The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-05

left. General De Ia Rey was busy with
biz force OF British know nothing Ct the
nzht: only know that. two days later, tho
dead lay very heavy IN front or his posi-
ton. Some Of these; tne general main
10 that I am not competent 70 oner an
opinion. DO know. though, that De IA hey
shot down all the horses OF the enemy
battery out IN the plain. and that the suns
lay horseiess and unnamed TIL O'Clock
Eve begged cronje to Yet US 60 and bring
I'm the guns, but he would not lie said
his men had had too hard a day. and there
was still the morrow 70 come. So the can
non lay there unguarded TIL. In the very
early morning force OF British on MOO, ,ooe
their lines
when daylight came we looked over 20
the enemy's camp 10 md II mao 5esR O.
minished already by half. Lord Methuen
had begun HIS retirement to Between the
Rivers az Modder river.
Although the British general was al
al liberty 10 move. for his cannon had
not said the last word on the battle. FOR
hours that Tuesday we dared not sur
dite and the yeidt was piowed as though
il were seed time. But we did not sufer
so seriously We kept close In 10 our
schanzes, and no man showed finger Our
horses were terribly mangled. and such
wagons we had were destroyed. but our
loss I'm killed and wounded was very shght.
considering the extent OF the bomoardment-
1T was now that Major Albrecht, with
his three cannon. had an opportunity 10
reply to the British half dozen Of batteries
One gun he served in person. ana there ne
had erected two strong chances ano nad
dug shelter pit out from the rightmost
schanze.
ALBRECHTS SCREENS.
First ne would fire from the schanzc to
the left. and at once his men would haul
the gun behind the other screen. There
they sponged and attended to IT while the
British shells burst with marvellous accars-
cy all around the schanze from which II
had Just retreated. Then he would IRE
from the second screen and haul back to
the first. IL the British directed their IRE
against both positions simultaneously he
retired with his iron-throated friend 10 the
shelter hole he had dug. There he fondled
his pet, cherished her, and revived her UNI
I'll il was once more safe TO venture out To
his mantlets again
That is all Major Albrecht possessed OK
disappearing platforms and intricate ma
chinery-two hastily contrived dykes and
hole. And high up in the blueness the
imperturable balloon looked down. and
should have seen IL all. To realize IN It's
acutest form what an attack OF the nerves
can be fight for your life under the cola
and naughty stare of a captive war bal
loon. Ugh. | hate the innate snobbery OF
your balloon worse than the brutality OK
your lyddite.
Eat last the British left. and we were
free to view the effect of straight shooting
at point blank range. An armistice was
agreed upon and burying parties possessed
the field.
ITO us the fight was a very simple one.
IL necessitated only one change OF position.
that on the forenoon of the Monday when
/ was sent 10 strengthen our left. For the
wa hoH 70 Eopr nOSiff0n%
and shoot straight. General Cronje sat, cool
and mistaken, on his kopje, warning the
commandments whenever an attack had TO
be met And yet. might have been an
easy prey for so overwhelming force as
Lord Methuen commanded. We were quite
Cnready for attack. the ends OF our posi-
ton were open and the kopjss at our back
were higher than those we held. All day
the British cavalry moved about on the
plain wearing out their horses TO no pur-
pose. So far as we could see the men never
once left their saddles from dawn till dusk
But they did nothing, attempted very little
| Had the Highlanders kept little more to
their right in the very early morning things
would have been different. They would
| have turned our position
ITO attempt TO carry out that movement
| in the daytime was madness. we were
there; and cur burghers, who shoot always
| deliberately and every time at an object.
| should account for at least one of an
| enemy exposed within 500 yards out OF
every five shots. There is only one way TO
4 OppOSt SlIdlSDb SnOoAinb. anu lidl - ~
! envelop. The external turning movement
| is the one evolution a corps of Snapshots
| ers need fear, and against that we ara
| powerless. Now that the British have
learned their very simple lesson in tactics
| cur effectiveness is at an end.
| II have made every possible inquiry in
| to the strength of our forces at Mayors
| rontein, and my information is that We had
| $500 men on the field, of whom 1900 were
| in position. We had 243 dead and disabled
| men. heaviest loss being caused by
I hn fro cd 60 nh a
| moving to take up position our left I'd
| oppose the forenoon attack. These figures
| are official, and to the best OF my knowl-
| edge, correct