The Weekly Journal. — 1902-03-21 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE WEEKLY J  URNAL, FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1902.  A "REGRETTABLE INCIDENT."  TALE OF A CAPTURED CONVOY. Those who take an interest In the life of the soldier will cod something to their taste in a little Wig named •• Epaaletter." written by Torrln Blair and published by Messrs. S. IL Bousfield and Co., Lid., Norfolk-street, London. One shilling is the i rice of this collection of sketches of Servico types, and the writer, although he cannot lay claim to any great amount of literary style, has a happy knack of spinning a smokingroom type of " yarn," and evidently possess,. a knowledge of withering, to use a phrase beloved of kir. Thomas Atkins. Thera are stone* of offlctrrs, some of whom did good work for their country, and one or two the reverse; while, under the beading of "Casualties," the writer tells socue sad little tales concerntng poor wounded Tommie' brought down to die at a base hospital to South Africa. The latter tales are perhaps the best of the collection. The general public has digested the fact that some of our disiobers during the present war bate been due to officers who have under-rated their foe, and, either through carelessness or a want of military knowledge, have imperilled the :Bea of their command. lu "Seconded" is told the story of the fate cf an officer. a brave man and keen to go on active service, but who heid the opiniou that " sweatiog it tactics is all belly rot." When the Boer War broke out Wrightoo, who was then *erring ou be staff of a Governor of a distant Colony thousands of miles away, hurried back as fast as steam and rail could carry Olin, as he called it, 'to see the show. ' Aid clue, we are told, was the " show" the lest chow"" he It was cold, bitterly ...old. and m the halt light between night and dawn the wirroy, creaking and groaning. amidst the cracking of whir and the jells a the drivers, moved along the road from Othaboop to Zaersat. tin each side of the waggons rude horeensen, dimly outlined, with their beads butte tin their theralders, half asleep, whilst their horses wesrly threaded their way, stumbling over the boulders and scrub. In front rode a man muffled up in a cloak, followed by • troop of mounted min is hall sections. They were all in the same position, crouching in their saddles, half dead with fatigue and cold., foe they had marched many intim Toe scone called to memory the famous picture of lietmouier of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow— the renowned figure of the 'Sian of Destiny," with drooping head, followed by his brilliant staff and straggliog army in the northern snows, harassed on every side. In this case, however, It was not a retreat from an irretrievable thrower, but merely is common or garden convoy carrying previsions and ammuniMM.  The °Meer in front esemed quite asleep, ins bead noddiug aud jolttair to the movements of ins horse, is it picked its way carefully up the narrow road. A inan came galloping down the path awl pulled up alougaide with a suddenness which threw his horse ou to Its quarters. lie was one or toe advanced guard. " We're aiming to a very Lamy plate, sir," he said, as he reined in his mount. "Hadn't we better nod out sone scout.  A rights:Hi, for it was he, instantly jerked into lite and activity. " Scotties'. he replied, scornfully: "certainly not. I'm not going to have my meu potted by skulking brutes lying behind rocks. Let 'em wane out sad fight fan. the --th will show 'tin what they're made of," and the man :ode off. Just thou a subaltern rode up. " Shall I send out flau kir g partie. 'he asked. "it seems that we ore coming to very wavy bit of country." The subaltern, WBO had just left tilundhurat, and bad been through a therougn course of ..elery's Motor TIiCtICS." 1/1111 as keen as mustard in everything conuected with hie profeseiosx, sea considered himeelf a bit of a tactician, but he ouly received a snub for his pima. lankiere parties be d—d : one would think . we were frightened of chord of miserable farmers with shot-guns." The words were hardly out of his mouth, when away on the right front a sheet of flame ilashei out. • • link— buk—buk —buk— hut —a— buk— buk." ciuglied out the dreaded " ponispeme." A hail of lead came tearing through the air. In an instant everything was chatis—meu and horses wntning on the greund—waggeue overturned— curses. groans. and shouts corniug up through the lapses of the din of the ride tire, " Phit--phit— phit," *aid the leaden storm of bullets, 86 they ploughed up the gr.-med. 'Wherein hell is (Sanborn.? " yelled Wrighs ton, galinpis.¢ down the hue. "lot here," shouted u voice by his side. " Look here, you take command here. I'm going to tun those devils out." •• You can't, air," replied Gartherne; sheer suicide." "Suicide be d—d," exclaimed Wrighten "The internal impudence of the brutee—l'll teach 'etn—l—Ugh—ah—." It. fell from his Gorse.  . . . •  The firing had ceaved, aid the mc.rning sun Etwwcd a soeue of desolation. hat:da of men in uoudescrit,t attire. with rifles , slung over tiketr backs, encircled the couv,..y. Here aud there a white hag liuttcreci :tom the tents oi the waggoua. "Lift me up—just a little—so—" said Wrighton feebly. " tireirson, old man—surrender. My tied: what a itisgrace—l'in sorry—all my fault —Fin to blitme-1 was an Tllollf were his la,t words. Two days afterworth tie reported another "unfortunate hicideut " of a c, uvov being cut up and captured, aid to the list of casualties was , .•i:eptaal, lion. L. C. W. Btayton-Wrighton