Sheikhs oscillated alternately between Osman Digna
and the Egyptian Government, and tried to avoid open hostilities with
either. Omar Tita, Sheikh of the district round about Erkowit, found
himself situated on this fringe of intriguing neutrality. Although he
was known to have dealings with Osman, it was believed that if he had
the power to choose he would side with the Egyptian Government. Early
in April Omar Tita reported that Osman Digna was in the neighbourhood
of Erkowit with a small force, and that he, the faithful ally of the
Government, had on the 3rd of the month defeated him with a loss of four
camels. He also said that if the Egyptian Government would send up a
force to fight Osman, he, the aforesaid ally, would keep him in play
until it arrived.

After a few days of hesitation and telegraphic communication with the
Sirdar, Colonel Lloyd, the Governor of Suakin, who was then in very bad
health, decided that he had not enough troops to justify him in taking
the risk of going up to Erkowit to fight Osman. Around Suakin, as along
the Indian frontier, a battle was always procurable on the shortest
notice. When a raid has taken place, the Government may choose the scale
of their reprisals. If they are poor, they will arrange a counter-raid
by means of 'friendlies,' and nothing more will be heard of the affair.
If they are rich, they will mobilise two or three brigades, and make an
expedition or fight a pitched battle, so that another glory may be added
to the annals of the British army. In the present instance the Egyptian
Government were poor, and as the British Government did not desire to
profit by the opportunity it was determined to have only a small-scale
operation. The Governor therefore arranged a plan for a demonstration
at the foot of the hills near Khor Wintri by means of combined movements
from Suakin and Tokar. The garrison of Suakin consisted of the 1st and
half the 5th Egyptian Battalions; the 16th Egyptian reservists, who had
just replaced the IXth Soudanese, and were as yet hardly formed into a
military body; one squadron of cavalry, one company of Camel Corps, and
some detachments of artillery. The garrison of Tokar consisted of the
Xth Soudanese and a few gunners. From these troops there was organised
in the second week in April, with all due ceremony, a 'Suakin Field
Force.'

The plan of campaign was simple. Colonel Lloyd was to march out from
Suakin and effect a junction with the 'Tokar Colum