The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-09

Rangers, the Inniskillings and the Dub
Inns along the line of the railway to at
tack some low hills where the river turn
ed again toward the east. The operation
was most difficult and dangerous Six
companies of the Inniskillings and two
companies of the Connaught Rangers,
formed the attacking lines; the remain
der of the Rangers and half of the Dub
sisted of the other half of the Dublins
In this order the Irish brigade recrOssed
the railway and began the attack, COM
ing at once under a severe cross fire from
the hills on the right and left. It is at
such times that tactical errors lead to
such terrible loss of life Some troops
had indeed been sent to the hill on the
left but they were not ordered to push
the attack and they could not from their
position, even see the northern slopes;
they merely acted as sentries to prevent
out being entirely cut or. Any one could
see that it was madness to send an at
lacking force up the central hill. while
the danldng hill was unOccupied, and the
Beers thereon were left free to concen-
trate their fire for its defense.
But stupid as was the scheme the
method adopted for its execution was
even worse. General Hart placed him
self on a neighboring hill with a tee-
scope and a bugler: he was completely
out Of touch with the attack and could
not know when rest was necessary nor
when attack could proftably be press
ed. These matters are felt only by the
officers on the spot, and it is absolutely
necessary to leave it to their discretion.
There he stood sounding at intervals the
advance then the double" and then
that the attack was not proceeding rap
idly enough to suit his taste, the bugle
artillery, meanwhile, was Smelling the
trenches at the top of the hill and kept
down the enemy nre from tnat dlrec-
ton so that the advance line got TO with
in a hundred yards of what seemed to
them to be the top and waited for mo-
ment to take breath under cover OF the
steepness of the hill. Then the general s
vs5ee.y double charge" The word
vrr1re afr qralrc hay aafE
We're fixed and 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
was reached and passed, and the triumph
seemed complete But alas, that crest was
a false one; there was a sl1ght dip be
hind, then another rise, which consti-
tuted the real crest. As the men advanced
over the sky line and exposed themselves
to fun view the Beers suddenly stood up
in their trenches. and fired in quick sue
cessiOn the five rounds with which their
Mausers were charged, at a range of so
yards. The effect was too terrible to de-
scribe. That great rush of men, conf
dent and erect as a great wave nearing
the shore. was checked in moment.
There was a stagger forward, and then
81 la Is -, - - +I1s
helpless human beings struggling on lle
ground in agony. Some rose again, per
haps not knowing what they were dong
and Tell pierced IN many instances Win
a dozen bullets. Those who marVeiouSly
escaped the murderouS discharge could
only lie with the others hoping to escape
observation, the slightest movement of
an arm or a leg, whether it was the death
struggle of a wounded man or the In
cautious attempt of one of the lucky ones
to get better cover behind a rock drew a
shower of bullets, bringing certain dealt
not only to the unfortunate man himself,
but to many VINO lay AROUND HlIi- , LII
ness was the only hope of life I viii not
anticipate the official return as the num-
/ bers killed and wounded have been diff
ferently stated. but I fear they are very
bad. I know that out of a hundred men
who charged with the two companies,
8 six fell and that ESCAPE was due
only to the unevenness of the ground
in certain spots which partially