The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-11-07

England in the course VI hoi A'
,uffered-as does every fighting nation
MANY defeats but never one so humlh'
.tino 10 he national pride as her de-
fsat at Msjuba Hill, February %. 1881
by the rude Beers Of the Traansvaai-
That she then accepted that defeat was
due 20 the existence Of q Glsdstonian
cabinet in England and the ever-pres'
ens desire Of that party for peace al
any price.
Ii is to avenge that defeat Outland'
srs' grievances and suzerainty comph-
cations NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Great
Britain Is now in the field in South
Africa with the pick Of her army ana
her most trusted generals.
February 81. 1881.
II was on the day that General Sir
George Oolley an officer Of experience
and undoubted personal bravery. after
3 forced night march took up posi-
ton on the summit Of Msjuba with his
force OF six hundred British soldiers.
Since his defeat by the Beers at Laing S
Mex on January 81 his communications
had been constantly attacked by the
burehers. and on taking up the highly
important strategic position on MaJuoa
he determined 30 once more assume the
offensive. The Boer forces filled the
valley commanded by the hill, and
when they discovered the position
taken by the British forces they mani
tested every symptom Of panic aud
made what at first seemed general
movement to retreat. They. however
did not do 60. The counsels OF Cen
erals Joabert and Smidt prevailed. and
the Beers settled down to preparations
for an attack.
On the English side overconddence
and the inevitable panicky feeling that
always seizes q soldier when surprised
BY daring movement such as that
made by the Beers contributed to the
days defeat. To General Colley and
his officers the position on the summit
Of the hill seemed impreguable Its
fiat saucer.like top communicative plain
on every side, and no thought seems TO
have been given to artificial fortitica-
ton.
The Beers. however, knew that the
sides Of the hill which rose precipitate-
ly from the plain was SCARED by deep
cliffs and gullies. Up these Jouoert
determined TO send band Of his picked
men and to cover their operations the
men In the valley opened brisk fire on
the soldiers on the hill. So accurate
was the shooting Of the Beers that the
English soldiers kept under cover IS
much Is possible, only rising now and
then TO return q volley. Little harm
was done by this long range firing on
either side, and 30 confident Of their
security were the British soldiers that
with every volley they hurled taunts at
the enemy in the distance. For six
hourt this firing continued-that was
the length Of time it took the two hun
S-ed and fifty Beers who attempted the
asceuy to climb, the hill. Once there,
one party of sixty burghers occupied q
small peak standing on the skirt Of the
summit; killing by q single volley the
small British picket that held it. The
rest Of the Beers poured themselves over
the saucer.like edges Of the fat-top-
ped mountain and took the British
completely by surprise. The move
ment was 30 sudden, so totally unex-
pected, that the English force could
not awake to q realization OF what
had happened. They fancied themselves
penned in to slaughter, and all the eff
forts Of their general and his officers
could not recall them 10 discipline.
They precipitated themselves down the
side Of the hill into the very hands Of
the Beers, who advanced TO meet them.
A handful Of them remained TO fight
and be killed, among them General Col
ley, who, when he saw all hope lost,
took his life with his own hand. Gam
eron, the war correspondent, who was
taken prisoner by the Beers and imme-
diately released, described the scene as
one Of the widest confusion. The de.
feat at Laing's Mex had already demon
allied the handful Of British soldiers,
who felt isolated-in strange country,
and this new and startling attack was
too much for them. Had the men yield
cd to the rallying Of their officers they
could undoubtedly have withstood the
attack Of the Beers and Majubs would
mark q different page in English mil.
itary history.
OF the six hundred British troops
who occupied the summit Of Majuba
Hill over 800 we're killed in retreat. The
Boer loss according to Boer accounts,
was only one killed and five wounded.
Majuba ended the brief war Of 1881.
In less than month afterward Mr.
Gladstone signed treaty Of peace rec
ogniging the independence Of the Trans