A GALLANT CHARGE.

Evening Star, Issue 11684, 17 February 1902, Page 7

A GALLANT CHARGE.

Tlie ‘Central News ’ coiTespor<deiit, writing fiom Pretoria on 22nd November, gives an account of the fine work done by Kitcherur’s Fighting Scouts in their pursuit. of Be Wet:

On the morning of Thursday, 14th (November, boot and saddle was ordered at 4.50, when the whole column was marching shortly afterwards heading for Heilbron with an ugly kopje country between. Tins was the Boers’ chance, and, as it subsequently turned out, they meant to make the most of it, for De Wet himself had swung back with the whole of his commurdo, winch he placed in picked positions, to make a bold attempt to rescue the prisoner,-, and recapture the cattle. As the column marched along the left flank was mercilessly sniped from every rocky ridge, and as the snipers appeared to he. in considerable force the colonel at last decided: to dislodge them, and ordered M squadron, under Lieutenant Hughes, in the absence of Captain Stanton, already in hospital, to advance on the left flank of a rocky kopje, which the Boers were holding in force, Midi engage them, while G squadron, under Captain Hutchinson, went round to the right to try to cut them off. . The two squadrons, swinging off at a brisk trot, soon disappeared behind the folds of the ground, keeping out of sight, in order to surprise tho enemy suddenly at short range, whilst the pom-pom moved slowly up to a position from which it could cover the advance) of the attackers, and possibly dislodge the snipers in the rocks, and make them show themselves. Presently M squadron, about fifty strong, showed on the ridge approaching the ci nniy’s position, and commenced! to advance. Soon the clip-clap of the Mausers among tho rocks was heard, and a moment later about thirty Boers were seen to dart suddenly out of cover aud gallop off, with Lieutenant Hughes and his men in full cry. They had hardly reached the top of tho ridge over which the enemy had retired, wbeci a murderous fire was opened on them from thirty to forty yard’s range by 300 Boers who were lying waiting for them, and for a moment the squadron wavered with the shock. Lieutenant Hughes gave the order to retire, but almost at the some moment as the retirement commenced G squadron, about sixty strors;, were seen swooping down from the right towards the rocks which the Boers had left; aud now occurred one of those things which have on more tlum one occasion made the name of Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts, and drawn from the “Iron Man ” himself those congratulatory telegrams to Colonel Wilson, hia officers and men, of which the regiment is so justly proud'. On seeing M squadron in trouble, and in the face of a hail of bullets from 500 rifles, Captaiu Hutchinson gave the order; “G squadroi\ right wheel into line! Gallop ! Charge!” It is the practice of some of the military experts and critics who stop at home to suggest that the irregular corps are not efficient in war because they are not so perfectly drilled as the regulars, but if these experts and critics could have seen this squadron from Ehodesia swing into position, aud, with their rifles in their hands arid, their spurs driven

home, dash headlong for the enemy, who outnumbered them five to one, and were laying waiting to receive their charge, they would have acknowledged that nothing could have been finer or more superb. Without a moment's hesitation they repeated their captain’s orders “ Charge! dashed forward up the rising ground, nothing c’jauntcd by the fire from the hidden foe, and all eager to get to close quarters. On seeing G squadron coming on his right, Lieuterymt Hughes gave his men orders to return to the attack, and at once, with Lieutenants Smith and. Allsop and a few men, resumed the offensive, and opened fire to support the advancing squadroi\ In this action Lieutenant Hughes lost his life. He, with his two lieutenants. Smith and Allsopp, and six men around them, were found on the ground, c/ead and wounded. Meanwhile the fire Had bean fast and furious on the right, and Lieutenant Prince Badziwfll, at the head of his troop, fell wounded through the stomach, in the head, and the hand, with his corporal by his side. , Many horses fell, but the “ Galloping G's” pressed on, shouting as they went, ard charged right up to De Wet and his men, who stood firm until the Scouts were within twentyfive yards of them, and then bolted .n every direction for the nearest cover, leaving their dead and wounded behind, many of them dropping their rifles in their hurry to escape. .It was now the Scouts’ turn to use their rides, and jumping from their horses, I hey let the retreating Boer., have it right and left, pausing only to reload' when the magazine was empty, and many horses and riders were seen to fall. But the fight was not yet over, for as the other squadrons and gunp came up to take positions they were subjected to a heavy cross fire from the left, where Lieutenant Hughes and bis men bad fallen, and it was here that Colonel Wilson had his horse shot under him From the same point figures conic' be seen occasionally standing by the dead men’s horses am bencing over the wounded. It was a delicti to position for the colonel, who had to decide whether the men were the survivors of Lieutenant Hughes s party; and one of those dilemmas arose which have so oft?n puzzled us in tliw war with smokeless powder. Were the men Boers or Britons? As Colotol Wilson was inquiring and hesitating whether to fire or not, Lieutenant Cunlilfe Lislei volunteered to gallop over to_ the spot, expose himself, and draw the live if they were Boers, and assist the wounded, ’1 British. Obtaining the. necessary consent of the colonel, he mounted his horse and galloped off, all eyes of the staff’ fixed on his plucky work. As he reached the top of the ridge lie came up to Lieutenant Smith, who was iyii g on the ground, badly wounded, and who shouted to h:in not to uo on, au the Boers were waitinjr over the ridge, stripping the dead and wounded. This would have been cnougii fir most men, but Lieutenant Lister was anxious to locate the hidden enemy, am meant to do so. He galloped on, until presently lie was brought to a halt by a volley directed at him at close range, and, firing his rifle into the face of the nearest Boer, he wheeled bis- horse round and galloped back, a race for life, diawing fire enough to satisfy the most greeny, and luckilv escapii g without a sera to a. His plackv action ha-s been mentioned to Lord Kitchener. The moment the tme stale of affairs was known the pom-pom was directed on the Boers, who shortly after vacated the position, joined their friends who had already given way: arc! so ended De Wet’s attack on the 2nd Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts.