WAR ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5059, 9 March 1900, Page 1

WAR ITEMS.

The death cf MLj>r Eddy, of the Vctorian Contingent, has brought; up the question of a penßt 'n '« his dependent*. jJaab month the Premier of Victoria received a cable meaaago saying that the Imperial Government allowed the widow of a m>jor 1 killed in action a pension of £140 a year, ; and about £20 for each child. In addition 1 to that there waa a gratuity given equal to the officer's pay for one year, aud if there were children a further gratuity of one-third of a year's pay. There will also ba payable out of the Patriotic Fund a pen ion of £46 for a major's widow and £14 for each child. Apropos of t^e disaster to the Highland Brigade at Magerefontein, while mirching in close order, a London journal remarks that such thingß have happened beforf, even in the best armies in the world. A whole German corps in the battle of Gravelotte, as Captain Hoenig relates, plunged into the j Maoee ravine in the closest order, marching j aloDg » single road through a defile Ib was supposed that the French fire had been beaten | duwa, and that the moment for a general j advanoe had come. Suddenly the French ' tire blazed out with terrific force and a counter-attack began. A storm of projectiles descended upon the advancing corps ; i order at the head of it was lost ; friends fired into friends ; and men broke in disorder. The infantry actually ran through their guns, the gunners of which threatened to shoot them down with grape. A hcmt of maddened, panio-stricken fugitives poured past the eyes of the King of Prussia and Prince Bismarck, who strove in person even using che flit of their swords to rally thtm. la faof), had the French been able to advance the battle might have bsen lost, but the steady fire of the German b.tteries drove the enemy baok, and saved the day. Further to the north, in the same battle, the Prussian Guards lost terribly thiough advancing in close <rder, owing to an error. There is, then, plenty of preoedent for the terrible mistake made at Magerafonteia.