Impressions of a War Correspondent | Page 9

Koch, and were allowed to
go about on parole, being merely required to report themselves once a
day.
[Illustration: Bringing Wounded Back Into Ladysmith.]
We pushed on, and in the distance could hear the report of cannon. We
soon discovered a little artillery duel in progress between the Natal
battery and the Boer guns. The Natals were barking away pluckily, but
quite ineffectually against their very superior opponents, who were
making really excellent practice, and they struck an artillery waggon,
blowing it to pieces, and missed the artillery train by barely twenty
yards, a shell falling on either side of it. It was clear we could remain
here no longer, so the order was given to retire. The guns limbered up,
leaving the shattered wreck of the waggon behind, and the trains
commenced to move back slowly, keeping pace with the cavalry and
artillery. The Boer guns kept firing until out of range, and then there
was a desultory pitter-patter of rifle fire at a sufficient distance to be
completely ineffectual.
We retired back just behind Modder's Spruit Station and rested there.
The sun had now broken through the clouds and poured down hot on
the yellow veldt, where we were. A beautiful scene stretched away
before us. The veldt was not all yellow, but in low-lying places, after
the recent rain, was beginning to be streaked with vivid green. Opposite
us, across the flat or gently undulating veldt in the middle distance,
were hills and kopjes, while beyond, purple under clouds or light blue
in sunshine, rose to the far horizon mountains, pointed, or of that quite
flat-topped shape so characteristic of this country.
No one who has been through this day can ever forget the beautiful
series of military tableaux, the gorgeous colouring, the constantly
varying effects of light and shade, under clear, blue sky, or when piles
of great white cumuli were passing, until, darkening with the progress

of the fight, an unnatural gloom blackened the heavens, and from the
inky clouds torrents of rain poured upon the combatants. The variety of
colour, light, and shade was only equalled by the variety of the military
movements during the day. A complete series of sketches or
photographs would serve for illustrations for a handbook of modern
tactics--the reconnaissance in force in the
morning--engagement--orderly retreat carried out exactly according to
book--march out of main body; advance of main body, cavalry on each
flank, skirmishing outflanking movement on the right, etc., etc., on to
the cavalry charging through and through retreating and beaten enemy.
At 11.20 two squadrons of cavalry and a battery of artillery arrive, and
shortly after another train full of troops is seen approaching in the
distance.
Chatting with Colonel Chisholme, of the Imperial Light Horse, I was
chaffing him about calling them "light," pointing out a group of giants
standing near him; but he agreed that their hearts were light, anyhow,
whatever their weight might be. He had commenced his military career
when eighteen in the 9th Lancers, and his Imperial Light Horse was
embodied on the 9, 9, 99. He was telling how all the important dates of
his life had a 9 in them, as Major Douglas Haig galloped up and told
him we were going to start. I said, "All these nines clearly point to your
living to ninety-nine." "Oh no," he laughed back, cheerily, "I don't wish
to live to be as old as that." His wish was gratified.
"Saddle," "Prepare to mount," "Mount." We were going forward again.
At 1.30 we started, after just two hours' rest, in which the main body
had come up, so that our entire force now consisted of the 5th Lancers,
Imperial Light Horse, two field batteries of Royal Artillery, the
Devonshire Regiment, half a battalion of the Manchester, and half a
battalion of the Gordon Highlanders. At 1.55 fire opened from the tops
of the line of ridges running parallel to the railway line, which were all
lined with men. Some of the 5th Lancers have already gone off to the
extreme right. At the foot of the first hill, from which firing proceeds, a
squadron of the Border Mounted Rifles are dismounting, and now two
lines of khaki figures are climbing steadily up the hill. Long before

they reach the top the Boers are seen retiring. They have no idea of
making a stand yet, and as the khaki figures reach the summit the
Lancers, sweeping round from the extreme right flank, join them.
During this time the Devons and Manchesters have been pouring out of
the train, and are now crossing the veldt in dotted lines towards the
ridge of hills.
2.15.--Another train now appears, bringing further reinforcements.
2.30.--Quite a hot fire now opens on the extreme left, and in a few
minutes the artillery