Capture of Eida.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8621, 27 March 1897, Page 2

Capture of Eida.

A MILITARY FEAT.

We have to hand by the last San Francisco mail a copy of the London Penny Illustrated Paper—for brevity styled the P.l.P;—from which we take the following account of. the capture of Bida by the Niger Company's forces:—" The British capture of Bida was a brave and skilful exploit. It was in the formation limned by a P.I.P. artist that the victory was achieved We learnt through Eeuter's Special Service, ia a despatch dated Bida, 26th January, that the engagement commenced at dawn on that day. ' The column was engaged in driving in the enemy's outposts from 7 o'clock, and had formed a camp by 9 o'clock, when the enemy was found to be about 30,000 strong. Their force, which was composed of cavalry and foot, occupied a ridge between the camp and Bida. Strong flanking brigades were sent out round our flanks to attack the guns, which were coming up in the rear. Major Arnold advanced two miles to the ridge overlooking Bida, and under rifle fire drove the main body of the enemy back on the city. The enemy's flanking parties having crept round in the rear, Major Arnold formed into square, with the Maxims at the corners, and retired on the camp. The enemy charged repeatedly in spite of the terrific losses they sustained, but they failed to touch the square. The Haussa. troops were under perfect control, and their fire discipline was equal to that of the best white troops. At 1 o'clock the force reached the camp, which Lieutenant McClintock and one company, with Wallace, AVatts, Marmon, and Dr Castellote, had defended. Lieutenant A. C. Thomson, Leicester Regiment, was killed.' . . . Fighting was resumed next day, 27th January. * The enemy appeared in force about 7 o'clock. They covered the surrounding slopes, which presentee a splendid panorama. The picturesque Eastern costumes of the enemy recalled scenes from Sir Walter Scott's « ' Talisman." The enemy closed in, and the square was soon completely surrounded by 8 force of about 20,000 cavalry and foot. The diminution in their strength as compared with yesterday was due, it has since been ascertained, to the deaths of the Princes Lapai and Aguay, rulers of the Moslem States, whose forces withdrew from the field when their leaders were killed by our shells. The square continued to advance slowly towards the slope on the other side of the ravine commanding Bida. It was constantly harassed by the enemy's sharpshooters, who advanced to within 100 yards of the square. The rear and sides, with the Maxims were hotly engaged in holding off the repeated charges of cavalry and the advance of the sharpshooters. By ten o'clock the square, advancing half-right, reached the position which was reconnoitred on the previous day, and at 10.30 the bombardment of Bida was begun, the nine-pounder, twelve-pounder,and the seven-pounder being all in action, while the six Maxims played on the gradually retiring masses of the enemy. About noon a company under Lieutenants Festing, Gillespie, and Margisson entered the city, which is about three miles square. The bombardment was continued at two o'clock, and at four o'clock half of the Haussa troops were sent in. In to-day's fighting no casualty occurred among the Europeans, but fifteen of the native troops were wounded. The enemy's losses are enormous. Prince Lapine, the Emir's brother, and many other princes were severely wounded.' On January 29, .Sir George Goldie, at the head of the column, entered Bida, and, with Mr Wallace and Major Arnold, took up his residence in the Emir's palace, which covers an immense area. Lieutenant Vandeleur swarmed up to the highest pinnacle of the palace, and there fastened the British flag. Lieut. Franklin Macauley Gillespie, South Wales Borderers, one of the three officers who stormed the breach at the battle of Bida, is a son of Brigade-Surgeon Gillespie, of the Royal Military College, Camberley. He joined the Army in July 1891, and reached his rank as lieutenant in February 1893." The paper also contains a view of the battle taken by an eyewitness, and a photographic reproduction of Lieutenant Gillespie, who is a nephew of Mr H. C Gillespie, of Parawai, Brigade-Surgeon Gillespie— mentioned above—being a younger brother of our local resident. Lieutenant Gillespie is 24 years of age.