THE MODDER RIVER BATTLE.

Otago Witness, 25 January 1900, Page 47

THE MODDER RIVER BATTLE.

A NEW ZEALAND EK'S DESCRIPTION. (FROM OUR SPECIAL WAR CORRESPONDENT.) Modeler River, December 13. Mr W. F. Faills, who was formerly a sta-tion-holder at Otaki, North Island, New Zealand, who was present at the battle of Modder River, forwards me the following : — The terrible battle at Modder River was my first experience in real warfare. Shall I forget those awful 16 hours spent in what is universally acknowledged as one of the fiercest fights in the annals of South African history. As usual, the Boers were strongly entrenched on a kopje overlooking the pretty little township. With the help of glasses one could see the Boers like ants scattered over the strong face, and here and there could be seen cannon carefully concealed. General Lord Methuen's intentions the night before had been to send the Naval Brigade, with a suitable gun escort, to the self-same position, with orders to entrench ihemselves, while the main column moved on to Jacobsdal, and the night had been passed with light hearts by all, no one dreaming that nearly 300 out of the 9000 in camp would soon have crossed the great divide. When the day broke of November 28 it was found that the enemy had with marvellous celerity occupied the position. To one, as myself, new to such things the feeling cannot be described. As the grey light of dawn gradual h crept upon us we could see the Modder linn 1 slowly become more and more distiii* 1 . 'J'.ie plains in the foreground, with the litt]p white houses at the base of the kopje, -fonied to light up, and as we silently watched tin* fct-eiii' the orders rang out sharp and clear for an advance. The Guards Brigade de-

ployed to the right, and marched along the deep river, taking the left, on their left being Remington's Scouts, one company of mounted infantry, and a detachment of New South Wales Lancers, the balance of the mounted infantry being with the 9th Lancers on our right, v/hile scattered between the different enfilades could be seen the 18lh and 751h Batteries and naval guns. Slowly the columns advanced toward the village. Excitement was intense. No one knew the minute when we might be under fire. Any moment a shell might be expected. At last the terrible tension was relieved. At 6.30 our artillery opened fire, which the enemy shortly returned with interest. Their artillery mainly consists of the well-known German bronze guns, though they have Maxim and other patterns. At 10 o'clock the infantry were still marching towards the village, the big guns stopping to reply to the cannon of the enemy. The Scots Guards were slightly in advance; blissfully unconscious of danger in the proximity, when suddenly they almost stumbled into some hidden rifle pits, which, contrary to their usual tactics, the Boers with fiendish cunning had resorted to, letting our men come lo within 100 yards before opening up .fire. To this, day it is looked on as a miracle how so many escaped. The Scots and others retired precipitately on whatever shelter could be found. Then commenced that terrible fusillade which continued until nightfall. It is impossible to describe those thousands of rifles being discharged in one long rattle. Until 2.30 there was not a break. For 15 short minutes there was a lull, the big guns only replying. But from 2.45 until sundown there was hardly a break. The Boeis had 19 guns, including Maxims, but they did not thrill one so much as the dull boom of the Maxim-Nordenfeldts, which seem to grate on one's feelings terribly. When night closed in upon us everyone felt dead to the world, and thoroughly tired out, many bivouacking close to where they had been all day, and I think one and all fell asleep almost immediately. When morningcame it was found the Boers, much to everyone's relief, had thought better of it, and vacated the position, retreating to Jacobsdal, a few going to Langberg. General Colville escaped miraculously. Under cover of the scathing fire from ihe rifle pits, the Boers succeeded in bringing lo bear a field gun, which they dexterously brought into dangerous proximity to a group of officers, including General Colville, Colonel Paget, and others. Contrary to the usual custom of Boer shells, this one burst, wounding four men, and killing Colonel Pagefs horse. The Boers were generalled by three of their best generals — Cronje, De la Ruf, and Keeling. They never lost a point, displaying ability which few people give them credit for. The rifle pits which they used were contrary to all Boerish tenets. The whole way they utilised the heavy timber on the river front, the skill with which the houses were utilised, all goes to show they are perfectly civilised in warfare at any rate. Had it not been for the splendid work done by our artillery, the account of November 28, 1899, might have been very different. The fearful hail of bullets from the rifle pits in front and the crossfire from the kopjes made it impossible to break cover. Lord Methuen, who sustained a bullet wound in the thigh himself, was heard to say that it was the finest he had ever witnessed. Apart from, the continuous fusillade of the rifles, the artillery fired off 4400 rounds to the 22 guns, the deadly effect of which was only realised on the following morning. The rifle pits were full of bloodstained garments. The ghastly effect of a shell bursting into a body of men must be seen to be realised. In one spot we counted 16 Boers, every one of whom was lacerated beyond recognition. Some of the dead seemed to have been boys hardly in their teens, while others would have been eligible in our country beyond the seas for the old - age pension. Ladies' articles of apparel were liberally strewn among the trenches, giving rise to many unehivalrous remarks about these worthy amazons, but I* think in reality they mostly belonged to brave nurses, who had been succouring the wounded. It was officially reported that the English losses in killed and wounded were 471.. Of these, I am certain 200 must have fallen while- seeking shelter in the first surprise, the mirace being that thousands instead of hundreds were not shot. ■ The Modder presented a very different appearance on the second day, choked with men and horses, the trees fringing the banks smashed and broken, while the picturesque little houses were turned into so many burnt or shapeless ruins. Rostall's store collapsed the following day, while we were looking at it, and wondering how it could have escaped at all. Dead horses were to be seen everywhere. Some we had to put out of their pain. One old grey I remember particularly. Both his hind leprs were broken at the fetlock, and the tears rolled down from his eyes, as the poor old fellow lay quietly waiting the end. Some had got entangled in masses of barbed wire, and it was the work of ages to free them, as the barbs penetrated deeper and deeper. One of the colonials helped in a plucky attempt to turn the enemy's flank. Captain S. Selheim. of the Queensland Permanent Force, together with Colonel Codringbam and Captain Fieldipg, of tbe Coldstream, with about 20 men, forded the river under a perfect hail of bullets, and when they succeeded in climbing the far bank a Hotchkiss was also turned on them. Unfortunately, they were not backed up, so very little good was done. The Aroryles and North nmberlands, on the other flank, met with better success, about 300 of them succeeding' in turning the enemy's flank; but they could not take the trenches. We saw a party of 20 Scots rush p house from which our men had been greatly harassed. With bayonets fixed and a grim, determined look on their faces, they rushed and entered the house. Eighteen Scots came back alive, and the following day showed us why the Boeis fired no more from that house. Boers are credited with not liking cold steel, and I don't blame them. Long before this mail will have reached New Zealand other battles will have been fought and won, but the battle of the Modder River shows once and for all that our officers and men are ns brave as ever they were, and that instead of weakening as a nation the old mother country, with her colonies to back up, is if any thine better in every respect than she has been in days gone by.