THE BATTLE OF HOMEBUSH.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12177, 25 April 1905, Page 10

THE BATTLE OF HOMEBUSH.

WITH THE ATTACKERS. The camp at Sheffield was early astir on Saturday morning. About eight o'clock the different units were marched out to tho positions allotted them, the general scheme of most of the positions being the same as those taken up tho previous day. Major Chaffey again did excellent work, patrolling tho roads, a small party of the Amuri Mounted Rifles getting into touch with the enemy near Darfield. Captain Johnston did his work in a very daring; manner, and the scouting by his men was excellent, full advantage being taken of all cover. Tho Lyttelton Navals wero located on tho Waddington road, near the Railway Station, with the object of utilising tho approach and defending any chance the enemy might have in that direction. The Cyclists, under Lieutenant Commander Finnis covered tho wholo of th© roads with the mounted men. A post of observation was fixed at the top point of th© hill abovo the rifle rang© at Waddinpton, the face of the hill below it being turned into a fino defensive position by means of entrenchments cut by the Engineers. A gun of E Battery was well placed her© with the object of defending tho road and repelling any attack th© artillery on tho other side might make. Lieutenant Edinger (Engineers) threw out a chain of outposts along th© Wadding-ton-Horaebush road, and these wore charged with tho observations of th© paddocks and roads in front of them. Along the various roads leading from Darfield to Sheffield and Homebush patrols of both sides were stationed, th© shots telling that they had again and again com© into conflict. Soon Captain Johnston mad© another dash, and this time captured a baggag© convoy. . By two o'clock th© battle wnu raging with great force on all sides, an especially strong development taking place in th© corner of the WaimakaririWaddington roads, near th© Waddington railway station. This was held by the Lyttelton Navals and Naval Cadets, under Lieutenants Foster and Wardlo, who had with them a Maxim, as well as about sixty men. Th© Cyclists, under Lieutenant-Commander Finnis, put in wonderful work, not only bringing in reports, but fighting tho enemy themselves. They mad© ideal scouts, and were magnificently handled by Lieutenant Finnjs. Parties of mounted men were reported as advancing, and as soon as they showed on the sky-line, th© Maxim was brought to bear on them, and as it was sighted up to 2500 yards, there was no doubt of its efficiency. An equivalent of 4500 shots were fired at ono party, and the umpire decided to put them out of action. The Maxim was swung again and again from point to point of th© rond. keeping it well covered. In the meantime the central position had been attacked, but the assault was rather. weak, as tho enemy did not approach within 800 yards. The mounted men had again come into contact with the enemy, nnd this timo Captain Johnston nearly lost his galloping Maxim, saving it only by the narrowest of squeaks. A party of infantry who had come up under cover, suddenly rose up, and attacked the Maxim section, and if it had been actual warfare it would have meant the loss of several men. Th© Engineers, who took up thoir position of the previous day, had laid electric *wires, and field telegraphs with telephones connecting the different stations. Tho artillery of tho enemy was brought into action, hut a little later was within range, and was ordered out. The fight finished about 3.30, the southern men marching up to th© camp at Sheffield, whore their tents were pitched! Thus ended tlie great battle of Homebush. Th© fight was tbe greate&t tactical lesson which has yet been given in New Zealand.