The herald., 1897-11-16
BOLD BRlTONS
Show TheirVaIor at Dorgai
Ridge
DEFEAT TURNED TO SUCCESS
WHEN MATTHIAS CALLED ON HIS
HIGHLANDERs
Piper Findlater Blew His Best and
Never a Scotchman Stopped
Till He Was Dead
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
LONDON, Nov 15-The newspapers
of this city have received graphic de-
tails by mail of the recapture of Dargai
ridge by the Gordon Highlanders on Oc-
tober 90 during which that regiment ex-
hibited remarkable dash and courage.
On Wednesday, October 20, Gen. Biggs
sent the Second division to dislodge the
tribesmen from the Dargai ridge. The
position was very strong one the en-
emy occupying the summit of a precip-
itous hill. The top of the hill could not
which the attacking force. first consist
ing of a Ghurka regiment, the Derby
shire regiment and the Forestshire reg-
ment, was obliged to climb in Indian file,
while three batteries of artillery shelled
the breastworks of the hillmen.
Dargai ridge, from the direction of the
assault. presents frontage of about Il
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 well covered,
except in the case of low dip, or small
valley, from 100 to $50 yards wide. about
half way up the ridge. This division was
exposed to the direct fire from the sum-
NIT of the cliff. AS the Ghurkas. sup
ported by the Derbyshires and Dorset
shires, reached this fire zone the top of
the cliffs burst into flame. for thousand
tribesmen had reserved their fire until
that moment. Though decimated, the
Ghurkas struggled across the dip and
reached the shelter of few rocks. wheir
they lay down under cover for moment
in order to recover their breath. Then,
led by their officers they made rush for
cover of the cliffSide. But the others
could not follow, and the enemy, with
true military instinct, reserved their
fire. Though the remainder of the
Ghurkas, the Derbyshres and the Dor
setshires appeared on the fringe of the
dip, yet to step into the fire zone was to
court death. But the Dorsetshires again
tried to advance to the support of the
Ghurkas, and thirteen men struggled
across the open space only to drop before
the far side even had been reached.
Then, reluctantly. the senior officer hell
ographed down to the main body of the
British troops that the passage could
not be made.
At this juncture Gen. Kempster order
ed the Gordon Hghanders to the front.
The time had arrived for desperate ac-
tion for it was then o'clock in the af-
ternoon, and the dead and wounded
were lying thick on every side. over
100 men had already fallen. and the
ch in boi of n n Dd
waving their battlehags, and beating
their drums, confident Of the impregna-
bility 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 Highlanders: Our general says
that position must be taken at all costs.
The Gordon Highlanders will take it,"
Colonel Matthias. the commander of the
Highlanders, dashed on at the head of
his gallant regiment. and in a moment
they were across, carrying every one
with them in their onrush. storming the
ridge with a resolution that was resist
less and beating down all opposition.
When Colonel Matthias gave the order
to advance he and his officers leaped into
the open and the pipers followed, strik-
ing 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 churning 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 that deadly strip Of
ground, and when, after traversing but
few yards, he Was laid low by shot
through both legs, he managed to prop
himself against a boulder and continued
with unabated energy to play Cock of
| the North" animating his comrades by
| the familiar. stirring music 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 he annihilated. More
men, however, sprang into the passage,
and the leaders struggled across to the
center. There then, was a lull and as
one piper remarked, "One had time to
see how cruel had been the slaughter"
| Then, with a second cheer, the mixed
troops, highlanders, Dorsethshires,
Ghurkas, Derbyshires and Sikhs,
streamed across. and the enemy, seeing
that the barrier had been swept away,
left their loopholes and rock -barricades
and fled precipitately down the reverse
slopes without waiting for the line of
cold steel which was then across the
ridge.
Piper Findlater has been recommend
ed for the Victoria cross. Captain Rob-
inson of the Ghurkas also acted with
the greatest gallantry. After leading
his men across the fire zone to the CEN
ter, and finding the force there insult
ficient. 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
Will Serve His Time