Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-10
British Generals Seem to Know No
Other Tactics.
CRITICISMS OF AN OFFICER
Declares the Wounded Were Left
to Suffer and Die.
STORY OF ONE FIG H T

disaster at Sp1On kOp IN IOuay continues
his remarkable series with denunciation
as bitter as ever fell upon "a gen.
eral This week his article is confined to
general review of the strategy or rather
lack of strategy which preceded the relief
of Ladysmith. and he includes terrible
Indictment against useless sacrifice of the
Irish brigade. whose gallantry excited SO
much admiration in England.
THE blind man." writes this officer. has
found his way home at last. With his
stick he felt his way along the walls and
cliffs, tapping. tapping, tapping, as he
moved on, turning at the corners. and feel
ing along till at last his stick, missing the
wall, slipped into his own doorway. True,
indeed, he had q few misfortunes, and was
badly wounded by some lampposts, flaming
with light. but which to him, poor soul,
were all dark. He had been lost for many
Gays, and few had kept Up hope that he
would ever arrive: but now there is Iejoic-
ing on all sides, and doubtless his wounds
the moral ones, at least-win be salved with
the healing ointment of public applause.
Relief for Ladysmith.
Eyes. Ladysmith has been relieved at
last. We have been laundering along the
line of hills that form that northern bank
of the Tugela for many months attempting
to pass it at all sorts of impossible places
is an accurate description of the ten weeks
campaign on the Tugela No one knew the
ground or took the trouble to learn it. AS
an example of this sublime Indifference.
Gen. Butler was not aware that Hlangwani
mountain, which commanded the crossing
of the Tugela, was on the southern side of
the river till he had failed in three different
attempts. Yet he lived for weeks within
three or four miles Of the hill, and at the
battle of Colenso his right flank extended
beyond 1t. As to strategy, there was none,
neither good nor bad. The troops We're
moved along, and when q hill or an in
trenchment appeared IN front they were or
dered to take it. Sometimes they failed.
sometimes they succeeded: often, when they
had succeeded, after terrible loss, the post
was found to be useless, and was abap-
dOned- This is the blind folly in which we
have been engaged and which, more
through good luck than good management,
has eventually succeeded. But had not
Lord Roberts victory drawn away a great
part Of the Beers for the defense of their
own country it would never have succeeded.
and Ladysmith would have fallen. Thus
weakened. the Beers had not force enough
to occupy such a long defensive position
our hands.
Butler Orders an Attack
ION Friday. February %, General Hart
was ordered to send up the Connaught
Rangers, the InnlskilIings and the Dublins
low hills. where the river turned again to-
ward the east. The operation was most
difficult and dangerous. Six companies of
the IrnisillingS and two companies of the
Cunraught Rangers formed the attacking
lines. the remainder of the rangers and half
OF the Dublins We're in support; the reserve
consisted OF the other half of the Dublins
In this order the Irish brigade recrosscd
the railway and began the attack coming
at once under a severe cross fire from The
hills on the right and left 1t Is at times
that tactical errors lead to such terrible loss
OF lie. Some troops had indeed been sent
10 the NIL on the left. but they We're not
ordered 10 push the attack, and they could
not from their position even see the north
ern slopes; they merely acted as sentries to
prevent our being entirely cut off ANY
one could see that 1t was madness to send
an attacking force up the central hill. while
the Ranking hill was unnccupied and the
Beers thereon were left free to concentrates
their fire for its defense. But STUPID as
was the scheme, the method adopted for its
execution was even worse General Hart
placed himself on a neighboring hill with
telescope and bugler; he was comDlArely
out of touch with the attack, and could moi
KNOW Wnen rest was necessary or when
an attack could prohtably be pressed
Ihese matters are felt only by the Of
hcers on the spot, and it is absolutely neces-
sary to leave It to their discretion There
he stood. sounding at intervals the .ad
vance, then the double and then the
charge When it appeared to him that
Inc attack was not proceeding rapidly
enough 10 suit his taste the bugle rang ont
again in peremptory tones
Artillery ShcIIed the Trencbc.
Our artillery meanwhile vas Smelling The
trench at the top of the hill and kept down
the enemy's fire from that direction so
that the advance line got to within a hun
dred yards of what seemed TO them To he
the top. and waited for a moment to take
breath, under cover Of the steepncss Of tho
NIL Then he generals bugier sounded the
three calls, advance, double Charge
nc word was passed along the ranks: bay-
oiets were fixed ard, springing TO their
feet, the men dashed forward with a cheer
Not a shot was fired by the enemy and
the place seemed TO be deserted The crest
vas reached and passed. and the triumph
seemed complete. But. alas that crest was
a false one: there was a slight dip behind
then another rise. which constituted the
real crest As the men advanced over the
shNhne ana exposed themselves to full view
the E"ers suddenly stood up in their
trenches and fired in quick succession the
nF- rounds with which their Mausers were
charged at a range of fifty yards The
effect was too terrible 10 describe
That great rush Of men, confident and
erect as a great wave nearing the shore.
was checked in a moment There was :.
staeeer forward, and then all that remain
ed was line Of poor. helpless human be-
lhGs. struggling on the ground in agony
some rose again perhaps not knowing
what tHry were doing. and fell pierced in
many instances with a dozen bullets These
VINO mirvelously escaped the murdarnIIs
dlschargc could only lie with the others
hoping L" escape OhsC rvatiun: the slightest
move ntnt OF an arm or leg whether il
was The death struggle of a wounded man
or the lncautious attempt of one of the
lucky ones TO get better cover behind :,
rock, drew shower of bullets. bringing,
certain death, not only to the unfortunate
man hlrnSeH. but to many who Law around
MIN stiffness was The only hope of life
The LOSS Was Fearful.
L will not anticipate the official return
as the numbers killed and wounded have
Deeh Inherently stated. but fear they are
very bad, / know that out of a hundred
men who charged with the two connarias
Sixty fell. and that any escaped was dino
ohly 10 the unevennesS of th.. p.rnnnd g.,
certain spots. which partially concealed AT
Ine critical moment portions OF the lin.
me loss Of the lnniskilIings was stated 70
De Wei over 100 out of 500 mustered ,hat
morning. but | believe this To b,. an ..xN
aSssrationi two companies were LEFT he
hind, only about 500 advanced 10 The az
tack and probably 400 took part in the
charge. pau III 'he
Il should think 800 should be nearer tho
mark Five officers only are left. This dis
aStrous charge took place about 3 o'clock
and there the unfortunate men Law. dead
wounded and bad