Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-24
The Men DiSdained to Take Advantage
oil Cover.
WHAT "TOMMY ATKINS, SAYS.


LONDON, October 2S.-Interesting
photographic accounts are supplied by the
war correspondents OF the battle OF
E1andslaagte. from which the following
are extracts:
The Daily Telegraph says. General
French commenced the action at 6 A. NJ.
The enemy had only just finished coffee
when they were surprised, and nearly
all Of their prisoners were caught in the
vicinity of the captured train. The mining
and railway officials escaped from the
enemy, and came In to US to the number
OF thirty-seven whites, besides many ma
tives and coolies.
Both Of the latter classes had been
robbed and compelled TO work by the
Beers, but the whites were treated fair
" well, though they were made to take
an oath to remain neutral, etc.
"a Boer sergeant a native Of Cape
Colony, hid his rifle and came in with
twenty or his late captives.
STRAIGHT At THE ENEMY.
1.-THE Manchester regiment, with the
characteristic hardihood of the British
infantry, marched straight at the enemy.
too often forsaking cover, despite the
Kissing. rafting Mauser bullets. Tommy
Atkins says: What, hide from yOkels?
Let them shoot
1.-THE enemy bobbed about over the
rocks like jacks-in-the-box. firing heavily
and with fair accuracy for the magazine
Mauser rife IS terrible weapon, al
though IL inhicts clean wounds. Many Of
them used explosive bullets.
Colonel Scott-C Chisholm, Of the Impe-
rial Light Horse, courted disaster by
weaving his scarf to give encouragement
to his men, who really needed none. Sud
denly. somebody showed a white flag, and
Colonel Hamilton tried 10 stop the fight
ms. but a party Of Beers ensconced on q
conical hill. and caring nothing about
their comrades, took advantage Of the lull
to deliver a heavy fire. The Gordon High
landers and the Manohesters were rem
dered more savage than ever by this, and
redoubled their energy, for the Beers in
the hollows were delivering a fanking
fire"
FIRING ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS.
The Daily News says: THE approach
ing fall of darkness was great factor IN
the last phases Of tho fight making the
capture Of the position at once absolutely
imperative. BY this time the crack OF
rifles and the rattle Of MaXims had be-
como absolutely furious. our men under
stood the necessity well enough. Nothing
10th. they exposed themselves CALAMITY
in their resolution 10 drive the Boers from
their last stand. Officers. ssrseants, ana
men fell i'm the lines, but nothing checked
the herce onset. Conspicuous among the
Gordon Highlanders and I'm the hghtlns
line throughout was Lord Ava. attached
specially 10 tho brigadier's stan. ,.,
1.-THE hnal rush was sight 10 see. WIN
levelled bayOnets, cheering AS they Went
our men sprang over the boulders that
were strewn at their feet. The Beers, re-
coiiing. fired wildly. and then dashed
down the rugged steep 10 escape the an
rihilatiOn threatening them. some, des-
perately determined on killing, rsturH .s1
10 The Neck, i'm the rear OF whlch me
Uighlanders had croucned behind some
boniders. These men fred ON ambulance ,,S
men an work among the wounded. ana
Itbars tbere can certify from our own eN-
Derience to this dastardly act