The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-31
SOLDIERS STORIES.
The South African War as Tommy
Atkins Sees IL.

Atkins sees it.
A vivid account OF the disaster to the
Suffolk Regiment near Rensburg ON Jan
has been received by the London News
from soldier of the regiment who took
part in the unsuccessful night attack on
the Boer position at Red Hill He writes:
-Four companies of the regiment left
Coleskop camp at 1880 a. m. Col Wat
son, who carried a long white stick in his
hand, leading the way ard feeling the
ground as he went. The troops marched
with fixed bayonets in quarter-column,
with a siX-raoe interval between compan-
les. The hill is situated about a mile from
Coleskop camp.
When about halfway across the veldt
a light suddenly appeared and then dis
appeared in the direction of Colesburg,
mile and a half or so to the right of the
column. Many took this to be a Boer sig
nal, and very probably 1t was, as soon
afterward a very good imitation of the
thrilling notes Of a night bird disturbed
the silent air Arriving at deep ditch at
the foot Of the hill the column halted for
few minutes, and then commenced the
ascent.
An Awful Climb.
ders, and the men had to assist one an
other in the climb up, which proved very
fatiguing. Every now and again, how
ever, the troops halted to listen.
They We're nearly a the top of the hill
when the invisible might bird again
gushed forth its dulcet notes, to he fol-
lowed almost Immediately by rifle shot,
fired by Eoer sentry, who was discover
ed standing by himself JUST in front of
tho lpadipo cornnonN IN and near the
center e the hill
He was Immediately baycneted by enc
of our men, and the column lay down
among the rocks. Within a few SECONDS
of the senuy's shot the top of the hill
was abaze with rife fire, Mauser and eX-
plosiVe bullets dropping among our men
in showers. the explosive bullets as they
hit the rocks throwing W weird light
that showed objects fer eight or ten yards
round.
Very few of our men were struck at
this stage, and they were all remarka bly,
cool and Collect ed; in fact, most of them
were laughing and joking as if the whole
affair was something remarkably funny.
After five minutes of this inaction Col.
Watson ca led the officers toward him, and
after telling Capt. Brett to take his men
around to the right flank, ordered the
company nearest him to retire men,
meaning, it is presumed for them to fall
back a little
THE leading company took the order in
the sense it was apparently meant, but
the word retire being passed on to the
companies in rear, was interpreted to
mean Retire to the bottom Of the hill"
"Consequ entity, while some retired, as
tonished at such an order, as every one
expected the word charge even though
the close formation prevented anything
like an effective one, some remained
tl,n in
front, after retiring a little, charged on its
own account, two thirds of them being
shot down in the attempt and Col. Wat
son having the roof of his head blown
off by an explosive bullet
After retiring to the foot Of the hill
the troops waited for orders despite the
storm of bullets that swept over and
among them; but there being no officer
present to direct them, they were event
ually ordered by some of the sergants to
retire on the camp"
Two Shooting Stories.
A correspondent with the English army
on the Modder river says of his expert
ence with modern instruments of war:
1.-The most terrifying of the enemy's
guns is a sort of Hotchkiss, which fires
about five rounds at a time, and throws
a one-pound shell, which bursts. You are
safe nowhere as a bullet Hired at an OBJ
kills at 2,00O or $500. 1t practically means
with these rifles that a bullet is never
spent until it hits something and remains
there When a bullet strikes you hear
nothing; IL goes right through a man and
probably travels on another 1900 yards.
In a communication to the London
Times quotations are made from a letter
written by Capt. v, an English officer,
who severely criticises the shooting of
Tommy Atkins. His remarks were about
as follows:
LAS for shooting, we are not in 1t with
the Beers. Yesterday l went out in the
armored train with lot of picked fellows
from my regiment 10 dislodge some snip
inc Beers We began fir
ing about 1000 yards, and then got to
quite close range. Dozens of bullets
struck the train. but l don't think we hit
a Boer, for the men even behind the
plates lost their heads. and l discovered
that some were firing at 200 yards with
the 200 yards sights up It's the old story
over again.
Tortured by Flies.
Our camp, writes a soldier at Rensberg.
is afflicted with quite a plague of flies. AS
a recent visitor observed, they are the
most unciVilized of their species. Their
favorite pastime appears to be 10 take
header into the cup of hot tea or coffee
lust put Def re you, then stretch out their
tiny, gauzy wings, culver and expire They