THE BOER WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12391, 28 June 1902, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

-■» — A SHORT HISTORY, THB SPION KOP piSASTKn. After what appeared quite n long tine of inaction, on Wednesday. January 10, 1300, an important movement v;as bcr.an. A iotoiul attompv was about to b; mat!* to relieve Ladysinith. Lord liuudmiakl, with tin; Cavalry Brigade, and .Majiir-gencnl l!arc,*witli t.'.ie Dublin Fueijeors, (.'onnauplil, Jbpaoiii, anc! Bmder Reijimiiiit, ina.-riicil in a noitli-HOitorly direction for bciiie 15 miles distant. Tim reads \m<\ ir, a terrible pliyht, and thi> i-ohiirji t'id not recch .Suriu«tli:!d uiuU January 1?.. Tim immediate oujc-eiive was l'otsriuU-r's I'rifi, on the River. v.liilivHii Cliarhs AYarrwi's column raove-d forward |o scizu 'l'riol.'.'ird's Drift further west. Warren's division crossed by a pontoon bridge thrown across tlio river by tlio Engineers. A battery n[ field artillery and somo howitzers' were :il?o iukeu across with Lyiteltou's force, and en Iho morning of January 17 tlio enemy's trenches were being thelk'd frcin u coimiiandins ]ior,ition just south of the river. T|io Boor.; \v»tn at first surprised, a;id otfcivil little or un opposition t» the. crcKinij of 111:; river, and thus permitted the British to gain an iniliiil advantage. I3ut the Beers hurried up in fcrco from ilio east, sr.d at oqce lifijtui to entrench themselves between where the British crossed the river and Ladysmitli. Bullet shifted liis headquarters to Spearman's I'/irm, hetv/ee.n Springfield and the 'JHige.la, leaving (idieral'BaKon in watch tlio enemy in then position at Colenso. Lord Dundonald pusiicil forward tho samo morning and onjajcj tlio eni'uiy with success at Acton Homes, c-i»lit miles north of Trichani's Drift uml about 16 milps west m Tjidysiuith. siiccrcafully cutting off the Boera from tlio parses wiv!v.ard into the Freo Stat*. 8o far good, and til* firitisb public wora hip,hly elated at the succc.-sfiil pwsago of the. Tugcla, and turning of tho Wnomy's right flank, at)d o.veryt'iiiiifi pointed l<i tlio speedy relief (if Sir Georfr White and his brave garrison. But in vmjv fare, a.* in many of tbo affairs of life, it i= tlip unexpected that liappwj), and _ iho r.> jojcitißs of the public \vr.s of raort utiraiion. Tlio key to Iho enemy's position wes V-pion Kop, tho, barricade that had to be f.-rcetl before li'-e road to I'ladysmilh rov.l'.l \w cleared. After sever.".! days of Eeouvgiiif; the enemy's lines with fhi'll fire and a vvesk ul lighting the .decisive day came. It vm tieoid«l to tal;o iSpiou Kop. advancinu vx t!ic night up to the steep shoulders of Tlwba Kmnnyama. The captyro of this difliculi position was eiiirusUxl to llajor-gwiera! "Woodipte. While ho meved upon the lioor ]e(t, Warren attempted to turn the enorny'r. right by seizing the ridges overlooking the Aeton Home.i rrad. The .-:ssaultbg column consisted of Tliorneyeroft's Jlountrd Infantry, tbe Lancashire Fusilecrs, one company of lh;> P.oyal Kn;;iuccrs, six companies of the Royal Laiieasliires. and two companies of the South Lancashire Regiment. Tbo night march began at 6 p.v.i., and with infinite toil the column pnnued iJ= devious way in the tliin rain and cMlly mistf until 5.40 a.m., covering some, six miles. The summit was almost reached when tho vanguard was challenged, and immediately fired upon. But tho Lancashire* charged, and carried the position at the point oi the bayonet with but little lo!.s. Tlir Brilisli spedily set to wort'to cntTencb the poriiiciii gained .'and to make it secure against any attempt at recapture. The sucto?r r,l the movement had been complete, aud i:i answer to the rifle five the batteries of WarTen's division shelled the neck of land connecting the northern with the southern spurn to check any attempt of the Boers to ?end reinforcement! across to attack Tlis-ba Dmunyann, while, from above Potijioler's tin , jiavsl'4.7m gims later on helped to guavd the sanie passe?. Daylight was tardy in makiuij its appearance, lmt as the mornint; l.cjnir. to lighten bants and wreaths of r-loiul ami :ni?!. clung; to the mountains. T!:o mi=t wiiieli'bad covered the. BrSisii advr.i:c;> liov: favoured the Boors, who opened a l-ol- fiiv al fhort range. Tlie erect of the-inwiiit.iin nin< in a £oufh-n-est north-east direciiou. aad fall • sharply away from, the summit to tlie north of a ridge broken by fv-o kopjes Msadins oqnidu-tant from the liorthcrn end of a plateau, some 700 yards in w'dt'i av.O threequarters of a. mile in length. One of the kopjej capped the exi.reinity of the ridgo on Iho. left of the captured 'trench. Riiht ahead of thn British firing line inside the ridge, v.liicli eufltidfd from the •enemy's left flank, tlie hill runs baek almost parallel with the fir.=( oi Iho two kopjes referred to. Tho Boer camps lay between the kloofs thus formed and (hero the Boers had a pom-nom fceurely hidden from the view of our gunners on Throe-trco Hill. A continuous ridge rises sharply up from Uie valley separating Spion Kop from t!in hill referred to. From the kloof belwoen the ridgn and the kopje, sijur of Spion Kop the eneniy had their camp and rear contra roas*ed, and could easily pour reinforcements aloiif; ilin Spion Kon ritlgfi on to tho end of the plateau still in their posstssion.* Tho casvern tide o', t'.ie mountain is fretted by precipitous rocky ledges, giving ideal cover to the Boers, v:!in were tlieroby or.aHcd, vliilo complefrfy ■ hidden from tho British jnnnors, to pour iu a destructive firs over the heads of their cqmrades. Through the gradually t!iinn::;s inist the Freo Staw marksmen crept, and from the fafe cover and of great rocks sniped our men, who had nejlccted to explore and occupy ihc wholn crest up tr> the northern nek. Tho Boers were crowding tho ri'X%e in thoußinds liy the time the mist rolled away, and were in a position to pour in a concentrated fire upon iho British battalions. Soon tlie raiilo of musketry grew into a continuous roar, ond our mon began to fall. Tho Boers continued to snipe at long nWKe from behind cover, end at 6 cm', they brought a big gun to bear upon the mountain. Tho Bosrs had few or no guns wiira the British reached Pctgiotor';:. but the. delay on our side bad given them timo to build forts, cut trenches, and draft guns over from Colenso and Ladrsmith. At a rparier to 9 o'clock, when the mist filially rolled away, tho battle begMi in risrlit 'camel, and the enemy's guns throw f-hcllp on io the captured position. Or.r side replied by bobarding the Boer eentrn and left with a crushing succession of fhrnpnol from tlio 15-poundorj, and lyddite from the howitzers. Throughout tho day. while tho tide of battle surged with uncertain flow, tho supreme interest In tlie battle- centred in Spion Kon, which Bnllcr had rightly judged to \k tho ley to the Boor position, ficnoral Schnlk Burger was in command of ihe Boer?, who opened a crashing artillery lire at a deadly range of under 3000 yards. Says an oyv ■witness: "For three hours and a-half. from 9 till 12.30. tbe-ir shells and Maxim bullets literally poured like rr.in amongrt our devoted band. Officers and -men suffered ab!;e. There was no cteans from that, deadly plateau. Men hardly dared to rai?o thoiv heads to return iho enemy's fire: or if they Oid, fell bad; the next moment to lie quiet for ever. Shells were exploding among them, maiming those who cjoawd death. No one, perhaps, will ever be abli> to ii-'l a continuous story of that terrible ihrpo liour3 and a-half." Beanet Burleictli says: "From 7 a.m. till ilusl; the battle had masy changes. Through it all our soldiers behaved like hqroe', with p. courage and dasl- that noiio could smpaw. Eained uron from iliren fides, a holliJi tornado of fire-, of bullet nnd shell, tliat jiieiped and shattered our soldiers by sroro=, again and acain they would run, 'charging forward, a> desperately in tlie far* of i!«.i;!i as ever did the ficree-1 of dervishr-. Thc-v were man and man upon their mettle, and it rang through and through, exquifile as truetempered uteel. Olory and honour (o them, who only needed leaders and direction! All that flesh and blood could do, and more, they accomplished." But, for rearons hitherto unexplained, the splendid courage and devotion of msn and officers achieved no driinito purpose. As fast ai (he men fell the ambulanco-bMi'ers endeavoured tn carry the wounded off tlin field, while (lip Boers fired indiscriminately upon the Red Cross flag and the bearers alike. Throughout that eventful day that cohesion, cooperation, and combination essential Io victory in any great battle were wanting on our side, although the Boer organisation was admirable, "From far and changing

ranges the enemy's cannon battered our iroops lying in. tho trench or among the rocks of Tliaba Kmunyaina. Hi., u> as they liko our gunners could not lira* the lositions taken up by tlio enemy's ,trui!ery. IVy searched ttii- ground tar and wr villi shell lire, shrapuol. percussion, <mti ', )s -;drv. The wily Boer, with hi* moiv, x.ukn cannon, long and piasjbly grvrfw «■► ill hiding, bail thing*, his own way. llij two or tliree Maxim-XordcnMdts wore I'.orUi n.l our six batteries, and more, when it camn to tho crucial sta;e of rapping adrnniin;; infamry. ferides offorinß wir gunncr» marl: nr indication of their where.ilwuts." About iO a.m. Ocnoral Wwidgalc Fell mortally wounded, and Colonel Uloni-i. fiiilf] n! tho Lancashire l'uiilwr?, tool; command. Tbi" situation was desperate, and Bloomfield at ouee. tent for vc-inforcrincnts together with relays of nminimilicn. Tlic wsnt of waler was being severely- felt. There- was none for tho brave fellows who vrera daring ileatli amid the hell that, raged wound, and ur.no for Via wounded, who lay who.ro they fell, The Lancashire Fiifilccrs. who hold the cuptuved traichcs, boro ilin brunt of the baitlo, and suffered most, although Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry alf.ii lost, he.avi'ly. G-radfUlly tho Boor-, cront up to retake (he position, and. rendered bold by the terrible loss they had inflicted, prepared to nisi) it. About' noon Major-General Coke was ordered to advance with ri'inforerimcuts, consisting of tho Middieses H eminent, l.he Dorseis. the Imperial Tiißht Infantry, and tlie Somersets. On ivarliinK tlin plateau the reinforcing troops found Miomsolves under so gulling'a ritle. ttre that io walk evert w> s imnowib'.e. mkl ihey hail to creep along ove-'ry inch of the firiutt' line. 11 is said the enemy had six Cw.imvls and Krupns, ami two p<nn-po:iv. iraie.wl on Spiou Kop alone, to we need nnt. marvel th.it tlie. position has been <lescrilwd as a Ocaili trap. Tho mm in the difl'creut. raiments became mixed up, and it was iinpcsfibln lo keep control amid tho confusion that rei|»nfd. /The day's carnage bad secured no further advantage, llian tlsat Rained bafow niorniiijt broke, and it, was evident, lafe in the afternoon ihat (he- position conlrl not bo held without artillery. Tho artillery officers considered it imuiT.etieabls to take the gun.) up. but the Nnvals —the "boys of the. bull-dog breed — vowed they could lake Iliriv lirayitr )?.• pounders up the slope. The seven piins of tho mountain ballovy wr-rn procw'dinfs to ?cale t.'iio bill, and the Navnls boned lo {"How with their 1?..y/.o™dcrr. Wit'.iowt flinching, our rat:) tarried on the unequal fisht until 6 p.m. V.aily in tbs forraoon the Third Baltaiion Kind's TJoyal Rifles were dr-pate'ied frnm Potgiclnr's to storm the two kopje- , formii:;; the northern extr-i»icn of Spioii Kop. in ■:rder to re'icw the (it the attack liy the enemy. Steadily the men advanced, urivinsf tho Bsevs before Iliosn and Tii'liins; line after line of the defence until the crests of the. kopjir were won. Hut the heights were not won without lor-s. C'oloiirl Ritldellwas kilWd and lOC nf hi; wen cither killed or wounded. Hcuncl llui'lcigU fiij's: ''The rani tire of the norihcin ?nnr?, had iliero Ik en Runs ol ours upon -Spion Kop, phould, mid I k'iievo would, have settled the liocr game and opened the mad wide to L.idyMiiith for (Jcnml Bulkr's nrmy." But owing to a deplorable blunder, which brs not as yet Wn Fatisf»elorily explained to the public, the bard-won vantage points were abandoned on tb? eve of victory. The mountain battery and a couple of naval 12-pounders were on' th" way up the. F'.ope, and would, without doubt, have been placed in position to open the rond to Ladyunith in the morning, wh:n the unexpected order camo for the men occupying iho plateau and nortlicrn slopes to retire. Shortly after ColonolTtidiMl fell Colonel Thorneycroft was appointed to the command of the column holding Spiou Kop. The kopjes mi (he northern slope were taken at 5 p.m., ji:d (lie order to rr.lirr came an hour later. AHlioiigh the public do nnt know exactly what happened, the retirement from Spion Kop apprors to have ke.n iinantlinrissd. Aftsr dmiiieM set in Winston Cliui'cliill found Thoruevcroft at the lop of the mountain, wtiinfj on the ground'surrounded by the remnants of the regiment he. bad raited, who had fonirhl for him like lions and followed him like doffs.'-' Thn war correspondent- explained lliat guns were on the way np tho slope, and parties of sapper.; and others were bringing .thousands of sandbags for rangars. l!nl top late. Thornoyeroft lia:l received no message- from the Oeneral, and thinking himeeif p.bandoncd had already given orders for the retirement. The evacuated position, which bad been taken at such s co;l, was rcoccupiotl by the cr.emy, wlio?e surprise was as great as that of our general? on finding tho Eoldier.? gone when day broke. Spion Knp was won and lost. Some of (he infantry who bad Fw.kd tho licißbts over tl;e prostrate forir.f of tlirir (Hd avid wounded comrades at first refused io obey (he order to retire, fo confident were Ihey of their ability to liaat back the Bum next moynms, ami it was only after the order had been thrice reiwaicd ihat they at kngili rnlnclant'iy olr.-cd. Biillcr. it' apyrurs, was ig:iorßiit of the \rit!idrav.'al from Snion Knp till linxt morning: and heard it for the firs; timo a.s he was ridiiur over to confer wilh Wanvn. Neittier did V.'arre'i know of tho movement until it had licsn carried out. file, feelings of tfie Tiritidi con<mr.nder may be : imagined better than described on leariiiu(t that all his elaborate pri-.-.rations had been in vain because of the blundcrius disr?gard of Fubordinalcr-, v.bo failed to interpret and carry out his orders. The whole miserable ftory-ilie concatenation of blunders that led io tho abandonment of Spion Kop in the hour when victory was in sight—has yet to be told, when tha many palpable blunders of the war will form the pubjeet of exhaustive inqnirv. OoncPrnin!; Spion Kon, V.'inston Churchill says: "ft u an event which the. Brifiili penjife mny regard with fcelinjs of tonal pride and' Ff.dne«. It redounds to the honour of the soldier.-, though nnt .crreatly lo ihat of the pennrals." 'flip total lopbcs on our side were 150 D, including 243 killed lwin (he Spion Rc.p Range alone. The bodies were buried in the trench, and the work the brave fellows had «o etublxniily defended bcpamo (heir prave. Commenting on ihc adair, Bcnnet Bur!ci.?li pays: "It was one of cir blunders that, there wove f.ir too loanv troops Fpnt io bold Riiion. Kon. Well entrenched, 500 m?n could hf.ve \M,\en all tlm lio-ls of t'ne Dorrs delianef." So convinced jvere the V.atvs ihat the ke.y to their position I'.ail been ialrcn that they had commenced to trek away, when (hey found, to tlioir surprise and delight, that Spion Kop bad been abandoned in the nitfit. The-ro vas nothing now left for Duller but to withdrew hit force- iicrops the Tngela. vhic'.i was accordinjh- don". BDI,I,KR.'>! THIRD ATTWrpr TO RKWFA'K LADYSMITII. IJuller's <i ? 'hting quality may best bo described by the term " defied." Thouyii ilismayod at the failure r.f the attack upon fipion I\op. be wa? not disheartened Jiu,ing tho 10 days that followed the Spion Koreverse, Oneral Dullor's force wriserronr-fh-enet by the nrrivnl of a battery of Hr.ive Artillery, two powerful siege nuns two rqnadror.s_ of (ho Ht|, Hit*™, and drafts for the mfjititrj- battalions amminlin? to 2-.GO men. "Thus," r-ays Wiv?lon Churchill, 'not onlv was the loss .if ,16(10 me n in the. five Jars- fijhfinp; round Spinn Kon made picrt, lint the nvmy was actually JflGO .stronger tl>an before its ropnl--e." 'I'he straits fo which the gallant jrarrison nf T,advMnilh were rednesd made'it imperative to pum the operations for their relief. The troops worn in splendid heart, and rcsdi' (o do anything they wore eall«;l upon | n - ihei,-offic-rs. A new ~la n fi r ~t . t inn | iai , ] jnfn ilcviscJ, and Hullcr was lo '.uporinlond the wlinle of the operations t'lis (hue, leaving iiothin-v to the chanees of divided command! The Iio"r p'ilion had been Ihormwly reecunoitered. and it wai known thai tho enemy were mn«i>d mainly in their centre ramp behind Kninn Kop. Willi a t-lcav knmvliH'.Ri; of Ihe T.oer position, 'Buller resolved to Tiiake a demonstration Jißivnsl: the Rrakfonicin jio=iticM. which (lie 15 WV5 l, n d torlified by fnnr tiers or trenches, wiib bombproof Citcmcnlj. barbed-wire entanglements, and a line cf redoubts. This de m om!ration was to lib made by Wynne's Brigade (formerly Woodynle's)! nippnrtrd by fix batteries of artillery, the Kowit'T Tlattery, and the two 4.7 naval i-utis. 'I'lv cobinin

tomoil by the por.foou hridqo at Potgictc.r's :«i t'lo 3rd ard 4th of I-'eirr.ary. A nutv )!>n*nnn bridge was thrown across the river i ini!o Mow, near which Cory's divicMii consisting o' Hart's lirigu'le ar.c! Hildyard's) i::d I.yttolffi'iN Brigade wore to mass. iVhcii tho bombardment hail been in pro*resr, (or o couple of I'ours these thren jrigades were to move eastward to Muuger's 3rift, '.lirov iver the river a pontoon bridge, wered by (lit , fire of one batten' of arti!cry withdrawn from tho clc-maisiralion and \)y the gum on Swarlkop. As soon as ;i>c jridgo was completed Lylleltr.ri's Brlgacfa ivas lo cross, :tr.d, ignoring llio fnv from ihe Boer loft, extend ulong ihiV Doom Kloof heiidils, to alt.uk the Vμ! Krantr. Nidge. This aUark was tn l:e covered on its right by the guns mi Swarlknp and the jlth Field Battery, while tho six artillery raUcries engaged in (lie. domon-lratini were lo withdraw one by on" at inteivals of 10 minutes, cross by the No. 2 pontr.nn bridge, and take up new positions i;ppo:-itc to thi' Vaal Kraiilx Ridge. If Vaal Krantz w.is '•aptur.-'l all six hatleric.« were to movo (cross N"o. 3 bridge and take up positions mi the hill to support the further advance nf Clery's division, which was to pivot en the left of Vaal Kranlz awl attack the Ifrakfonteiu position from its left. The Ist Cavalry Brigade were to cross the river, run the gauntlet nf Doom Kloof, and break nil on the plateau beyond Clcry'j Division. The .2nd Cavalry Brigade were to guard Iho right and rear o[ the attacking troops from any at lack by the enemy coiiiing from Doom Kloof. "iSuch was t lie plan, and it seemed lo all who heard it (rood and ?!enr. It gave scope (o ihe whole force, and denied to offer all the conditions for it [Ircishv trial of strength between the two jrmies." A few minutes past. 7 o'clock on Hie morning of the Sth the alUrk commeiu'cd, a< ordered, by the bombardment »f the Brukfontcin position. Tim B'icr gum replied, and an unsatisfactory artillery duel developed—so gnus, exposed in the open against siv or seven conc--a!?d and impossible to Hud. Wynne's Brigade advnmed lo within ]?.QCyds of the Rr.ikfontcin posilion, and re'.ired aflcr drawing Ihe enemy's heavy fire. TII3 Kngimers had loiitlnicicil il-.nir Ihinl pnntiu.o bridge tinder a sharp lire from lioor skirnii-hers and a Maxim. I'l'.o sis lialleric toiik up poiilinnn ivilh Ihe Howil.iriv opposile Va;il KraiU:, Mid replied lo tin. liner i-uns, which had iipene.i! from lloprn l\lonf and nnr extreme right. Af midday the Hurliam liijht Infantry crossed the third pnnlnr.ns bridge, and advanced quickly Id assault Vaal fvr.intz, which they rvoiiinally carried at Ihe point nf Ihe bayonet with the lor* o( Rovca oflieers and between 60 and 70 men. Ky r.ijilitfall the whole of l.ytlelton's Brigade lir.d (iceupied Vaal Ki-antz, and were busy entrenching themselves. So far part nf Ihiller's plan had succeeded. "During the. night the brigade constructed sh?lt?v< ami traverse- of stones, and secured uf the hill. But it was now reported thnt Held guns could not lie Inken up the hill l>rcr.u?p. it was to<rster;i .-rid rocky, notiviflistaiidiii!; Hip nnwi/lrouv discovery that l!ie Boers bad ('ragged a caup'.e of heavy C'reibol puns lo Ihe top nf Doom Klonfa much higher hill. l)nrinj» ihe next day I'ic Boers rnntiiuied In bombard Ihe captured ridge, and al. (ho came time niainlaineil a liarafjing long-ranje rifle fire. The infantry of Lytlelton's Brigade endured Ihe galling cross fire throughfii'.l Ihe day' with unflinching pnurn.%e, ill sjiite c.f severe losses. At. about *• o'clock in the afternoon the Boers madr a sudden attack upon the hill, creeping to within short rn'ige and opening a cpiiek lire. For a brief space the position was in •laisßor. Tin- pickoio at t!ie western end v.vre driven in. and it appeared a? if the bill wou'.d l>o relaien by the Boerf. Bui General Lyttelton ordered half n battalion of the Dublin 'Light Infantry, supported by the. King's Knynl Rifles, to clear Ihe hill. Hieing from their she'.tro. Ihesr jplciidid trooi).', witii a rousing cheer, swept Ihe Uoera back'.vard at the point of the bayonet. Meanwhile a new pontoon bridge \vai thrown over the. Tuqe.la Uivcr imrac(iiatelv umirr the. Van! fCra;i(7, ridge. Al niKhlfa'.l Hildynrd'ii Brigade inarehedi aero'Ihe new bridge, and relieved men. who returned to a bivouac underneath tho Swart/, Hop guns. Their los.-es in thr two days' action had been ?.25 officers and men. Hildynrcl sprnt the uig-it in c>(r«ng(hening the position, and at midnight 'tho lioers made a fresh effort to regain the position; but tho attack was ensily repulsed. All next, (hy Ilildyard'.s men"were exposed to severe fliell fire, bul the excellent shelter (hey had constructed in the night reduced the casualties to a minimum. The development of the attack upon till'. Boer position lind by this time revealed the fact that it was virtually iinprcgHahlf! with the force Bnllrr had at'his rnimnnnd. I'itlßP rr.ee brfiiml and as fast, a< I hey were forced to abandon one line ol defcneo the Boers lir.d ano'her all ready tc fall buck UKii. Our arlillory ceiild' nnl be bmiight lo hpr.r. and the Wrnultiiig ol llio T'.oer .Tcond line of defniee would have to fall upon tho infantry, unsupported by erfillevy. It. was estimated, tbnt the Boer army opposed to Bugler W5.5 a!- !oa-:t fironß. while Bullei's total foiw imnil)ored 22.000. According to Continental opinion, a force ,-it least, ibrec times ;i< :,trnnj; ,is tii.it to be ntt.io!:e(l h indispen. sr.'ole to turn an entrenched position; and, hciiric?, ll\e disposition of (he Beer force, on cayofully-c.lir.sen ground, was such (hat sri'.cnevrr n flank a(la«k was nttcmnlcd l-bej ivcve'eiuUlcd to change front and oppn.ic their v.lioln dt-fenee to our sectional attack, Although Buller had promised his 111011 r<; lead them iivlo Ladyemitb within a week's lirae, after ihree days' ineffeclual figlitin" he resolved for the third lime lo withdraw. Orders were issued for the geneva! retirement on (he iii?ht of February 7, and Uj 10 n'dor'c on (lie iith the movement was in full oprralimi. Alfhougli (ho ohjeri aimed al was not ntbined. it must, not be i'nacined that all tlw fighting was useless, or (hat t!i" Briti.'li lives Inst were bit in rain. The B.iers bad suffered 'cvrrely, nnd the moral effect of (he British bayonel charges wo.s Ircmendons. Securely r.seoncrd behind liieir shell-proof shelters, ihe N«erf made a sfiilibnvn and co:npar?!ive,!v wfe defoneo; hut wild liorse3 v.ouid nol drae them oul into the open to nttnek Ihe if. living British. Oh. for a moment of mnd ness lo lure (he Boers into open! One wild liayimel'charjiCii brief grapple willi the foe, arid all would b;< over. But thr wily Boer valued his skin ino mue'i to try the teinper of British steel, or meet, thin vcigcanm of British troops in fair and op«r fight. The third a!tempt lo relieve Todvsmith had failed, nnd Ihe British public felt, the grief nf humiliation. But the brave fellows mulrr General Buller were not- disheartened. Though ordered thrice Ir, retire, they had nol tasted the billcrness ol defeat. Victory. I'icy felt, certain, lay within their rn.-ch if only p. fitting opportunity were given I hem. Butler's reverses caused nnpry muiterings of di-'avmointment at Home, bul the determined British lender wns i:or flo'vnc.vt. Hie task was difficult, liiii be firmly believed lie could ycf nceninplish it. A' d-.fli to T/idysmith wilh his whole force mirchl have l-.een pos-ible. but the defence of Southern Nalal wa= epiite as much a duty that devolved upon him ns thr relief of La'dvsmitii. Buller determined to mnlce a final effort io relieve the be UiiiftHwed gnrriion a= soop i\i his force Ira' rested and time enough had el.ipsed to nn!.-e e/nnd Ihe losses in Die various Imincli'-s ol (lie. service.