The record-union., 1897-11-16
.RECAPTURE OF
DARCAI RIDGE.
Graphic Details Of the Battle Re-
ceived at London.
British Credited With Exhibiting Remarka-
BILE Dash and Courage.
Gordon High1anders March Up the
Narrow Path to the Top Of the
Hill in the Face Of the Constant
and Deadly Fire of the Enemy.

LONDON, Nov. 15.-The newspapers
of this city have received graphic de-
tails by mail of the recapture of Dar-
gal Ridge by the Gordon Highlanders
on October Goth, during which that
regiment exhibited remarkable dash
and courage.
On Wednesday, October Goth, Cen
eral Biggs sent the second division to
dislodge the tribesmen from the Dar-
gai Ridge. The position was a very
strong one, the enemy occupying the
summit of a precipitous hill The top
of the hill could not be reached except
by a single path, along which the at
tacking force, first consisting of a
Ghurka regiment. the Derbyshire Regi-
was obliged to climb in Indian file,
while the three batteries of artillery
shelled the breastworks of the hillmen.
Dargai Ridge, from the direction Of
the assault, presents a frontage of
about a mile, the left end of which
is sheer rock for 200 yards. In spite
of the difficulty of the ascent, the
movements of the British troops were
fairly we'll covered, except in the case
of a low dip, or small valley from 100
to $50 yards wide about half way up
the ridge. This dip was exposed to
the direct fire from the summit of the
cliff.
AS the Ghurkas supported by the
Derbyshire and Dorsetshires reached
this fire zone the top of the cliffs burst
out into fame, for a thousand tribes
men had reserved their fire until thai
moment. Though decimated, the
Ghurkas struggled across the dip and
where they lay down under cover for
moment in order to recover their
breath.
Then, led by their officers, they made
a rush for cover of the cliff side. But
the others could not follow. and the
enemy, with true military instinct, re-
served their fire. Though the remainder
Of the Ghurkas, the Derbyshires and
the Dorsetshires appeared on the fringe
of the dip, yet to step into the fire zone
was to court death. But the Dorset
shireS again tried to advance to the
support of the Ghurkas, and thirtesa
men struggled into the open space, only
to drop before the far side had even
been reached. Then reluctantly the
senior officer photographed down to the
main body of the British troops thai
the passage could not be made.
At this juncture General Kempster
ordered the Gordon Highlanders to the
front. The time had arrived for des-
perate action, for it was then o'clock
in ha oft nd hn
wounded were lying on every side Over
100 men had already fallen. and the
enemy We're shouting their defiance and
waving their battlef1ags and beating
their drums, confident of the impreg-
inability of their position, and certain
of their success.
But the Gordon Highlanders had yet
to be reckoned with. Rapidly forming
his men, and after his now historic
speech, Men of the Gordon Highland
ers. our General says that position must
be taken at all costs-the Gordon High
landers will take it," Colonel Matthias.
the commander of the Highlanders.
dashed out at the head of his gallant
regiment, and in a moment they were
across, carrying every one with them
in their on-rush, storming the ridge
with a resolution that was resistless,
and beating down all opposition.
When Colonel Matthias gave the or
der to advance he and his officers
leaped into the open, and the pipers
followed, striking up Cock of the
North" and with a shout the leading
company of killed men was into the
fire zone, A stream of lead swept over.
through and past them. bullets churn-
ing up the dust which half hid the
rushing bodies.
Piper Findlater, blowing his loudest
and best, was among the first to show
the way across the deadly strip Of
ground, and when, after traversing but
a few yards, he was laid low by a
shot through both legs, he managed to
prop himself against a boulder and con-
tinued with unabated energy to play
Cock of the North animating his
comrades by the familiar, stirring mu4
sic of his pipes.
But the fire of the enemy was most
deadly. The leading line melted away.
and it seemed as though the Gordon
Highlanders would be annihilated.
More men, however, sprang into the
across to the center There then was
a hull, and as one piper remarked.
"One had time to see how cruel had
been the slaughter.
Then with second cheer the mixed
troops. Highlanders, Dorsetshires.
Ghurkas, Derbyshires and Sikhs
streamed across, and the enemy. see
ing that the barrier had been swept
away, left their loopholes and rock bar
ricade and fed precipitately down the
reverse slopes. without waiting for the
line of cold steel which was then near
the crest of the ridge.
Piper Findlater has been recon-
mended for the Victoria Cross.
Captain Robinson of the Ghurkas
also acted with the greatest gallantry
After leading his men across the fire
zone to the center. and finding his
force there insufficient, he returned over
the death-trap alone. and was mortally
wounded while leading the second rush
of Ghurkas to support the first body
of that regiment.
MARTIAL LAW IN BRAZIL.