A CAVALRY CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 306, 28 December 1898, Page 3

A CAVALRY CHARGE.

As the opposing forces approach the gallop is given, and closer and closer they come, says a writer in the 'Pall Mall Magazine' in describing a modern cavalry charge. The old Brigadier is in front, motioning back his men Avith his sabre so as to keep them steady and together. Suddenly and simultaneously, on both sides, the charge is sounded. . ...

The two cavalries approach each other like thunderbolts; •each man pressed on by those in the rear; the second line is trying to force its way into the first, and then—they meet.

The bursting of the two waves renders one mighty crash to heaven. The dust thickens, and under this heavy pall of death all knowledge of events is lost. The cloud sways backward and forward for full five minutes, when the officer in command of our reserves spies an opening; then in he goes, and the enemy is literally hurled. back. The victors stagger forward reeling like a drunken man. With remarkable rapidity the enemy have recovered;, our officers are literally beating their men into some sort of'formation, shouting, absolutely shrieking with excitement the while. The troopers rise in their stirrups and swear—well,' like troopers. Then at "them again; this time they make no mistake, but drive the enemy' entirely from the field. The result, they have opened out a way to examine the enemy; a doztn miles farther, and they will see the infantry of his advanced guard, and know to a slight extent what he is doing. It-is as though they had torn a veil off a woman's face, or unmasked a villain. ' Hullo! I thought I heard some one say cavalry were of no use nowadays; well, perhaps, I was mistaken. In half a day, or less, our General-in-Chief will know all about the enemy that we can-find cout. That is to say, that he will be fully conversant with his movements at least twenty-four hours before he knows anything worth knowing about us.