The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-06
GALLANT SORTIE Il.
FROM MAFENNG {
Twenty Men Lost Their.
Lives ljselessly.
ATTACKED GAllETR.EE
Officers Who Led the Attack Killed
at-Foot Of the Fort.
THE PLACE WAS IMPROBABLE.
The Troops Eseing Without Command
crs Were Driven off at Ouc Point,
But at Others They Still En-
dcuyorcd to Scale the
Fort Suspension
of HostiIitics,
--
THE PLACE WAS IMPROBABLE

LCNDC,N. Jan. 6.-4:45 a. M.-No de-
cisive operation is reported from South
Africa this morning. Military activity Is
confined TO points CT subsidiary impor-
lance. In the central theatre of operations
the British apparently have secured no
substantial ga:r.s. The only dispatch of
dramatic inieres. is the narrative of use
less gallantry at the sortie from Maze
king, whe..e the stormers threw them
selves hopeless.y against a strongly de-
fended Eoer work.
The question OF contraoand selzures
takes almost the paramount pace in the
thoughts of the public. The vague posi-
bility that this may te preteSt for con-
tinantal intervention disturbing otnclai
and private observers
The governments purpose 10 enforce
strictly the right Of search has been se-
forth III detailed instructions, dispatched
yesterday by the Admiralty to the British
naval commanders in South African
waters. giving them weigtty warning,
without exception to uphold the govern
nlent measures for the suppression of the
Importation of contraband by way Of
De.agoa Bay
GREAT sGALLANTR1
LONDON. Jan. 5.-The War Office has
received through General Forester Walk
er. at Cape Town, the following dispatch
from Colonel Baden-Powell. dated 2Iafe-
king. December 26th:
I'VE attacked one of the enemy's works
this morning, endeavoring 10 push back
the Gordon nort'lward Our force con-
sisted Of three guns. two squadronS of
the Protectorate Regiment one of the
-Bechuanaland Rifles. al armored train.
etc. The enemy had strengthened their
works during the night, and doubled the
garrison since yesterdays reconnaissance
Nevertheless ouI. attack was carried
out and pressed home with the greatest
possible gallantry and steadiness under
very not fire. But all efforts to gain the
interior by escalade failed. the fort being
practically irnprssnable.
Our attack only withdrew after six
| of our officers and large number OF
men had been hit Nothing could have
| exceeded the courage and dash displayed
The general situation remains un-
| changed. and the health and spirits of the
| garrison are very satisfactory.
Il regret to report the following casual
ties:
"killcd-Captain r. J. Vernon. Captain
| 1t C. Sanford, Lieutenant H. c. Patton,
| + Is non-commissioned officers and troopers.
| acknowledgements Charles FitZclar-
| ance. % on-commissioned officers and
| troopers.
| '.PsisonerS--Threc troopers"
Gen Eorcstier-Walker points out that
while the dispatch gives all the names
| it fails to show that six officers were MT
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
! LONDON, Jan. 6.-l:45 y. M.-The Times
! publishes the following dispatch from
/ r, ~l-1
eat dawn 10 day Colonel Badsn-Poweii
! organized an unsuccessful attacking upon
! a strong position of the enemy at Game
! tree, two miles from [MafekinS-. from
| which the Beers have been maintaining q
| Gesuitory but annoying shell and rifle llfe
f! for several weeks. The railway has re-
| Gently been reconstructed between the
town and Gametree, where the Beers mad
| destroyed it, the final repairs being made
in preparation for the sortie.
During the night the arlnored train
| with Maxim and Hotchkiss guns under
| Captain Williams and troops, took VI
| positions for attack from two sides. Cap
| tain Lord Charles Bentinck and q
| squadron We're in reserve upon the leit
| while the extreme left wing was occupied
| by artillery under Major Panzera and q
| ga.leping. Maxim of the Cape police, the
| whole being under Colonel iHore.
| ..Enp.acementss were thrown up during
| the night the orders being to attack a!
dawn and the artillery fire to desisr upon
| prolonged footing from the armored train
At daybreak the guns opened fire and
/. rapidly drew the reply of the enemy, our
| shells bursting within effective range
| Captain Vernon gave the signal to cease
! firing and to advance his squadron lead
ing off.
.s.As our men engaged the position with
| their rife fire. il was soon found that the
! strength of the fort was greater than we
! had supposed. The enemy concentrated
| such q lot fire that the advance of Cap
| tain Vernon was almost Impossible, but
| with rema rkable herosn and saliantry
| Captains Sandford and Vernon. L:euten-
| ant Patton and Scout Cook. who guided
! the squadrons, and a few men actually
reached the sandDass of the fort within
| three hundred yards of the area of the
fort.
| ..But nothing living could exist there
| since thes ground was swept by MaGser
! and Martini bullets. The men who
| terribly, and in following their officers
to capture the fort twenty men lost their
| lives. Captain Sandford was the first
to fail. and Captain Vernon, already
| twice wounded. and Lieutenant Patton,
| were killed at the foot of the fort.
These Two oiHcerS, cHmolHS often
| which surrounded the fort, thrust theit
| revoNers5 through the enemy's loop-holes
sonly 10 he shot themselves the next
| ,oment.
WITHOUT OFFICERS.
.'Gametree is surrounded with scrub,
(which contained many sharp-sh ooters.
and their accuracy Of fire stiIl further
fused the men who had followed
Captain Vernon. and who saw him and
his brother officers killed. Being with
! out commanders they were driven OF at
one point, but they endeayored to scale
the fort :. at others. They found the
position OF the Beers, however, almost
| impresnable.
-z.sWhen we retired under cover Of the
armcred train so many men had been
! wounded that a suspension of hostilities
occurred under the auspices OF the Red
EJ,rnss The fVeI(it around the Boer posi-