The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-18 00:00:00

TIM STOURBRID6E -OBSERVER.

godliness in camp than in barracks." I endorse that
cordially. (Cheers.) There is brotherhood in common
hardships and peril. There is a reverent tenderness
for the home which 'may never be seen again. (Loud
cheers.) The unalienable ties of kindred and blood
come out strongly when the loneliness of death may
have to be faced far away from loving hands. (Hear,
hear,) Though it is many years ago, I have never for-
gotten—and, indeed, the scene is as vivid before me
as the morning it occurred—the face of Arthur Eyre,
my adjutant and friend, as he lay sorely wounded,
the last officer hit on the day Sir Garnet
Wolseley entered Coomaesie. For the six months we
had lived and worked together this gallant youth had
never failed when we were engaged to thrust himself
between me and the ambushed foe. (Cheers.) Cora-
eo:ieg his features that I might not see his sufferings,
he looked up in my eyes and said with a quietude
which told me he had accurately gauged the mortal
nature of his then undressed wound, "Pull my rings
off for my mother," (Applause.) I do not believe
weetceerts and parents ever get so many letters as
they do from mEn employed on active service at re-
set:so) stations, We all remember Thackeray's im-
mortal touch when he de;cribes Ensign Stubble, on
toe eve of departure for Waterloo, writ;ng home to
his mother a loving 1 tter, "full of pluck and bad spell-
ing." (Cheers) Well, we have improved in some
respects, for the rank and file now write as well or
better than Ensign Stubble did then (" hear, hear,"
and laughter) ; but the pluck is, I think, very much
as it was (loud cheers), and the youngsters who, under
experienced non-commissioned officers, vied with the
veteran battalion in rolling back the long odds of
twelve to one at Kambula (prolonged cheering)
finally stood as steady as a wall at Ulundi, where,
in the words of the Scripture, "they joined battle,
and the heathen beieg discomfited, fled into the
plain." (Loud cheers.) After the touching speech
which has been made by the noble lord who has
spoken about the clergy, it has occurred to me
to tell you that the night before Ulundi we had two
priests in our camp, one of them Church of England,
and the other of the Roman Catholic persuasion.
Each of them came to me in turn, and one said,
"Don't you think I miglit go to the front?" and the
other said, "Don't you think I might go?" They im-
portuned me so much that I could not get any sleep,
and as I wanted to have some sleep that night, I was
obliged to acquiesce and let both go. (Hear.) Well,
these boy-soldiers, I say, are the professional
heirs of those raw Militia lads whose imperturb-
able E quare repulsed the desperate onsets of Na-
poleon's devoted cavalry, and restored the equili-
brium of shaken order, (Loud cheers.) Ido not
propose to weary you with my views as to the
absolute necessity for a larger nucleus of experienced
nom commissioned officers and privates than we have at
present; but lest toy previous remarks should be mies
understood, let me remind you of the Duke of
Wellington on the 18th of June, 1815. Daring that
long day with what different feelings would he have
watched for Blucher's approach had he seen around
him the men who, having gained all the confidence
arising from years of discipline, were then unluckily
scattered over the globe, instead of those raw boys,
who, nevertheless, inspired by their great chief,
so stubbornly held our position and upheld our
traditions. (Loud cheers.) Our army must, per-
force, be small. (Hear, hear.) I hope we shall not
spare the necessary efforts to render it more perfect
than it is at present. (Hear, hear.) We should not forget
—to compare very small affairs to great events—that at
Ulundi, as at Waterloo, our troops stood motionless
in squares, the enemy rushing up to the serried
masses. (Cheers.) That these masses give confidence
to untrained men is undoubted, for in proportion as
Napoleon used up his old soldiers, not daring to trust
his recruits in extended order, ho increased the density
of his columns ; hat such formations are impossible
against enemies furnished with and capable of using
arms of precision; and thus I trust by improving our
non-commissioned officers, and increasing the propor-
tion of long-service men, we may maintain in more
extended order the pre-eminence "the thin red
line" has given to Us. (Laud cheers.) Amor g a
soldier's pleasantest recollections—and there is much
that is terribly painful to remember in war—are
those which dwell on the many bright instances
of unselfish heroism, often unpretentious in form,
displayed by men who have simply desired, ant with
what noble simplicity, to do their duty. (Cheers.) I was
fortunate during the recent campaign in being sup-
ported by such sterling personal leaders of troops as
Colenel Gilbert and Major Rogers, V.C. (Cheers.)
Colonel Gilbert, who was suffering acutely from ill-
health throughout, could not be induced until after the
fight at Kambula to acquiesce in the doctor's often
repeated and urgent recommendations to rest, and at
a time when many men would have been claimants for
home care and home comforts, he continued at his post,
sharing all the hardships and ultimately directing the
triumph of his resolute soldiery of the 13th Light
Infantry. (Cheers.) Such qualities are invaluable
to the General who is assisted by and the troops who
are inspired by them. Nor were his subordinates un-
worthy their chief on the 29th of March. Cap.
tam n Perrse, though wounded early in the fight, de-
clined to give over his colpany, and for some days
continued at duty, until his wound, festering, enabled
the doctors to insist en his leaving camp. (Cheers.)
Private Albert Page was behind the rampart of
waggons when he saw one of our natives lying in
proximity to the advancing foe, exposed to a heavy
fire. Quietly, as if to engage in ordinary fatigue
duty, he laid aside his rifle, and, jumping off the
waggon, walked to the native's side and carried
him carefully inside the laager. (Loud cheers.)
Nor were the 90th Light Infantry less fortunate
in their leader. 1 have elsewhese testified to the
courage and worth of some of the non.commissioned
officers and privates; but no regiraent could fail
to be influenced by the steady guidance and well.
tried courage of my loyal supporter, Major Rogers,
V.C., who commanded the corps throughout the Zulu
war, as I had been temporarily promoted to the posi-
tion of a General. (Cheers.) The officers sustained
well the character of their Major. Lieutenants
Lysons (cheers) and Smith went out in front of the
position to a spot swept by fire to help a wounded
soldier, and, assisted by Captain Woodgate, one of
my Staff, were carrying him in, when Lieutenant
Smith fell severely wounded, which incident, how-
ever, failed to shake the composure of Woodgate
and Lysone. (Loud cheering.) George Sendha.m,
the most popular captain of the corps, lay dying
of enteric fever, unconscious of the strife raging
round his tent, until, roused by the exulting shouts
raised by the troops as the Zulus fell back discom-
fited, he asked what it meant. When he was told,
he spent his last remaining strength in clapping his
hands, and adding his failing voice to the cheers of
the men. (Cheers.) I have lately referred to the
good service done by Major Tremlett and his guns,
and the determined Nicholson, at Kambula. The
other artillery officers were of the same calibre.
Captain Vaughan, who was employed as director of
transport, came to me during the tight, and said in
his usual quiet tone, "Nicholson is badly hit, Sir.
May I take his place?" and with Sergeant Quigly
at one end of the redoubt, and Vaughan at the
other, the guns continued to rain bullets at our
brave foes. (Cheers.) Lieutenants Bigge and
Slade stood up with their gunners for four hours,
exciting our admiration. Their intelligence and
coolness left us no advantage unsecured. Indeed, more
than once a shell berating in a fresh spot directed
my attention to gathering masses hitherto unseen by
me. (Cheers.) It was remarked at the time by more
than one writer describing the event of the 29th of
March that nothing was apparently forgotten. I
should not like to be credited with an undue share pf
prescience. (Laughter.) I received that day, and
throughout the campaign, the most loyal support
from my Staff and from my friends, one of whom—
Commissary Hughes, worked day and night to
carry out my wishes, and was quite satisfied when as
a reward for his exertions I sanctioned his acconspahy-
ing me into the fight at Ulundi instead of leaving him
with the waggons. (Cheers.) At Kambula I
obtained much valuable help from a young Staff officer
(Captain Aubrey Mande), whose fertile brain and
unruffled demeanour under the hottest fire predict for
him a successful future. (Cheers,) I could go on
talking of the many gallant colonial soldiers—of the
,veterans Schembrucker and Von Lansingin, and of
the fiery Reff—but that I fear to weary you. I must
recall Commandant Lonedale—well named "Rupert"
—who at the head of his loyal }lingoes literally
carried his life in his hand for two months, and with
Frank Streatfield did nearly all the bush fighting in
the Cape Celo'hy. (Cheers.) But my obligations as a
soldier are not confined to soldiers. In the laet Caffre
war, Mr. Wright, the director of telegraphs, did
more for soldiers than is generally known. In the years
of 1847, 1848, 1851, 1852, and 1833, the information of
the Cailres was alwas s in advance of our own. In 1878
Wright had, in spite of all dan6eri, pushed his
wire through Csffraris, and he transmitted t 3 all
stations daily accounts of the operations. Thus, when
the Galikas, after being beaten by Sir Arthur
Cunynghame, sent to the Gaillas announcing a vic-
tory and urging an immediate rising, the messengers
were astounded by the incredulity of their friends,
(Cheers ) Now I will ceage. Multus tibi commen •
davi et commendem 71CCESSe eat, for when you commend
me I feel impelled to tell you who have helped me
to earn your commendation. (Cheers.) And now
what can I say to give thanks to all who have re-
warded me tenfold for my services (no, nc) by the
magnificent heirloom you have given me this day,
by the wenn and intelligent sympathy with which
you have followed my fortunes, and the generous
enthusiasm with which you have welcomed me back?
(Cheers.) Let me thank Lieutenant-Colonel Neville
Tufnell. (Loud cheers,) I had many opportunities
of seeing his Volunteers at Aldershot for two years
before leaving England. I admired him (cheers) ; I
admired his Essex battalions (cheers) ; but I never
imagined how much I should be personally indebted to
him. (Cheers) To Sir Charles Du Cane especially,
for be has taken great trouble in my behalf, and his
popu:arity in the t•ounty and his public services inten-
sify the compliment (Loud cheer e)—to all the gentlemen
—among whom I am much gratified to see (see of my
former commanding officers, Colonel Learmonth, M. P.
(cheers)—who hare assiste,d to make my home-
coming so pleasant, my warm gratitude is due.
(Cheers.) I feel deeply honoured by the county
people who have crowded forward with undeserved
generosity to give force to the welcome you have ac-
corded me. (Cheers.) You have shown that patriotism
is above all distinctions of party, and one and all of
you have paid me a compliment I can never forget,
and which must ally my thoughts to the last days of
my life with this my native county. (Loud and pro.
longed cheering.)

MADE TO ORDER !—The Chinese Premier, Prince
Kuog, addressed General Grant in English, so-calltd.
Trying to compliment him by assuring him that he
was born to cAnmand, he ssid : "Sire! Brave
Generale 1- You was made to order ! "

THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BURMESE MISSION.—
The Special Correspondent of the Standard at
Thyetma telegraphs the particulars of the withdrawal
of the British Mission from Mandalay. It seems that
early on the morning of his leaving the Resident sent
round n eireular to the English settlers, atating-that he
was about to proceed at once on board the steamer,
which would be detained a sufficient time for them to
let him know their intentions. Tee Burmese itnrue-
diately took possession of the place thus quitted, and
only allowed the baggage to be removed after having
received the King's orders. Nearly all the European
subji cts hurriedly followed the Engliai representative,
and commercial matters were completely upset.