The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-16
THE u AFRICAN WAR
THRILLING ACCOUNT Of III BAT
TIE OF ELANDSLAAGTE.
A Which i'm Some of Its
Features Recalls the Assault on
San Juan by the Americans.
Letter in london Times.

Ladysmith Letter in London Times.
The order of the infantry attack was as
follows: The Devonshire Regiment was
ordered to deliver a frontal attack, which
necessitated their crossing the open plain
of rolling veldt to which 1 have already re-
ferred. The Manchester Regiment was de-
tailed to turn the enemy's left. and ad-
vancing along the summit of the ridge,
drive the Dutchmen back upon their main
position; they were to be supported by five
companies of H~ighlanders. The two bat
teries were. to support the infantry ad-
vance, moving in to closer ranges as the
attack developed. In the first instance II
will be better to follow the fortunes of the
frontal attack. Major Park placed three
companies in the firing line. These were
extended over a front of four hundred or
five hundred yards, and formed their own
supports. The remaining four companies
were in reserve under Major Currie, be-
ing in single rank, in column, with about
fifty PAGES interval, which was increased
when the. enemy's guns came into action.
AS soon as the battalion was well over the
plateau and descending into the valley the
enemy found them with %shrapnel, but the
WE'LL - WAth 0h ~
cision burst in the intervals between COM
panies. The casualties from shell fire were
therefore slight. three men only. from A
Company, being hit. When the regiment
had advanced to about LOO yards from the
position Major Park, who commanded his
battalion with great GOODNESS, halted 1t and
opened fire, the only cover available being
the ant heaps with which the plain abound
ed. The battalion now came under a severe
infantry fire, but nothing could have sur
passed the steadiness with which this
south-country battalion moved forward. 1t
had the admiration Of all that day: its adj
vance throughout was slow, deliberate. and
irresistible. After firing a few volleys the
firing line was reinforced with supports,
and again steadily advanced. Though men
were dropping fast and the air whistled
with Mauser bullets, there was nc sign of
streakiness. and though there was no cover
the men stepped on ~undaunted until they
were within eight hundred yards from the
summit of the hill. The fading light and
the color of their uniforms probably saved
them from the slaughter that one imagined
must be in store for them. as they lay at
the bottom of 1.-The depression, waiting for
the flank attack to develop. Here. with the
guns laundering above them and the soil
torn with incessant rifle fire, they lay for
over half an hour waiting for the moment
when the advance should sound. Rarely
has a regiment been SO severely tried, new
er has one acquitted Itself better.
FLANK MOVEMENT.
While the Devonshire Regiment was lying
in the valley taking Advantage of what
cover the ant heaps could afford it. the flank
attack on the enemy's left was develop
ing. The Manchester Regiment had moved
past the batteries, had been Joined by a
dismounted squadron of the Imperial Light
Horse under Major Woolls Sampson and
Captain Mukins. and was pushing round to
the lower summit of the range. The Cor
don Highlanders followed In support. Just
as the latter reached the foot OF the ridge
the storm, which had been threatening so
long, burst. and in a few moments every
one was drenched to the skin. The shower
was sharp and short, but by the time 1t
was over the Gordon HighlanGers Were
among the stones which covered the crest
OF the ridge. Dropping shots We're failing
about them, a couple OF men were hit. an
other shot dead. and then the supports
Were into the firing line and filling up the
gaps in the line OF the Manchester Regi-
ment and the Light Horse. There vas a
short plateau to cross, then a saving dip,
with a climb TO the main plateau again.
Cheerily the men responded TO their off,
GERS, and wave after wave of kits and
khaki swept up &c the skyline. Here they
tons only one in four could pass. A mo-
ment they checked: dead. wounded and
quick seemed sandwiched together among
the powders. Then their officers shouted
them up. Again the skyline darkened with
lines OF men bent double. Again they
seemed to melt away; still were they fed
from below. And then all were over. but
not all. for fifty stout fellows lay pros
trate in the clefts OF the rain washed
stones. And when the dip was passed.
what a task lay before them, They were
called to face COO yards of rough. rock
strewn pen-intersected al intervals with
barbed- wire fences. Al The end rose a
kopje, which commanded the plateau from
end to end, as a butt would a
rifle range. No one could be seefs but all
could feel that that final xorj5 vas alive
with small bore rifles. Stumbling Tor ward
among the stones. laundering over the
bodies of their comrades as they fell be-
fore then, the mer pressed on. II had
ceased to be a moment for reeimentai com
manders- Even sections could barely keep