WITH THE ENEMY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9735, 25 May 1897, Page 3

WITH THE ENEMY.

The enemy consisted of the Rangiora Rifles, the Kaiapoi Rifles, and the Engineers, under the command of Captain Helmore. The two first-named Companies had an invigorating march in the keen frosty morning, and reached White's bridge a few minutes after the Engineers. Their full strength was seventy - eight, and they included a, small contingent mounted on bicycles, and another on similar machines as an ambulance Corps. A consultation of the officers took place during a short halt, and the best* disposition of the handful of men was decided upon. The most reasonable chance of success was by a route along the railway line, under the cover of the fir and other trees, which formed a thiok plantation. The Rangiora Rifles, under Lieutenant d'Auvergne, were reserved for this duty. The Kaiapoi Rifles, under Captain Miller, were despatched to the left, in the direction of Stewart's gully, to draw the attack that way, or possibly, from the colour of their uniform making them less conspicuous among the grey vegetation of the country, to outflank the defenders and come up. in their rear.-" The Engineers, under Lieutenant Anderson, were ' given charge of the bridge and-the main road, and the Bicycle Corps, with additions from the Rangiora Rifles, proceeded, under Sergeant-Major Purvis, to dislodge the scouts of the Mounted Rifles, who were jpepprted in the vicinity. The Sergeant-Major's troTtibles came," early. After advancing some distance he met the left flank of- the City Rifles, and in avoiding this went along the bank nearly as far as the old ford to find himself confronted by the N Battery. His further advance was here stopped and he fell back to a safe position, where he awaited the cessation of hostilities. The Engineers were also unable to do more than hold the position they had taken up. They advanced from the bridge on the right flank and early found an impenetrable opposition in the City Rifles, who held a strong position, from which all the efforts of the Engineers failed to dislodge them. Any success could now only come from the centre or the left flank. The Kaiapoi Rifles formed this flank, and they soon became engaged with the Navals on the railway line. Captain Miller made a good feigned attack along the line, and as the Rangiora' Corps appeared in support suddenly withdrew his men. He doubled them more to theJeffc, and meeting with no opposition coolly marched into Belfast, and apparently won the coveted honour of taking Christchurch. The Rangiora Rifles engaged the Navals_ along the railway line, extended themselves as their numbers woul<| allow, and slowly drove the defenders back. They gradually improved their position, hadadvanced well on to the railway station and were preparing to attack and silence a detachment of artillery, which had been sent forward to repel them, when the bugle sounded the cease firing. WITH THE DEFENDERS. The corps deputed to save the city from the attack anticipated from the north, proceeded by road and rail to the rendezvous at Chaney's, which will be memorable for many years to come on account of the bloodless battle fought there during the record year of her most gracious Majesty's reign; The part which travelled by road were the E Battery, with two guns, and the Mounted Rifles, and so sharp and penetrating was the atmosphere between the hours of 6 and 8 a.m. that the first opportunity of enjoying a warm mixture was accepted just as readily as the order later on to engage the enemy was promptly obeyed. The Navals, N Battery, City Rifles, College and Guards entrained at Christchurch, and at 7.35 a.m. punctually were on their way to prevent the commercial centre of Canterbury from falling into the hands'of the undesirable visitors, whose whereabouts were somewhere between the rivers Waimakariri and Styx. The. men troubled little about anything except whilingaway the timeorkeeping themselves wariu, , but the officers began to feel some anxiety as the transport train lingered at the etfttioua en route. However, the destination was reached before* the enemy had ir.a<lo any serious advance, and Lieut.-Colonel "Francis, who was in command, at once disposed his forces, which numbered 275 all told. The left was put .under Captain Hobday, and the right under Captain Bay. The N Battery were disposed to the extreme left as far as the ■ old ford, • an immediate approach to Belfast, and to the right of them were the City Rifles extending along the bank to the main road, close to White's bridge, and touching the jNavals,, who occupied either ! bank of the railway line and the plantation. The Mounted/Rifles were in reserve at Chaney's and the left of the railway, ready to proceed one way or another as circumstances required. r £he College Rifles were I on the right of the railway fine, occupying I the road to Spencer's bridge. Tb'e City Guards were extended about half a I mile in the direction of Spencer's ! bridge, with the Navals immediately on' their left. The E battery, with" their guns, were.'posted at the junction of the North road, Spencer's road and the road to the river, from which position they could be easily and rapidly moved. These disposi* tions were hardly"completed when information arrived of the approach of the enemy, and the Navals engaged with the advance of the Kaiapoi, .whose firing was quickly eilenced and the blue jackets , awaited another attack, which came from the Rangiora Rifles. A concentrated attack along the railway line was anticipated ■ by Xieut.-Colonel Francis, and he placed a strong force there, which, with the characteristics of the British tar, refused to allow their attention to be diverted by- feigned aesaulte. The Navels vigorously applied themselves to the demolition of the enemy when it individually left the friendly shelter of a pinus insignis or a Scotch fir, though at times they fired a volley, which was only a waste of ammunition. Their work was hardly effective enough to wipe out their opponents, but it l km c«a>Bl«ttd Iff a gun of the b»fctear.

which covered their retreat. During this I time the ICaiapoi were reported to have got through between the Navals and the Guards, who were thrown out on the extreme right. : One of the guns was immediately despatched to a position betweeu the river and Spencer's bridge, and gave the Kaiapoi a parting shot as they disappeared in the distance. The other gun commanded the road to Spencer's bridge, and also fired a couple of shots apparently at the same object. The College, and Mounted Rifles proceeded to the front, and checked any advance by the main body of the enemy, but the Guards on the extreme right had little to do with the main action. The City Rifles held a strong position between the N Battery and the Navals, and successfully repulsed the attack of the enemy-along the North road. 3.'he first shot was fired about five minutes to nine, and ' cease firing" sounded at ten minutes to ten, when the battle of Chaney's terminated in favour of the defenders. This was the decision of the umpires, Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon and Major Slater, who were of the opinion that the Kaiapoi Rifles were defeated before making tho entry towards Belfast.