The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-12

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Bronker. because the Beers were lyini
in ambush among the rocks and shrub
berry which surrounded the spruits An
Struther, with the inSular Englishmanl
contempt for anything not essentially
English, and also. no doubt, discredit
ing the Information. dismissed his IN
formant with a gesture and marched
his men on: marched nearly everl
mothers son of them t. sudden death
The Beers called this affair a gfor1ou:
victory, and cited the English defea
at Brokers spruit as direct instance
of divine interposition on behalf of the
Dutch forces, but the plain truth !:
that it was as atrocious and cold-biood-
ed a murder as anything recorded III
history. This was the beginning of the
Boer-English war of 1891 The Eng
lish being totally unprepared for sucr
an outbreak, We're taken at dlsau-
vantage, for.there were very few Eng
lieh troops in South Africa at TINS
time.
Disaster of Laing's Mex.
Sir George Cooley was the civil gov
ernor of Natal and ex-officio was al
the head of the army. He had not, as
far as / know, seen any active service
previously, and was by no means quail
fed TO command force. 1t is presumed
that he, in his contempt for the Beers,
S1iN ali ODpOl ~ NC AoNiN7NA ~ $500
peerage by marching into the Trans
vaal and simply wiping the malcontent
Beers off the face of the earth. How
ever this may be, it is certain that he
assumed command of the small British
army then in Natal and marched for
the Transvaal, but found himself
stopped by the Beers at LaingS Mex.
This Mex is on British territory. and
is the only available pass in the Drak-
ensberg range by which the TranSVaal
may be entered from the Natal SIDE.
The Beers were laagered on the Trans
vaal side of the range, where the coun-
try is level; Colley pitched his camp in
a valley at the foot of Laing's Mex, on
the Natal side The subsequent events
of the war; after the forming of the
British camp, showed such gross IN
competency on the part of the English
commander, such insane waste of hu-
man life, such an utter ignorance OF
the skill and determination of the
enemy, that it is difficult, even after
so many intervening years, to review
them calmly. 1t is a blot on the Eng
liSh military escutcheon which has not
yet been obliterated. 1t is a blot which
TO this day brings the burning blush OF
shame to the brow of every English
man, whether home or colonial born.
The years which have since rolled by
have in no degree mitigated the over
whelming disgrace of the whole af-
fair
In the first place the Beers, from their
exalted position on the summit of the
Drankensberg mountains, were able to
observe every movement of the little
British army encamped in the valley
beneath; it was their custom, each
morning, to send a spy to the top of
Majuba hill, which overlooks the entire
valley. This seems to have been over
looked by Colley, or, if not overlooked,
was foolishly ignored.
Sir George Colley's first idea was to
charge up the mountain on the east of
LANG Mex, Majuba hill being on the
west; the intention being, after sur
mounting the range, to attack the
BOer lager in the open country beyond.
This was an admirable plan. and ought
to have succeeded to a dead certainty,
for the Beers would not have Withstood
the British charge in the open veldt.
There was, however, one unfortunate
item which prevented the success of
this deeply-laid scheme; an item which
Sir George Colley appears to have quite
forgotten, and that was that the Beers
objected to having their laager attack
ed in that particular manner. Being
acquainted with the design of the Brit
iSh troops, the Beers stationed them
selves amongst the rocks leading up
the mountain; there are three layers of
outcropping granite at different heights
on the mountain the British meant TO
attack, and the Beers were quick to
see the advantage this security would
give them. Imagine the folly of the
British movement. Each soldier had
scarlet coat and a white helmet, max
ing the best possible target; they were
rushing up the SIDE of a steep noun
tain to attack a body of hidden foes.
each one of their opponents being a
crack sharpshooter; instead of fighting
from rock TO rock and bush to bush. as
the Beers subsequently did, when at
lacking Majuba hill. the English rush
ed themselves out of breath in the first
fifteen minutes. The officers were near
ly all killed, and the bodies of the COM
mon soldiers lay scattered over the
side when the retreat was
sounded.
This was indeed a Boer victory. Not
a treacherous, barbarous massacre like
the Bronker's Spruit disaster. 1t was
a fair fight and a genuine defeat But
as FAR as strategic skill is concerned |
Colley might as well have ordered his
men to stand in line and asked the |
Beers TO shoot them down, man by |
man.
The following evening. as the ambu- |
lance wagons, under escort. were con- |
veying the English wounded to New |
castle, the Beers attacked them, at a |
place called Schuins Hoogte. Although |
the Beers outnumbered the English on I
this occasion, the fight was about a
draw, when night coming on, the Beers |
retired TO their laager.
Maiuba Hill Fight.
Sir Evelyn Wood. grand fighter and
all-round soldier. accustomed to South
African warfare, now Joined Sir George
colley, but disagreed with him as to
he advisability of ascending Majuba
Hill, which was Colleys next inspired
move. Wood in consequence of this
returned to Pietermaritz-
ourg and Coliey, undoubtedly thirst
ng to retrieve his name from the dark
lishonor which had fallen on il. one
night led detachment of his trooDs.
ip Majuba Hill. From the side the Eng
ish were on, Majuba presents a rug
Jed, most forbidding front, from the
tide of the Boer lager, the ascent is
gradual and protected by rocks and
rees- | nave been up the hill several
lines from the Boer side and once I
attempted ii from the English side. as
IN experiment, but gave IL up half
way. II ever men deserved victory il
vas the small devoted force whom Col
ey ordered up the precipitous. side of
hajuba, that fatal, ever-memorable1
light. Among his followers were the
Sinety-first Highlanders, newly arrived
rom their glorious campaign in At
,hanistan, as brave a body of men as
ver drew a dirk or wore a kilt. | re-
member the day they marched out of
'ietermaritzburg for the front Bands
we're playing, flags Were flying, crowds
we're cheering and the Highland laddies
topped high. l remember also when
s,r Il !