SOME EXPERIENCES IN EGYPT . 
58 
given by tbe different arms to one another. They worked thoroughly 
together and understood one another. The Artillery were glad to 
know that the Infantry were at their elbows and the Infantry were 
glad the Artillery were there, and both relied upon the Cavalry, while 
all three felt the greatest support from the close presence of the gun¬ 
boats, which used their guns and Maxims on every opportunity. 
The Lecturer laid particular stress on the excellent services of 
the gun-boats. They belonged to the Egyptian Government and were 
in charge of officers of the Royal Navy and a few of them of officers 
of the Royal Engineers, the whole flotilla being under the command 
of Commander Keppel, R.N. These boats were the scourge of the 
Dervishes from start to finish and, when not fighting or reconnoitring 
were towing troops and stores, a service they performed equally well. 
The Lecturer spoke with great enthusiasm of the engagement off Omdur- 
man on 1st September when the gun-boats went up the river in single 
column “ line ahead ” and when he had the good fortune to be on the 
leading boat and his Battery in tow of the rear boat. They ran past 
the Dervish Forts one by one, tackling each in turn, and putting shell 
after shell into them. They also engaged the Dervish Infantry and 
Cavalry who appeared in large numbers on the banks, causing great 
execution amongst them. Men and horses were to be seen tumbling 
over in every direction. “ It was,” the Lecturer said, “ one of the 
prettiest fights imaginable, and made the blood run through ones 
veins to see it.” 
The technical artillery points of the campaign were fully brought 
out in the Discussion which followed the lecture, but it may be specially 
noticed here as well that the 37th Field Battery had the honour of 
being the first to use high explosives in actual warfare and the very 
effectual breaching of the walls of Omdurman in three places shows 
that the choice of Lyddite for bursting charges of shell for this par¬ 
ticular service was fully justified. The good results obtained being 
due entirely to years of patient experiment and work on the part of the 
Inspector General of Ordnance assisted by the Ordnance Committee 
and the Royal Laboratory authorities. 
The Lecturer specially referred to the good work done by the 32nd 
Field Battery under Major Williams, whose praises he had heard sung 
on all sides after the battle. Its fire, he said, was excellent and very 
powerful, it changed position quickly, and got the range again quickly, 
and in every way did wonderfully well. He greatly regretted that 
none of the officers of that Battery were present at the lecture to take 
part in the discussion owing to its being en route for India. 
The Lecturer concluded by alluding to the unfortunate disappoint¬ 
ment of the 40-pr. guns, which had been brought all the way up the Nile, 
not being landed at the last, owing to the battle having taken place 
in the open and their not being required. They were in charge of 
Lieutenant E. G. Way mouth, R.A., who was naturally keenly dis¬ 
appointed but like a good gunner found some other work to do. He 
landed all his men, converted his barge into a hospital, and assisted 
by his men applied first aid to about 150 wounded men on board 
