THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 295, 16 December 1899, Page 4

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

CONBPIOUOUB BRAVELY T> v THE IMPERIAL Lllißi HORSE.

Lieutenant Clem Webb, o! the Imperial Light Horse, writing to a friend m Durban says ; — The battle of Elands Laagte was a I terrible one, and the slaughter too awful for the victory ; and yet it had to be won. Our men fought splendidly, and led most of the charges. The artillery shells burst within 10 yards of us all round, and yet some of our men had to sit on horses at attention under the fire for one hour. I saw some horrible sights, and yet one must expect these things. One Gordon got a shell right on the face, knocking his head olean ofi. We oharged up to the cannon mouth and took their guns, the Gordons using the bayonet. The Boers were very plucky — shouted for us to come on, and srood to the last. I saw Ben Viljoen badly wounded, and ( aptain Sohiel. 1 saw Koch and Fiennar both dead, and Dr. Coster with a bullet m his head. There tire heaps of the Johannesburg, Krugersdorp, and Boksburg officials dead and wounded, and other prisoners — flever&l Irish and English amongst them, even Jews. The Lancers made a charge into those who ran, and did some pig-sticking. Some went down on their knees ai.d praytd for meToy, and were let off ; others did this, and then shot at our men as they went away. One cur killed a Gordon officer who let him off. By Jove, some tine fellows were killed, and died bravely. The Britishers are not yet done, and the way they faced the fire makes me proud to be an Snglkbman. I asked Fchuurman, of Johannesburg, what be now thought of the JohannenbuTg white slaves, and he replied, " By — — , you're a bra^e lot of men." Be is a prisoner. Captain Schiel played 'he part of a man when badly wounded, refusing help unti our men had been attended to, ~i d ordering his crovd to discontinue shouting at our wounded. We killed and wounded all their officers. I cannot Bay 1 relieh shells and cannon shot— they souud very nasty. We expect another big fight this we^k. Thnutands of Free Staters, wih their artillery, ,are advaucirg this way. Our artillery shooting is very accurate, and the m*n splendid, bravf, and cheerful. We were right beside them for an hour One shell fell just a cuole of yar*s from me.