The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-04-07 00:00:00

• chief umpire having also made a round of inspection,
the signal gun to commence operations was fired at
ten minutes to twelve. Rain had been falling for
fully an hour, and the downpour continued during
the greater part of the manceuvres, driving the specta-
tors to seek what shelter could be found in farm
buildings, or in the thick, but as yet leafless hedgerows
and coppices. For some time the only preceptible
movement on the part of the invader was the
occasional artillery fire directed from his left
towards Copt Hill, which was replied to
by the field guns of the defending force; but at
length his 2nd Division was seen to be advancing on
West Hougham, while simultaneously an advance was
made on the right in the direction of Mount Ararat
Farm, towards St. Radigund's. The attack on West
Hougham was at first regarded as a feint, and was
conducted with such want of precaution that three
troops of the 14th Hussars were put out of action for
venturing into a strong outpost of East Surrey men,
who had taken every advantage of the excellent
cover afforded them by farm buildings and thick
hedge-rows. Subsequent events, however, proved that
this idea was altogether erroneous, and that strong
as was the attack delivered on Methuen's right, the
main attack was intended to be through West
Hougham upon his 13ft and centre. From Mount
Ararat a body of cavalry came scouting across Gorse
Hill towards Poulton's Farm, but met with a hot re-
ception from the East Kent Rifles who were entrenched
at St. Radigund's, and whose Maxim gun, with a
series of sharp "rat-tat-tats," performed at the rate
of 600 a minute, spoke volumes as to the execu-
tion which it would do against a cavalry charge
in close order. The strength of the defenders'
position having thus been ascertained, General
Smith's infantry pressed their advance against
Paulton's Farm, and once across Gorse-hill were able
to shelter themselves from the fire from St. Radi-
gund's behind a broad gorse thicket on the southern
slope of the hill. Here a whole battalion in dark
green fired volley after volley down upon the occu-
vants of the farm heedless of the fact that owing to
their close formation and the shortness of range they
would in real warfare have been almost annihilated
by the plumed garrison below them. As it was, how-
ever, the London Rifle Brigade were driven from their
position and fell back towards St. Radigund's. The
attackers took possession of the farm in strong force,
and from it threw out skirmishers towards Park-hill.
They were indeed actually in occupation of a part
of the northern slope without being recognised
as enemies by a company of the London Rifle Brigade,
which passed within 50 yards of them up to the brow
of the hill. Under cover of a plantation a quarter of
a mile higher up the valley, however, regiment after
regiment poured down at the double past St. Radi-
gund's, and took the attackers suddenly and unex-
pectedly in flank at the same moment that they were
met with a galling fire in front. The inevitable
result of this brilliant movement, which was watched
with much interest by the Commander-in-Chief and
the head-quarter staff, was a disastrous defeat for
General Smith's forces; but the signal "cease firing"
sounded, and put an end, at 20 minutes to two, to all
further conflict.

Meanwhile a stiff fight had been going on at th(
other side of Park Hill, he echoes of which sounded
in the northern valley like the roll of the breakers on a
rocky shore. West Hougham had been occupied with
but little resistance, and then, whilst Colonel
Methuen's attention was directed to the vigorous
onslaught made upon his right, General Smith sent
forward his 2nd Division against the left of the
defending force. At the entrance to Elms
Vale the advance was stoutly resisted, the
attackers being met with a galling fire fi
the heights and the valley. The London Scottish, who
were in the van, attempted to carry the heights,
but were repulsed; and Methuen's Reserve
Brigade being brought up to support Colonel
Hornby, the Scotchmen found themselves again
checked by the Tower Hamlets and the Artists. A
terrific musketry fire was kept up for some time, in
which the Nordenfeldt guns played a prominent part;
and at length the defenders were forced to fall back
before "cease firing" was sounded.. The advantage
here appeared to be with General Smith's force; but
it was, after all, a barren triumph, as even with
absolute control of the Elms-road the citadel guns, by
which it is commanded, would render it useless for
the purpose of an attack upon Dover.
After firing ceased the troops formed up in the
valley and returned to Elms Vale, where the march
past took place. The heights on either side were
occupied by many thousands of spectators, most of
whom had been either unable or unwilling to face
the exposure to the weather which was involved
in witnessing the sham nght. Five companies
of the various Cyclists Corps had got back
from Hampshire in time to take part in the
march past; and they divided with a number of Bel-
gian and French volunteers, who were placed in the en-
closure at the saluting post, the chief attention of the
public. The Duke of Cambridge, attended by his
staff, examined the machines, guns, and smart uni-
forms of the cyclists with evident interest, and in
the march past this new body of volunteers was given
precedence over all the troops.