TOMMY ATKINS IN INDIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4259, 19 January 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOMMY ATKINS IN INDIA.

AK AMUSING ADVENTURE WITH D AUDITS. The many reports that have reached Lord Roberts of the ‘‘surrounding’’ of Do Wet, must recall to his mind the long hunt which ensued ore Boshway, the famous D:\coit- chief,- was run to earth. For nearly two years the daring Boh played “hide and seek” with the Expeditionary Army, effecting escapes that were nothing loss than miraculous. Three times wo ‘‘entirely surrounded him,” rushed his camp, and took a few worn out Da-colts prisoners, but the elusive Boshway was non e»t; and while we wore cursing our ill-luck, he was_improving the shining hour on our “right flank rear” by helping himself to our supplies. At last we began to regard him as an altogether mythical personage, especially as a learned sergeant of my regiment, la thee sophist , explained' to ns that the mom out we got near him ho “precipitated himself”—whatever that might mean; while a South Wales Borderer “rather though ho was a- man of tho .mist,” which wretched pun earned him a corner cot in hospital. As there ; s an end to every I lung—even lo a Boer Wai—so there was an end lo the Bosh way hunt, and it came about as follows. A loyal Phoongyc brought news of Boshway’s whereabouts, so our mounted men sob out, and after a- march of 52 miles through a denso jungle, covered in 14 hours, the wandering Boh was brought to bay -and slain. It was during these manoeuvres that a most amusing incident occurred to a party of my regiment. A party of Dacoits had taken up a position with their right ’ resting on the left bank of the Irrawadi, the front being strengthened by sangars. Two companies of ours and two companies of a Native regiment wore detailed to assault the position • to us were assigned the frontal attack, while the natives were to threaten the enemy’s left flank_ by making a long dotour in that direction. Everything had been timed to a nicety ; we. advanced to a. nullah about 1200 yards from the position, and were ordered to lie down until the flank attack had developed. The Dacoits kept up an innocuous fife, but as they were behind the aforesaid stone walls, wo kept our powder dry, intending to do the ’business with the bayonet. “Man proposes, etc.,” but in this instance the disposition came from another 'and quite unexpected quarter. About a mile in rear of the nullah a number of Commissariat elephants had been parked, and. unfortunately,, three “must” elephants managed to got among them.

Now an elephant in tins state is the most dangerous and ferocious animal on aarth, consequently a terrific stampede ensued. Fifteen gigantic ricocliotfcing mountains of flesh came dashing down on us, with trunks poised in air and' trumpeting like an Army Corps of Gabriels. To stay in our position meant that a number of us would be crushed to death. AVc dare, not shoot them down as they were Government property; to advance before the flank vrae developed meant heavy loss, as the enemy had a clear fire-swept zone. , Our captain took in the situation at a glance, and, almost before the order ‘'advance” was given, wo wore making for the enemy at rather hotter than “Sheffield Handicap” rates. It was a case of “the foe in front and the hathia behind.”

As wo scudded across the fire-swept zone, I heard the tlieoaophist sergeant jerk out Something about the “horns of a dilemma,” which I interpreted to mean, “lie would see the Deceits further before he would fall between the tusks of the elephants.” .Not daring to look behind, expecting to feel the “little finger” of the leading elephant's trunk sampling the bank of my neck, I, with the rest, tumbled pell-mell into the position. never heeding whether 'there. wore a thousand Dacoits within or not. Fortunately, they, like the elephants fled long before we got to the position., only to come across the natives who gave them a good gruelling. When wo had recovered breath and counted up our casualties,' v, c found that ivc had only five wounded, which was rather cheap.

This'episode, as may be readily imagined, formed a theme of _ amusement among ourselves; but when it got noised abroad among other corps who embroidered it iru a most fantastic manner —well, it was not quite acceptable. The most "widely circulated story of the affair was; that w f e refused to assault the position. and the commanding officer was, therefore obliged to let loose three “must” elephants in our rear to make us face the foe.

A few months later, when wo sent a runner down to -Mandalay to compete in the “Burmah Mile," he was greeted on the course with, “Why didn’t you bring your trainers down?” “Go it, hatffii-wallah (elephant driver)!’ “Who won the elephant Stakes r"’ and other personal reminders of the race where the elephants came in second.—G. T. O. Coone, in “Weekly Telegraph."