the battle-field were made by the Sirdar and his
staff with consummate ability. All difficulties were foreseen and
provided for, and, from the start of the campaign to its close at
Omdurman, operations have been conducted with a precision and
completeness which have been beyond all praise; while the skill
shown in the advance was equalled by the ability with which the
army was commanded in the field.

The Sirdar's admirable disposition of the force, the accurate fire
of the artillery and Maxims, and the steady fire discipline of the
infantry, assisted by the gunboats, enabled him to destroy his
enemy at long range before the bulk of the British and Egyptian
force came under any severe rifle fire, and to this cause may be
attributed the comparatively small list of casualties. Never were
greater results achieved at such a trifling cost.

4. The heavy loss in killed and wounded in the 21st Lancers is to
be deeply regretted. But the charge itself, against an
overwhelming force of sword and spear men over difficult ground,
and under unfavourable conditions, was worthy of the best
traditions of British cavalry.

5. As regards the force employed, I can say with truth that never,
in the course of my service, have I seen a finer body of troops
than the British contingent of cavalry, artillery, engineers, and
infantry placed at the disposal of the Sir