The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-20 00:00:00

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much further' When my horse stumbled on some im-
pediment in his path, nearly throwing me from
the saddle. He recovered himself immediately; but
he must have sprained one of his fore legs badly, for
In another minute or two I discovered that he had
gone dead lame, and was no longer able to bear my
weight. I dismounted, and leading him by the
bridle (for I was loth to abandon the poor beast to
perish), I pursued my journey on foot. Mile after
mile did I plod wearily over the snow-clad moor,
which seemed to stretch out in interminable length be-
fore me. Nor was this the worst, for, gradually, the
conviction forced itself upon my mind that I had lost
my way, as otherwise the high road must ere this have
brought me to some village or hamlet; whereas, not a
vestige of a human habitation was anywhere to be
seen. My strength began to fail me, and that desire
to sleep, which intense cold produces, was stealing
over me. Strive as I would against it, I felt that it
was slowly, but surely, mastering my senses, and I
had begun to abandon all hope of lite when I per-
ceived a dim light in the distance, which the moon, at
that moment emerging from behind a cloud, revealed
to me proceeded from a small cottage about a mile
further on. This welcome sight inspired me with
new courage, and summoning up all my resolution, I
compelled my unwilling limbs to bear me onwards.
"At last, utterly exhausted, I reached the cottage, at
the door of which I rapped heavily with the butt end
of my riding whip. For two or three minutes no
notice was taken of my demand for admission; but,
at the expiration of that time, the door was opened by
a man of about forty, whom I judged, from the tone
of authority in which he spoke, to be the master of
the house. In few words—for I was so frozen with
the cold that I could scarcely speak arbiculately—l
related how I had lost my way on the moor, and was
under the necessity of soliciting hospitality for the
night.

LORD CHELMSFORD ON THE ARMY.
-
Lord Chelmsford, speaking at the "Doctor's Day" dinner
at Merchant Taylor's School, London, on Tuesday night,
said:—

"'Come in, sir, and welcome 'was the response in
a tone, te heartiness of which inspired confidence in
the speaker. 'John,' continued my host, addressing
a lad of about eighteen who stood behind him
in the doorway, 'take the gentleman's horse
to the stable and give him fodder and water. This
way, sir,' he continued, ushering me into a
small room, on the hearth of which a wood fire was
burning, the genial glow from which gradually restored
animation to my halt-frozen limbs* I was assisted to
remove my top coat and heavy riding boots, and food
and wine were placed before me by a pale, careworn
woman, who appeared to be the only other Inmate of
the house, besides the man and lad already mentioned.
After I had eaten and drank, and my strength was
somewhat restored, I entered into conversation with
my host, whose language, bearing, and even dress were
not those of the peasantry, although the character of
his surroundings seemed to indicate that he belonged
to that class. He had, too, the bold and reckless air
of a man accustomed to a hazardous life, and it struck
me as probable that, at one period, he had followed the
career of a soldier. After interchanging with him a
few sentences, which courtesy seemed to demand
from me, I relapsed into a moody silence, for my
heart was heavy as I reflected upon my ruined pros-
pects and shattered hopes—there app9aring now no
human probability of my reaching my destination in
time, for this was Christmas Eve and the hour close
upon midnight. My host perceived, and respected
my abstraction for some brief space, bu ipresently
broke silence with an observation about the weather,
adding civilly, but in a tone of evident curiosity—

" Your business was, I presume, of a very urgent
nature, or you would not have thought of travelling on
such a night as this.
"'lt was, indeed,' I replied, of the most vital con-
sequence to me to reach a certain place (which I
named), before to-morrow noon; but that is now im-
possible.'

"'Why so V said the rejoinder, we are only some
twenty miles from the place you mention, and a stout
horse would carry you there in three hours, bad as is
the present condition of the roads.'
" True! ' I said, but mine is dead lame; and lam
too exhausted to be able to undertake the journey
on foot.'

" ' What would you be willing to give for a horse,
were one obtainable?' was the unexpected question.

"I perceived, at once, from the tone and manner of
the speaker that the inquiry had not been inspired by
mere idle curiosity, but that he had a latent motive
for making it; and a wild hope sprung up in my
breast that, after all, I might yet, by some nnex.
pected turn of fortune, obtain my inheritance. I
took my purse from my pocket and threw it upon the
table. This,' I said, contains eighty or ninety
guineat—l know not the exact amount—and is all
the money I have about me. I will willingly give it,
and an undertaking to pay treble the sum in addition
in three days from now, for the means of reaching
my destination by eight o'clock to morrow morning.'
"The man's eyes kindled as I spoke; he looked
at me fixedly for a moment or two, but I returned his
gaze unflinchingly. Then drawing a long breath, he
said :

"'lt is a bargain. I have a horse in the stable
which is perfectly fresh, not ha ving been out for
a week. He is yours upon the terms you have
named."

"I remained silent, for I saw that there was some-
thing to follow.
"' I appear,' resumed the man, 'to be driving a
hard bargain in selling the animal at such a price,
but, in letting you have it, I am, in fact, staking my
life against your gold.'
"Your life 1' I exclaimed in surprise.
Yes, my life,' was the reply. 'I will be frank
with you, for I am convinced that I am speaking to a
man of honour, and one incapable of betraying me.'
" ' Of that you may rest assured,' I said, quickly.
' I have eaten your bread and received the shelter of
your roof, and whatever your offences against seaiety
may have been, you have nothing to fear at my
hands.'

Who steals my 'purse, ice;is trash; 'Us something,
nothing;
'Twas mine, 'Us his, and has been slave to thoulands ;
But he that inches from me my good name,
Robs me of that which not enrienes him,
• And makes me poor indeed."

(Loud cheers.)

"'Briefly, then,' continued my companion, 'I get
my living on the road—l am a highwayman, in fact.
The "hue and cry" has been out after me for several
days past for an affair in which I was engaged about
three weeks ago, and I have sought refuge temporarily
with my sister here. The horse I offer you is my
only means of escape, should the officers of the law
discover my hiding-place; but I am willing to run
the risk involved in parting with it for the sake of
embracing the opportunity your offer has afforded roe
of abandoning my present way of life, and entering
upon a new career in another land.'
"These last words were uttered with some feeling,
and I promptly replied that it should not be my fault
if he failed to carry out his project.

"The rest of my story is soon told. By the advice
of my host I snatched a few hours sleep in an arm-
chair by the fire, to recruit my strength; and, at five
o'clock the next morning, I set out once mere on my
Journey—the lad of whom I have already spoken ac-
companying me, on foot, as a guide across the moor.
Once on the high road again, my route lay straight
before me; and, without the occurrence of any further
Incident to delay me on the way, I reached 'The
Cedars' in time to fulfil the conditions of my father's
will. My brother•in-law had no alternative but to
admit my claim to the estate, which he did with as
good a grace as could be expected under the circum-
stances. Three months afterwards Miss Simpson
became my wife.
"I did not forget my promise to the man who had
afforded me the means of securing possession of my
inheritance. The sum of money I had promised him
I handed to him at a tavern in the adjacent town, where
he had undertaken,if all went well with him,to meet me
on the third day after my leaving his house. He was ac-
companied by his sister and nephew, and all three took
ship for one of the North American colonies, where I
doubt not they did well.
"And here I may fitly close the narrative of aj ourney,
every incident of which has so indelibly impressed
itself upon my memory that even now, after the lapse
of nearly a quarter of a century, each event connected
with it recalls itself as vividly to my mind as though
it were an occurrence but of yesterday."
When I had concluded the perusal of the story, I
could not but admit that my father had some reason
for desiring that I should read it, as my grandfather's
narrative rather forcibly illustrated the evils that may
arise from procrastination.

, .

rtir, sritoußßßiporE oßsEßvrrt

The news we have lately had from Afghanistan
shows to me, and I believe shows to every one pre-
sent, how necessary it is that our army should be
organized in such a manner as to preserve and main-
tain itin the highest state of efficiency. (Cheers.) Our
army is very differently constituted from those of
foreign Powers, and I think its traditions show that its
constitution, however faulty it may appear, is one under
which our army has always somehow or other been able
to perform all the work which it has been called upon to
do. In foreign armies we hear a great deal about the
general officers commanding army corps, about generals
of division, and generals of brigade; but we do not see
much prominence given, at least in time of peace to
officers commanding regiments. • But in our small
army the regiment, in fact, is our administrative unit,
and commanding officers of regiments consequently
assume a much higher importance than foreign officers
might be apt to suppose. The position of a command.
tug officer of a regiment—and I believe I speak the
sentiments of all who have ever commanded regi-
ments—is one of the highest interest, and I knew of
no position in which an officer feels his responsibili-
ties more keenly. It is a position on which his repu-
tation and perhaps his future career may depend; and,
therefere, any change In the organization of the army
which affects the efficiency of the regiments is a
matter of very serious moment to every commanding
officer. The change which has been made in our
organization has, I am sorry to say, rather affected
the efficiency of our regiments, because it has intro-
duced into them the younger element and taken
away from them the older and more experi-
enced soldiers. (Hear, hear.) It is impossible with.
out the aid of old and experienced non-commissioned
officers for regiments to maintain their efficiency; and
I would appeal to my gallant friend, Sir C. Pearson,
who is here this evening (cheers), and to Col. Rowland,
whom I had also expected to meet, but who is now
unfortunately absent—l would appeal to those two
officers, who are certainly as good commanding officers
of regiments as the service might wish to see (cheers),
to verify what I now say, which is that, however good
and capable a commanding officer of a regiment may
be, however efficient and zealous the company officers
and other officees of his regiment may be, still, unless
he has the benefit of good and experienced non.
commissioned officers, it is impossible that the regiment
can be thoroughly eficient. (Hear, hear.) Therefore,
whatever increaie to thieEstimates it may be neces-
sary to make in order to provide for a good and con.
tinuons supply of that valuable class, without which
the army cannot be in a proper state, will, I say, be
money well bestowed, And I trust that no false
notions of economy will prevent the recommendations
of the Commission which is now sitting to reorganise
our army from being accepted and carried out. (Hear,
hear. The Master has alluded to the services which
I and those under me were fortunate enough to render
in South Africa. There can be no one present who
has not read the rather severe criticisms which had
been passed upon the conduct of that campaign. But
war is not one of those exact sciences in which every
move can be laid down with mathematical precision;
and I believe that was the idea which the Duke of
Wellington had in his mind when he said that he was
the best general who made the fewest mistakes. (Hear,
hear.) It is easy enough to find fault; and no doubt
I am not an exception to the general rule to which the
Duke of Wellington referred. But I would ask you
to remember that if is easy enough for a general
officer to state broadly what the object he has in vietv
is, but it is not so easy for him to lay down and de-
clare exactly the means by which he proposes to in-
sure the success of that object. (Hear, hear.) There-
fore, with regard to those criticisms, I think it would
be only fair to those who are deputed to follow the army,
and to describe to you what it is doing, were obliged,
whenever they deem it their duty to find fault and to
criticize the conduct of the general who is intrusted
with the command, to say what they themselves would
have done under similar circumstances. (Cheers and
laughter.) I have been received here so kindly to-night
that I hope you will acquit me of egotism if I very
briefly call to your recollection what occurred during
the 16 months while I had the honour of commanding
Her Majesty's forces in South Africa. On landing at
Cape Town I found that the Gaeka rebellion had
broken out under the chief Sandilli, so well known in
connection with Caffre wars. In three months from
the time of my taking the field, that rebellion, which
was such a danger to the security of life and property
throughout the whole eastern frontier of the Cape
Colony, was completely crushed. And with respect to
the late war, all I wish to point out to you is that that
formidable military power which menaced and I might
almost say hung like an avalanche over the heads of
the inhabitants of Natal and the Transvaal, in
less than six months ceased to exist, (Cheers.) I
trust you will excuse me for speaking with this
confidence, but there is a time to speak and a time
to keep silent. (Hear, hear.) And I think I shall
not be misunderstood if I ask you to remember that
the reputation of a general officer is just as dear to
him as that of any other officer or soldier. (Cheers.)
I would therefore conclude with these words from
Shakespeare :
"Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the Immediate Jewel of their souls: _ _ _


THE STORMING OF MOIROSI'S
MOUNTAIN.

A telegram from Madeira, dated Dec. 18th, sap' :

Moirosi's mountain, south of Basutoland, was cap-
tured on Nov. 20 by the Colonial forces, under com-
mand of Colonel Bayley. The stronghold was attacked
from five points simultaneously. and was stormed in
less than four hours, the Union Jack being hoisted by
the victors.

The chief Moirosi was shot through the neck, and
eighty of his followers were killed. The mountain
fastness is being completely cleared, and all is now
quiet.

It is considered that this victory will materially
strengthen the Cape Government in its policy of
native disarmament.

The Standard of Monday gives the following parti-
culars:—

Moiroei, who has given the British and Colonial
forces so much trouble, and who, with eighty of his
followers, was killed in the fighting which took place
at the storming of his stronghold on the 20th Novem-
ber by the Colonial forces under Colonel Bayley, WM
the chief of a tribe of Baeutos, called Bahuti, a mix-
ture of refugees and ill-doers from other tribes. He was
reported to be a man of great ability. There were
with him about 500 men, some 60 or 70 of these being
his sons. Moirosi quarrelled with the British authori-
ties and took refuge in his natural stronghold in Basuto-
land. This land, which is a rugged tract of country,
lies between Natal and the Orange River Free State;
and the mountain which is about six thousand five hun-
dred feet above the sea and one thousand one hundred
feet above the Orange River, which fl )WS round its
base, is situate in the southern portion of the country.
The mount is said to resemble Magdala, in Abyssinia,
and, in European hands, would be almost impreg-
nable, When Moirosi took shelter here he had with
him between four and five hundred men, and numbers
of horses, cattle, and goats were stowed away in caves.
The Colonial forces unsuccessfully attempted to storm
the stronghold on the Bth of April, but were beaten
off with a loss of twenty-three men killed and,
wounded, Since then the mountain has been in-
vested, and a guerilla war on a small scale has been
carried on between the besiegers and the defenders,
rhe Colonial soldiers occupied a series of natural
embrasures known as "sconces," or hiding places, on
the lower part of the mountain, called the Saddle
Rock, and similar sconces were occupied by the
Basutos on the part of the mountain which they held.
Desultory firing went on all day between the belli-
gerents, who were only some four hundred yards apart,
and at night time the besieged were wont to roll down
Immense rocks upon the besiegers. The top of the
mountain, indeed, consists of a mass of rock about
fifty yards long and thirty feet high, near the summit
being the top "sconce' built on a ledge of rock,
while to the left is a perpendicular wall of rock. When
it is added that it was believed that there was a deep
trench on the other side of the sconce it will be
realised what a difficult task the Colonial forces had
to undertake, and how effectually that task was per-
formed when, being attacked from five points simul-
taneously, the stronghold was stormed in leas than
five hours and the Union Jack hoisted on its summit.

In noticing the defeat of the insurgent Basuto chief,
The Times, in a leader, remarks : •
The success of the Basuto Expedition is satisfactory not
only as a proof that the native races in South Africa are
yielding everywhere to the superior force of the Europeans,
but still more as an indication of the policy which ought to
be insisted upon in the future. We noticed a few days ago
a speech of the First Lord of the Admiralty on the Zulu war,
the conclusions of which derive additional importance from
the news of Moirosi's defeat and of the preparations now
being made against Secocoeni. Mr. Smith said very
plabily,—" There must be an understanding between
colonists and the mother country that, it they chose for
their own interest to go to a distant country, they must
take steps to protect themselves from internal attack as
distinguished from external and foreign attack, against
which the mother country would protect them. The time
must come when our colonists, with some assistance at first,
must organise themselves for frontier defence." Several
months ago we urged that this was the policy manifestly
imposed upon us by the stern logic of facts in South Africa,
and that the sooner we exerted ourselves to give it effect the
better. It may be necessary to fix a period of probation
during which the colonists should be entitled, in time of
need and under certain conditions, to seek the assistance of
the Government in native wars; but in South Africa, as in
other colonies, notably in New Zealand, the responsibility of
maintaining internal peace will be laid with general advan.
tage upon the civilised and usually prosperous people who
inhabit and rule the country. If the Cape colonists had not
been controlled by the stirring of public opinion in the
mother country which was caused by the disasters in Zulu.
land, the expedition against Moirosi, like all our Caffre
wars, would have been carried out by Imperial troops, and
charged in great part, if not altogether, upon the Imperial
Exchequer. But recent events have compelled the people
of this country to consider very gravely whether they
can go on indefinitely fighting the battles of people
who can well afford to light upon their own account,
or, if they prefer it, to devise a policy which will make
fighting improbable. We need not go back for examples
to the old Cadre wars; the late campaigns in Caffraria and
Zululand have cost this country, at a time of extreme Mien-
cid pressure and political difficulty, a sum In the aggregate
far larger than was originally contemplated or is even now
generally understood. The work, we believe, was on the
whole well done, and we have no reason to doubt that it
will be crowned by Sir Garnet Wolseiey's success in the
operations against Secocoeni. But we are still constrained
to ask why the campaign against Secocoeni should be an
Imperial undertaking, while the campaign against Moirosi
has been conducted and satisfactorily concluded by the Colo-
nial Government. At present the colonists of the Cape have
a perfect technical answer to any argument of this
kind. They say that Moirosi's territory is within the
boundaries of the colony, and that Secocoeni dwells far
away on the borders of the fransvaal in Zululand. But, as a
matter of fact, a trader in Cape Town or a farmer in the pas-
toral districts of the western province has precisely the
same interest in the subjugation of Secocoeni that
he has in the subjugation of MoirosL In neither case
has he to fear an immediate attack upon his person or
his property. What he has to fear is a general conflagration
of the native races, and this may begin as easily among the
emigrant Basutos of the north-east as among the tribes of
Basutoland proper. . . .

- '