The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1881.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2034, 30 March 1881, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1881.

The full account of tbe battle of Langenek, m which Sir George Colley was killed, and a British detachment suffered grievous loss, is now to hand, written by a correspondent of the Cape Times. It would seem tbat tbe advance made by General Colley with six companies from the camp at the Ingogo was for tbe purpose of seizing a strong position, which m a measure dominated tbe Boers' fortified camp aud laager at tbe Nek, with the view, on tbe advent of reinforcements, of attacking tbat position and driving tbe enemy from it. At the outset tbe plans of the General Beem to Lave been well matured and successfully carried out. A position, so strong naturally that the Boers did not think it worth while to take any precautions against its seizure, was occupied by our forces at early dawn of tbe 27th February. To reach it, great natural obstacles had to bo overcome, the country travelled over being cut up into deep dongas, and so covered with large boulders that tbe soldiery had to march m single file, which state of formation had to be : kept up tbe steep hill side which led to the crest to be occupied. The Boers were evidently taken by surprise at finding their enemies within gunshot of their camp, and on ground not to be reached m their opinion except m broad daylight. Their surprise, however, did not last long, for as early as 5 a.m. they commenced tbe figbt. Colley's position being well chosen m affording ample shelter to sbai'psbootcrs, it was supposed tbat the Boers suffered heavier loss than tbe British m tbe earlier stages of tbe battle. But be that as it may, desultory rille firing from opposing forces more or less sheltered by scrub, and by inequalities of tbe ground, is never of much account, aud the actual loss of life m this description of warfare is comparatively trifling, excepting where one side can bring an enormously preponderating force to bear. It was to verify this exception and bring a vast augmentation of rifles into tho field tbat the Boers probably allowed seven hours to pass before attempting anything decisive. Their main camp was only distant some three thousand yards, and from it, and from the surrounding country they quietly gathered m the reinforcements which turned completely tbe tide of battle against the weak English force. Wo pointed out when tho news first came of the disastrous battle of Langenek tbat probably a great military blunder had been made by General Colley — that it wag nothing short of

madness to make an offensive movement i through the heart of an enemy's country with such a miserably smull force as sis ; companies. The account of the affair : shows that this is exactly what took place. Had the position which, virtually commanded the Dutchmen's camp been held by fourfold the force than it was, the movement would have been an eminently strategic one, and worthy of any commander. That strength would have enabled the wielder of it either to make a dash straight into the enemy's camp, or if considered too weak for such a movement, to wait patiently for those reinforcements which would have placed m the hands of the English General an overwhelming superiority. But, instead of a superior force, holding the sturdy Dutch farmers at bay, if not actually driving them from their fortified laager, we find a mere handful of men expected to hold a position for days iv the face of a foe vastly superior m numbci's, and who occupied ground which, strategically, was not very much inferior to that commanded by their opponents. Under such untoward conditions, what other results than those which really happened could have been ) looked for? Strongly reinforced as they were at 1 p.m. on that fatal Sunday, the Boers wero able literally to overwhelm with a terrific rifle fire the few red coats who still remained on that bloody crest. The persistent and well-directed shower of rifle balls paralysed all forward movements on the part of the British, and tbe order to " give them the bayonet next time after they Lave fired," was useless for it was impracticable. Where were the men to wield the weapon ? All dead or wounded. General, staff, and main body could only muster one hundred men just before tbe former received his death wound. Their chief slain, their officers, with very few exceptions, hors da combat, is it any wonder that the men at last fairly turned tail to escape the withering hail of rifle bullets poured into their shattered ranks ? The whole cause of the disaster lies m a nutshell — ;want of correct information as to the strength of the enemy at and around that position occupied by the British. The Intelligence department of General Collcy's camp were guilty of an unpardonable blunder if, through their emissaries, they were the direct cause of poor Collcy undertaking an expedition with so slender a following that the destruction of his soldiers was inevitable. But here again we are met by tbe fact that General Colley himself had earned no little of the reputation he was credited with by the clever manipulation of the very service which now apparently is directly answerable for bis death. He was altogether too good a soldier to leave to others work on the efficient doing of which the safety of his troops depended. And if be could not do tbe work personally, be was tho man to see it was well done by others. But m this case bis usual caution seems to have deserted him, and he has paid most dearly for a fault, the result of over confidence m himself and of tbe troops under his command. Before leaving the mournful story of the fight, a word of praise is due to those rough frontier men, who have not only shown a sturdy sense of independence m fighting for tbe rights they consider their due, but have also exhibited a spirit of true and gentle manliness, even atnidst tbe turmoil and madness of the battle-field. On being shown tbe body of General Colley they exhibited no exultation, bnt rather regret that so gallant a man should have fallen ; and those amongst them wbo had personally known tbe High Commissioner spoke well of him, and took evident pleasure m recalling pleasant traits of bis kindliness of character and soldierlike qualities. Such foes deserve every consideration, and it is pleasant to learn that tbe Boers have accepted terms of peace alike honorable to themselves aud to tbe British Government. ♦ The figures submitted by tbe Borough Valuator at tbe Assessment Court on Monday aro highly satisfactory, as affording conclusive evidence of the rapid progress tbe town is making despite tbe depressed state of tbe times. Tbe fact of nearly one hundred new buildings Laving been crecied m tbe Borough during tbe past twelve months is a very healthy sign, for it proves that not only is money not so scarce as is generally supposed, but tbat tbe people m whose bands it is, are so convinced of tbe future prospects of Timaru, tbat they do not hesitate to lay it out m building improvements. Tbat they Lave good reason for feeling tbe confidence which they do, may be learnt from tbe fact tbat ihe demand for both business and private premises continues to rapidly increase, there being very few unoccupied shops or dwelling-bouses m tbe Borough at the present time. Rents, also, keep very high, which certainly would not be the case were many Louses going a-begging for tenants. Tbe one hundred Louses mentioned m the Valuator's report do not, however, comprise all buildings erected m Timaru during tbe year, for a considerable portion of tbe town lies outside the Borougb boundaries. . Probably from one hundred and twenty to one Lundred and tLirty would be nearer tbe mark if tLo whole town were included. Setting down tLe average cost of eacL new building at £200, which, roughly speaking, should be well witbin tbe mark, we find tbat no less a sum than £24,000 bas been invested m this way during tbe past twelve months. There is another very cheering aspect which this increase of wealth presents. Tbe majority of tbe Boroughs m the colony Lave gone m very heavily for borrowing, either for obtaining water supplies, or for tbe construction of other more or leas necessary works, aud m more than one case — Duucdin for instance — serious doubts are entertained as to bow their financial engagements are to be mot. Indeed, so blue are tbe prospects of some of the municipalities, tbat people are to be found wbo bold tbe opinion, and do not hesitate to openly express it, tbat they can only be saved from utter bankruptcy by tbe Colonial Government coining to their help and paying off their debts. Not a few of them are rapidly going from bad to worse, and must soon reach tLe extent of their tether when no more borrowed money will be forthcoming to pay the interest on tbe largo sums they already owe. We arc glad to say, however, lhat, judging by present

appearances there is little or no prospect, if things are managed carefully and economically, of Timaru being reduced to such straits. The £60,000 loan for Waterworks which was raised recently promises not only to prove more than sufficient to complete the scheme, but to show a balance of several thousand pounds m hand after every possible liability is met. The waterrate, while it will not fall heavy on the people, will be ample to pay all interest on the loan, aud provide a sinking fund as well. It is to be hoped that this satisfactory state of affairs will continue to last, and that so far from its tempting us to launch out still further m the direction of spending borrowed money, it will induce us to keep the credit of the Borough up as high as possible.