Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
13 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
WAB IfJ SOUTH AFRICA.
WAB IfJ SOUTH AFRICA. THREE GREAT BATTLES FOUGHT. SBOER ATTACK ON DUNDEE. ENEMY BIULLIANTLY REPULSED BY GENERAL SYMOXS, WHO W\.S MORTALLY BOUNDED. — HEAVY LOSS ON BOTH S IDES. BATTLE AT ELANDS LA AG ATE.—GENERAL WHITE VICTORIOUS. ANOTHER ATTACK ON DUNDEE BY JOUBERT.—BOER GENERALS SLAIN. VICTORY AT MAFEKING. The first serious action cf the present campaign in Sou h Attica was fought on Friday of laso week and resulted in a great success for the British armil. For at least two days previously the movements of the enemy indicated a design ■on their part to concentrate as large a force as they could muster from the commandos operating from Newcastle and the Buffalo river for an attack on our positions at Glencoe and Dundee while it was apparently also intended that the Free State Boers, debouching from the Drakensberg passes, should threaten Sir George White's camp at Lady- ømith- This latter part of the programme was but -very inadequately carried out; the Free State force, after advancing in considerable strength on Wed- nesday of last week and pushing back the British patrols, retired again on Thursday, and Sir George White could not get into touch with them. But a body of Boers coming from the direc- tion of Newcastle, and variously estimated at from 4000 to 9000 strong, having taken up a strong posi- tion in the hilly ground in front of Glencoe and Dundee, opened an artillery fire on Glencoe Camp early on Friday morning. The British guns replied and soon silenced the Boer artillery, which was badly served and did no harm. The King's Royal Rifles and the Dublin Fusiliers formed opposite the enemy's position, advanced against it under cover of the fire of our batteries, and after hard fighting, which appears to have lasted for nearly three hours, carried it, driving the Boers into flight and capturing their guns. Very heavy indeed must have been the enemy's loss, and that of the British was also heavy, and it unfortunately I included the commanding officer. A telegram from Glencoe dated 11.20 a.m. on Friday stated that 'General Symons was wounded, and a later despatch describes his wound as mortal. At 3.30 in the after- aoon our cavalry and artillery were still out in pur- suit of the defeated Boers. BOER ARTILLERY OVERPOWERED.— 6PLENDID BEHAVIOUR OF THE BRITISH. There has been more hard fighting in the theatre of operations in Natal, and the military situation there has undergone important developments since Friday of last week. Further details of the battle of Glencoe on that day show that the Boers foaght stubbornly, but that their artillery was completely overpowered by the British guns, and that they sus- tained heavy losses from our artillery fire before our infantry, ascending the hill on which they were posted, swept them from it after some hard fighting.- They were hotly pursued in their retreat by the cavalry and artillery. It was while General Symons was directing the advance of the British infantry that he was wounded. OUR CASUALTIES AT GLENCOE. A list of casualties sustained in the action of Fri- day of last week was telegraphed by Sir George White on Saturday. It reports a. total of 224 killed and wounded in the British force-10 officers and 33 non-commissioned officers and men killed, and '22 officers and 159 non-commissioned officers and "men wounded. The officers killed, or who subse- quently died from their wounds, were Colonel Sherston, of the Divisional Staff, Lieutenant- Colonel Gunning, Captain Perchell, Lieutenants Taylor and Barnett, the Second Lieutenant Hambro, of the King's Royal Rifles; Captain Connor and Second Lieutenant Hill. of the Royal-Irish Fusiliers; and Captain Weldon and Lieu- tenant George, of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. ANOTHER FIERCE FIGHT.-BO P" a CAMF CAPTURED. Though the Boer plan of cutting off Glencoe and Dundee from Ladysmith, and carrying the first two positions by an attack in force before Sir G. White could come to their assistance, was, of course, much paralysed by the defeat of Friday, it was by no means abandoned. The enemy's commando which descended from Biggarsberg on Friday and seized on Elandslaagte, midway between Ladysmith and Dundee, severed the communication between the two places. On Saturday Sir George White deemed it necessary to attack the enemy at Elandsiaagte, and leaving Major-General Hunter with an adequate force at Ladysmith, he despatched a body of troops, composed of the 5th Lancers, a squadron of the 5th Dragoon Guards, the Imperial Light Horse, two squadrons of the Natal Cari- bineers. three field batteries of artillery, the Devons, and half battalions of the Gordon Highlanders and the Manchester Regiment, for this duty. General White accompanied the force, but left the direction of the fight in the hands of General French. The Boers were found to be occupying a strong position among hills, south-east of Elandslaagte Station. The fighting began in earnest about 3.30 in the afternoon, and after a prolonged artillery duel the infantry attacked the Boer position in front and on the left ftank. and carried it, although the enemy offered siatinch resistance. The cavalry charged the re- treating Boers three times, and did great execution. The Boer camp, with two guns, tents, waggons, and horses, and a number of prisoners—among them General de Kock and Piet Joubert, nephew of the Boer commander-in-chief--were taken. The British loss. General White regrets to report, is heavy; he animates it at 160 killed and wounded. JOUBERT AGAIN ATTACKS GLENCOE. News has been received at Cape Town that the ibain northern column of the Boers, under General Joubert, on Saturday attacked Glencoe. The British forces were reported to be intrenched in a good posi- tion. THE GUARDS FOR THE FRONT. The Duke of Connaught, who is Honorary Colonel of the Scots Guards, on Friday morning inspected the 1st Battalion; whreh left London on Saturday for South Africa. The inspection took place at Chelsea Barracks, and at its close the Duke addressed the men, saying he was desired by ibe Queen, who took the deepest interest in the Brigade of Guards, to wish them every success in the campaign in which they were about to be engaged. He was certain that whatever It fell to their lot to do would be done in a manner worthy of the British Army. At the Wellington Barracks the Duke of Cambridge inspected the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, the Reservists be- longing to the 1st Battalion of that regiment, and the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards, prior to their departure for South Africa. After the inspection the Duke addressed the men, wish- ing them good luck and a speedy return. He wished also, though 80 years of ap, that he was going with them. The departure of the first brigade of the South African Field Force from Southampton for South Africa took place on Friday afternoon of last week, amid scenes of great enthusiasm. The troops were embarked on board five transports with much expedition, part of the embarkation being car- tried on in presence of Lord Wolseley, Commander- in-Chief, who was warmly cheered when he arrived at the docks. THE QUEEN'S TOUCHING MESSAGE. The Queen on Sunday addressed from Balmoral to the Secretary for War the following message: My heart bieeds for these dreadful looses. Again to-day a great success, but fear very dearly bought. Would you try and convey my warmest heartfelt sympathy with the near relations of the fallen and wounded, and admiration of the conduct of those they have Joss." HONOURS FOR SYMONS. The promotion of Colonel (local Lieutenant- eeneral) Symons to the rank of Major-General for -distinguiahed service in the field was announced Sunday. THE DEPARTING TROOPS. On Saturday morning the let Scots Guards, the 2nd Goldstream Guards, and the 3rd Grenadier Guards left London by special trains from Waterloo 8IUI Nine Elms for Southampton, en route for South Africa. Their departure was witnessed by large Crowds of spectators, who cheered enthusiastically. At -Southam jrton there was_ another popular 2>monstration on the embarkation of the troops, ong with details of the 2nd Battalion North- j Mnptonshire Regiment, the Army Service Corps, j And the Royal Engineers. The Duke of Connaught Was present, visited some of the transport, and led the cheering from the quay as they started on the wfage to South Africa. On Sunday two more ItAagports sailed from Southampton, having on llOitfd the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, the 2nd Royal Itesilrers, Reservists of the 1st Coldstream Guards, iBagineers. Mounted Infantry, and detachments of the 2nd Cameron Highlanders and Royal High- landers t. ivim'urco the garrison at Gibraltar. The Boyal Highlanders and two companies of Mounted j lalantry wer embarked at Tilbury on board th& transport Or fit on Sunday afternoon, but she was ■MMo to leave the dock in consequence of the fog. j 0IFICTAL ANALYSIS OF BRITISH LOSSES IN FIRST FIGHT AT GLENCOE. An official report received at the War Office states thar the number of killed and wounded anions; non- commissioned officers and men is as follows^: 18th Hiwsars. 7 wounded; Royal Artillery, 13th battery, 1 wounded 69th Fie:d Battery, 1 killed 2 wounded; Leicestershire Regiment, 1 wounded; King's Royal Kille Corps, 11 k,lied 63 wounded; Royal Irish Fusiliers, 14 killed 30 wounded: Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 4 killed 41 wounded; Natal Police, 2 wounded. Total. 30 killed and 1.52 wounded. The following are the casualties atrong the officers: Staff, I killed 4 wounded; 18th Hussars, 3 wounded: Leicestershire Regt., 1 wounded; King's Royal It;fie Corps, 5 killed, G wounded Royal Irish I1 iiaihers, 2 killed 5 wounded; Royal Dublin Fusi- J lwrs. 2 killed 3 wounded. Total officers killed, 10; wounded, 22. Total casualties, 214. GUNS, CAMP. AND EQUIPMENT CAPTURED. The following was posted at the War Office at two %.ni. on Sunday: From General Hunter to the Secretary of State for War. Received Oct. 21, 11 p.m. LADYSMITH, Oct. 21, 8.45 p.m.—General White rode towards Elandslarigate at 2.30 p.m. Force under French left here four a.m. by road and rail to Moddersbridge, and by two p.m. had been gradually strengthened to following total; 5th Lancers, squadron 5th Dragoon Guards, two field batter.es. Natal Field Battery, Devon Regiment, half Manchester Regiment, half Gordons, Imperial Light Horse, and two squadrons Naval Volunteers. I remain here in defence of Ladysmith with Gloucester Regiment, half Manchester Regiment, half Gordons, Mountain Battery, and 500 Natal Volunteers. I learn by telegraph from armoured train one mile this side of Elandslaagte that at five p.m. enemy's three guns were silenced. Our infantry were about to charge. Enemy's numbers this morning estimated 1000, another 1000 expected during afternoon. General White's intention was to re-open rail- way to Dundee, and return with troops to Lis place to-night. At 7.45 report received by telephone that we had carried enemy's position, and captured camp, equip- ment, horses, and waggons. Cavalry in pursuit. Operators on inttruments say we have some wounded, but I have no details yet. I expect Sir George White will be late, so I wire for him." THE BATTLE OF ELAXDSLAAGTE. As the Times was going to press on Monday morn- ing it received the following telegram from its special correspondent, giving his account of the battle of Elandslaagte: LADYSMITH, October 22. General French's column, reinforced bv the Man- chesters, Devons, and Oordons under Colonel Ian Hamilton, part of the 5th Dragoon Guards, the 5th Lancers, and two batteries of artillery attacked 1200 Boers in position at Elandslaagte yesterday. The action opened with an artillery duel—two guns against 12. The Boers worked their guns man- fully, bursting shells well into our batteries. After half an hour's preparation, the infantry extended to attack, the Manchesters, supported by the Gordons, working round the enemy's position, and the Devons attacking direct. Then a sanguinary engagement began, and the Gordons and the dis- mounted Imperial Light Horse came into the fight- ing line. After two and a-half hours' stubborn resistance on the part of the Boers the final assault was delivered by all the British troops with fixed bayonets, as night fell. The Lancers cut off the Boers, killed many of them, and alone took 25 prisoners. Our casualties are heavy. Sir George White was present at the engagement as ■v spectator. THRASHING BOERS AT MAFEKING. 1000 CASUALTIES RRPORTBO. CAPS TOWK, October 20. The Central News correspondent's report of the "serious defeat of the Boers at Mafeking is now completely confirmed. Even the Boer organs here admit that Colonel Badera-Powell has had all the beat of the game. The Boers were out-Fought and out-manoeuvred, and their loss in killed and wounded could not have :amomved to fewer than 1000 men. 'I" Five hundred wounded from Mafeking are now under treatment in Johannesburg and Pretoria, and more in Bloemfontem. The lyddite shells fired by our artillery did great havoc. A telegram received by a despatch writer from Kimberley statesa that on Saturday morning early an armoured train sent out from Mafe- king to reconnoitre northwards found 500 Boers five miles out. Heavy firing ensued, and the enemy suffered heavily. They retired after a time towards the east, and were followed by Fitz- clarence's squadron and the Protectorate Regiment. Finally the Boers drew off after losing a large number killed and wounded. Our losses in the fighting were Corporal Parland and Lance-corporal Walsh, killed; Corporals Kline and Jones, severely wounded; and Corporal Smith and Troopers Sbep- pard. Macrae, Calderwood, James, Cullis, Blair, J. Smith, Grady, Luckett, Nelson, and Sergeant Phillips wounded. wounded. SIR GEORGE WHITE'S DESPATCH.—GOODS TRAIN AND ENGLISH PRISONERS RE- COVERED. The following despatch from Sir George White was posted at the War Office: To Secretary of State for War. LADYSMITH, October 22, 10.35 a.m. "Action at Elandslaagte yesterday. Troops en- gaged Cavalry, 5th Lancers and one squadron 5th Dragoon Guards, Imperial Light Horse, and two squadrons Natal Carabiniers. Artillery: 21st and 22nd Field Batteries and Natal Field Battery. Infantry: Devons, half battalion Gordons, half battalion Manchesters. Whole force under General French, with Colonel Ian Hamilton in command of infantry. I was present in person from 3.30 to 6.30, but did not assume direction of fight, which I left in General French's hands. "ThoÜgh desultory fighting took place earlier in the day while reinforcements sent out later on ascer- taining enemy's strength were arriving from Lady- smith, the real action did not commence till 3.30 p.m. At that hour Boers held a position of exceptional strength, consisting of rocky hills one and a-half mile south-east of Elandslaagte Station. At 3.30 p.m. our guns took position on a ridge 4100 yards from enemy, whose guns at once opened fire. Thii fire was generally well-directed, but some- what high. Contrary to previous experience, his shells burst well. Imperial Light Horse moved towards left of enemy's position, and two squadrons 5th Lancers towards his right. During artillery duel mounted Boers pushed out from their left and engaged Imperial Light Horse. In a few minutes the Boers' guns ceased firing, and our artillery was turned on the mounted Boers opposed to the Imperial Light Horse, who at once fell back. "After artillery preparation, infantry advanced to attack, supported by guns in a second position. Devons held enemy in front while Manchesters and Gordons turned his left flank. Boer guns, although often temporarily silenced, invariably opened fire again on slightest opportunity, and were served with great courage. "After severe fight, the infantry carried the posi- tion at 6.30 p.m., the enemy standing their ground to the last with great courage and tenacity. Fifth Lancers and one squadron Fifth Dragoon Guards charged through retreating Boers three eimes in the dark, and did considerable execution. We captured Boer camp, with tents, waggons, and horses, also two guns. Boer losses very con- siderable, including number of wounded and un- wounded prisoners. Among former are General de Kock and Piet Joubert, nephew of the General. One goods train for Glencoe Camp and nine J English prisoners were recovered. f Our loss, I regret to say, is heavy, and is roughly estimated at 160 killed and wounded. Collection of wounded over large area in the dark, and arrangements for sending them in here, have so far occupied our time and attention, but full list is being prepared, and will be wired later. Our wounded and those of the enemy arriving here by train. "Besides Boers, many consisted of Germans, Hoi- landers, and mixed nationalities. Behaviour of our troops, both Imperial and Colonial, admi rable." COLONEL SCHIEL A PRISONER. Colonel Schiel, a former officer of the German *rmy, and reputed a great military strategist, who was leading a section of the Boer forces, was taken prisoner at Elandslaagte. THE CAPTURED POLICE PATROL. The Agent-General for Natal has received the fol- lowing telegram from the Natal Government: PISTSRMARITZBCRG, October 22. The naipes of the six troopers of the Natal Police who were captured at Dagger's Drift are: William Mann, Sanitiet Henry Atwood, Thomas Kenny, Oscar Robert Julius ud. J n Stanhope Fergu- MD. and Charlie Curline ex BADEN-POWELL'S RUSE. j From a Boer source we learn that the British made another sortie from Mafeking on Thursday of last week. No Boers were wounded, but three guns were taiten. It is added that the British must have suffered severely, for on the morning after the attack" pools of blood" were seen. No doubt, if the Boers lost three guns. It is not often defeated troops carry off the victor's artillery. Colonel Baden-Powell had two spare trucks of dyna- mite in the town which he was afraid might be fired by Boer shell. These he started on the line with an engine, whereupon the Boers fired and then closed upon the train, with the result that there was an ex- plosion, killing 100 of them. MORE TRANSVAAL GOLD STOPPED. The Avondale Castle was met off Inyak Island on the night of the 18th while on her way here from Durban by H.M. gunboat Partridge, and was ordered to return under the escort of the war vessel to Durban. There she was met by the cruiser Tartar, which took over from her E25,000 in gold which she had on board, and which was intended for the Transvaal Government. The liner afterwards re- turned here, and embarked 2000 refugees. VIOLENT ABUSE OF THE BRITISH. Mr. Reitz, the Transvaal Secretary of State, has issued an extravagantly-worded manifesto, addressed to the burghers of the Orange Free State. In this document he calls the British murderers of the peace and treaty breakers, and praises the Afrikander Bond, and especially Mr. Shreiner. He accuses the Queen, British Statesmen, and Sir Alfred Milner, of having insulted, defrauded, and libelled the Afrikander nation, and declares that Great Britain has always oppressed the natives. The war, he adds, is being fought for a difference of two years in the franchise, and he asserts that in England all foreigners are obliged to wait for 12 years for the franchiso. The manifesto concludes with the usual expression of confidence in the Almighty. A HUMBLE HERO. The first train that reached Dundee from Lady- smith after the battle had a sensational escape from the Boers. The train, consisting of two carriages filled with passengers, including several soldiers and 273 tons of general goods, was drawn by one engine. It had reached Blands Laagte Station when about one hundred Boers suddenly ap- peared from behind a pile of coal debris, and opened fire on the train. The engine-driver blew the whistle, stuck to his post, and went on slowly. One bullet smashed the window of the cab close to the head of the driver, and another ricocheted off the sandbox. The engine was struck about 60 times before the train got off. All along the line small numbers of Boers menaced the train, sume attempt- ing to gallop alongside, firing at the engine. But the driver never lost his head, and he brought his train into Dundee safe. SOME OF THE GLORIOUS DEAD. The following gallant officers were slain in the first fight at Glencoe: Colonel Sherston, D.S.O., of the Ritle Brigade, in which he held the rank of major, was the son of the late Captain Sherston, of Evercreech House, Somerset, and a nephew of Lord Roberts. He entered the army on February 12, 1876, and on the Afghan War breaking out two years later was appointed aide-de-camp to his uncle, then Sir Frederick Roberts. He was present in the engagement at Charnsiah on October 6, 1879 and the subsequent pursuit of the enemy, his services being mentioned in despatches. A similar distinction fell to his. lot in connection with the operation around Cabul in 1879, including the invest- ment of Sherpore. He accompanied Lord Roberta in the famous march to Candahar and was present at the battle at that place, when he was again men- tioned in despatches. His services during the operations were rewarded with the medal with three clasps and the bronze decoration. In 1881 he took part in the Mahsood Wuzeeree Expe- dition, and on August 20, 1884, he received his com- pany. He served with the Burmese Expedition in 1880-87 as Deputy Assistant-Adjutant and Quarter- master-General on the Headquarters Staff,, and was again mentioned in despatches and-received the Dis- tinguished Service Order and the medal with clasp. On October 15, 1898, he was gazetted Assistant Adju- tant-General in Bengal. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Henry Gunning, of the 1st King's Royal Rifles, was the eldest son of Sir George William Gunning, fifth baronet, of Little Horton House, Northampton, the chairman of the Conservative party in Mid-Njrtliamptonshire, by his marriage with Isabella Mary Frances Charlotte, daughter of the late Colonel Win. Chester-Master, of The Abbey, Cirencester, and was born on July 17, 1852. Educated at Eton, he entered the army as a sub-lieutenant on March 26, 1873, and was gazetted to the 60th.Foot (now the King's Royal Rifle Corps) as a lieutenant on September 9, 1874. He served in the Zulu War of 1879 with the 3rd Battalion of his regiment, and was present at the action of Gingindh- lovu, and the relief of Ekowe, afterwards serving as adjutant of the battalion throughout the operations of Clarke's Column," for which he wore the medal with clasp. He was gazetted captain in August, 1883, was an adjutant of the Auxiliary Forces (the 5th Militia Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles) from March, 1886, to March, 1891, having obtained the rank of major on June 25, 1890. In 1891-92 he took part in the war in Burmah, being engaged in the operations in the Chin Hills in command of the Baungshe column, for which he wore a second medal with clasp. His commission as lieutenant-colonel bore date April 16, 1898. Colonel Gunning, who was in the Commission of the Peace for the County of Northants, married in 1880 Fanny Julia, daughter of the late Mr. Clinton George Dawkins, formerly her Majesty's Consul-General at Venice. Captain Frederick Henry Bourne Connor, of the Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers), entered the army on May 14, 1884, and was gazetted captain on August 5, 1891. In 1894-95 he served with the Waziristan Field Force under Sir Wiiliam Lockhart as assistant chief commissariat officer, and received the medal with clasp. Captain George Anthony Weldon, of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, was the eldest son of Calonel Thomas Weldon, C.I.E., of B,&rkstori-gardens, South Kensington, late Commissioner of the Madras City Police, by his marriage with Rachel Louisa, daughter of the late General George William Young Simpson, R.A., and a grandson of Sir Anthony Weldon, fourth Baronet of Rahinderry, Queen's County. He was born on February 1, 1866, and entered the army on December 8, 1886. Three years later he served in the Burmese Expedition with the 19th Madras Infantry; his services gaining for him the medal with claip. He was gazetted captain on January 10, 1896. Captaih Mark Horace Kerr Pechell, of the 1st King's Royal Rifles, was the eldest son of Admiral Mark Robert Pechell, of Great Cumberland-place. He was born on September 22, 1867, and was I educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He entered the army oe February 11, 1888, and was appointed lieutenant on May 12, I 1890. He served in the Hazara Expedition in 1891, for which he received the medal and clasp, and also took part in the Miranzai Expedition in 1891. in- eluding the engagements at Sangar and Mastan, and was awarded a second clasp. In 1892 he again saw service in the Isazai Expedition, and in 1895 he served with the Chitral Relief Force under Sir Robert ,Low from April 11 to the close of the operations, and gained the medal with clasp. Lieutenant John Taylor entered the Army on March 13, 1895, and was gazetted lieutenant on May 11, 18981 Lieutenant Richard Charles Barnett received his commission as second lieutenant on April 8, 1896. Lieutenant N. J. Hambro entered the Army as second lieutenant on February 25 last. Lieutenant A. H. M. Hill only entered the Army on May 20 last, and must therefore have been one of the youngest officers in the Service. Lieutenant Charles Jervis Genge, of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, entered the Army as second lieutenant on January 4 this year, THE THIRD BATTLE. -MESSAGE TO LORD WOLSELEY. Very little definite news regarding the operations in Natal was received during Monday. A message which came to the Commander-in-Chief, and was read in the House of Commons by Mr. Wyndham, reported that the Boers appeared to be advancing in greatly superior force from the north and West on t on Glencoe; and that General Yule had consequently fallen back from Dundee and concentrated his force at G Jencoel J unetion. It was gathered that the wounded and their medical attendants had been left at Dundee. General White was in pos turn at Ladysmith, and was being reinforced from Pietermariizburg, The War Office has not, however, received advices of any further fighting at Dundee or Glencoe, but Renter and other telegrams speak of the Boers having attacked General Yule's position on Saturday after- noon, though the attack seems to have been limited to a long-range artillery fire. THE KILLED AND WOUNDED. The battle at Elandslaagte was more severe and involved heavier losses on both QideL4 than seems to have been at first supposed. The official list, of casualties issued at the War Office shows that the total of killed, wounded, and missing in the British force was 257—five officers and 37 non-commissioned officers and men killed (including Colonel 8cott Chisholm, commanding tile Imperial Light. Horse), 20 officers and 175 non-comipissioned officers and men wounded, and 10 rank and file missing. Many Boers were taken prisoners. The well-knowot, Commandunf, Ben Viljoen was killed. and atnonf the wounded prisoners, in addi- tion to General Koch, is Colonel Schiol, a German officer of much repute alllon the Boers. A Pieter- maritzburg telegram of Sunday's date stated that General Symons and several other officers who were wounded in the fighting at Glencoe were going on well. HOW THE HEIGHTS OF DUNDEE WERE WON. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent at Glencoe wired the following account of the first battle at Dundee: The engagement began at two in the morning, the Boers firing into our position and wounding one of our men. At 5.30 a.m. the Boers opened are with their artil- lery on our camp, but the aim was bad, and many of their shells failed to explode. Several companies of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the King's Royal Rifles, and the Royal Irish Fusi- liers rapidly proceeded towards the Boer position upon the, summit of Smith's Hill, which is situated to the east, of Dundee, while our batteries of field artillery hastened forward and opened a heavy can- nonade. For a while the Boers replied with great spirit, but later on their resistance grew weaker. Their guns were silenced by 7.20 a.m., but the enemy still main- tained their rifle fusillade. At 6.30 a.m. our infantry were brought into action. They were deployed in skirmishing order, and began firing at 1500yd. range at the Boers in the donga. Quickly the British soldiers advanced, running across the plain, and, getting into a new position, within 500yd. of the Boers. The subsequent rifle fire was very hot, and during our rush a number of men were hit. The troops kept creeping closer, and got into the donga, whilst our batteries rained shrapnel upon the Boers. At 7.30 a.m. our regiments advanced at the double. Entering a thin wood, some 300 yards from the enemy, again a few men fell, and the barbed wire fences caused delay in the rush. The Boer guns got the range of the wood, and the losses there become more severe. At 7.50 a.m. the Maxim of the Rifles engaged the enemy, and the dhooly bearers came up and took away the wounded. By eight o'clock our guns bad shifted their posi- tion, coming up within 12C0 yards of the enemy, and were being greeted with the fiercest rifle fire which the Boers had yet bestowed upon the attacking force. General Symons and his staff, however, passed un- scathed, and rode through the line. After inspecting it General Symons ordered our infantry to go on, and the soldiers began to scale the hill under a terrible fire. Naturally, our progress was slow, and it was not until noon that the firing became desultory; but a quarter of an hour later 150 of our soldiers had almost gained the top of the hill, securing cover under a stone wall. Our batteries then changed their position, and put in some splendid shooting until 1.30 p.m., when the general advance was sounded, and our troops stormed the hill. The Boers evacaated the position, and fled down at two o'clock, leaving a number of dead and wounded behind them. The latter raised the white flag. The Boers also abandoned a quantity of pro- visions and stores upon the hill, behind which ttieir camp hospital was seen. In this battle over 4000 Boers, mostly from Utrecht and Vyrheid, were engaged, and our total force actually under fire was smaller, as the Leices- tershire Regiment and other portions of the army remained on camp guard. Our victorious troops were heartily cheered by the townsfolk on returning. The Boers fled in a long line. Our young soldiers acquitted themselves gallantly in the fight. General Smut commanded the Boers. The British cavalry followed them up. Our losses are heavy, bat theirs are more so, and, moreover, they have left numbers of prisoners in our hands. A MAGNIFICENT CHARGE. Further details of the battle of Glencoe on that day show that the Boers fought stubbornly, but that their artillery was completely overpowered by the British guns, and that they sustained heavy losses from our artillery fire before our infantry. ascending the hill on which they were posted, swept them from it after some hard fighting. They were hotly pursued in their retreat by the cavalry and artillery. It was while General Symons was directing the advance of the British infantry that he was wounded. It appears that there were three Boer armies advancing on Glencoe, two of which did not arrive in, time to take full part in Friday's battle. Describing the closing scenes of the fight, the Central News correspondent says: The Boers poured down lead from Maxims and rifles, and, despite the clever manner in which our men took cover, they began to fall quickly. By toilsome and steady work the Fusiliers and Riflemen at length secured good positions high up on the hillside, whence it. would be feasible to make the final rush. Suddenly the artillery ceased firing. Another moment and, at the word of command, our men fired two volleys, and then, with wild battle- cries, their pent-up emotion and energy found vent in an irresistible rush up the remainder of the hill and a swinging charge right among the enemy. For a quarter of an hour there was bloody work at short range, and then at close quarters. Then the Boers, fled in disorderly retreat, closely pursued by our men and the Mounted Infantry. POSITION CAPTI.TP.El).-FLIGit-r OF THE BOERS. As the enemy stampeded down the hill-side they fotind, to their dismay, that the whole regiment of Hussars, had forestalled titeii,. The Cavalry had got right to the enemy's rear, had cuptured many of their horses, and stampeded the others. One con- tingent of the enemy were thus perfectly helpless. They fought well enough for a littlest;»«», and then those who were left surrendered. It WM found that the Boer battery consisted of six !BS, and all of these fell into our hands. Immediately the 13th and G9th Batteries had com- pleted their work of clearing the way for the final storm of Smith Hill, all the guns limbered up, and almost as mobile as Horse Artillery, they thundered along to the west of the enemy'" position for the pur- pose of cutting off lie- Boer retreat, in which work they rendered signal service, together with the Mounted Infantryand the Ifiisnar#. They y#) the beaten enemy no pause or rest.. and couipior«»d their demoralisation. They came into touch silo with the Hattincr Spruit column, and gave a good account of that belated contingent with the help of the Leicester Regiment. The pursuit has not yet concluded. The Boers who suddenly appeared on the western hills during the main fight, and as suddenly dis- appeared, were subsequently reinforced by the rest of the column, and the whole force was not driven back until after some stiff fighting. It js believed, too, that part of this column reinforced the enemy on Smith's Hill earlier in the day, so that altogether there must have been 7000 Boers to be disposed- of before the battle ended. IS CRONJE A PRISONER? A refugee from Pretoria reports that the Mafeking disaster produced consternation. Cronje, the hero of the Dornkop Jameson raid victory, is reported to be a prisoner. THE QUEEN AND THE VICTORIES. The following appeared in Monday night's Court Circular: "The news of the important successes at Glencoe and Elandslaagte have been received by the Queen with the greatest satisfaction. Whilo admiring the gallant conduct of her troops her Majesty is most deeply grieved to hear of the heavy losses that these victories have occasioned, and greatly deplores the loss of so many valuable lives." "k .of' THE GALLANT GORDONS. Of the 2000 British engaged at Elandslaagte, five officers and 37 men were killed. The total loss was 257. The latest estimate of the Boers is looo, in ad- dition to 300 prisoners. The 2nd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders suffered heavily, four 0fljcerg and 20 men being killed, and nine officers and 77 men wounded, while eight were missing. These figures greatly exceed the losses at Dargaj. stormed with such splendid gallantry just two years ago this month. The numbers on that memorable occasion were: One officer and two men killed, and six officersi and 35 men wounded. THREE BOERS KILLED BY A BUGLER BOY. ( During the Elahdslaagte battle a bugler boy of the 5th Lancers, who is only I4 years of age, shot three Boers with a revolver. On returning after the fight he was carried round the camp. WOUNDED MEN'S PLUCK. The Mail's correspondent wires from Mafeking under d..te of October 14: During the action this morning I found wounded men in the nghting Hne who would not go to the rear. One of them asked me to load his revolver for him, so that he could keep on firing at the enemy. In the hospital tent, when the bullets were dropping like hail, th. wounded men were insisting that they were still able to fight. They begged hard for any billet that would give them an excuse for getting into action again.
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THE Good Service Pension of R-150 a year, vacant by the retirement of Captain Harry F. Hughes Hallet, has been awarded to Captain A. C. Bromley. R.N. AN irade of the Sultan of Turkey instructs the Ad- nriralty to order from England two new warships and one Imperial yacht; also to refitten old warships and two yachts. t
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—OCTOBM 23. THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR. Mr. Wyndham replied by reading a summary of the position, drawn up by the Commander-in-Chief. In this Lord WoJseley stated that in the battle of Elandslaagte, on the 21st, two guns were captured from the Boers, who lost heavily; that large columns of the enemy appeared to be advancing from the north and west on General Yule, who had fallen back from Dundee and was concentrating at Glencoe Junction that General White, at Ladysmith, was being reinforced from Pietermaritzburg; and that the enemy were apparently in a large numerical superiority. HOW TH0 WAR VOTE WILT, BE RAISED. In Committee of Ways and Means, the Chancellor of the Exchequer explained the manner in which he intended to provide for the expenses of the war. Pre- mising that it would be premature to attempt to review the general finances of the year, he stated that the revenue for the first six months of the year had largely exceeded his expectations when he made his Budget speech, and that after making allowances for the usual Supplementary Estimates he thought he might reckon upon a net surplus for the whole year of A:3,000,000, which could be used to defray part of the unforeseen expenditure in South Africa. That would be a very considerable contribu- tion from the existing taxation of the country towards the vote of £ 10,000,000 sanctioned by the Committee of the pouse on Friday. As to the wa) in which the rest of that vote should be provided for, he expressed the J hope that no member of the Committee would suggest that the emergeney ought to be met by any perma- nent addition to the Debt of the country, for such an addition to the Debt could only be justifiable in case, of a war with a first-class Power. He pur- posed, in the first instanee, to provide for the re- maining f-7,000,000 by a temporary addition to the floating Debt, and accordingly he asked for power to raise a sum not exceeding £ 8,000,000 by Treasury bills. It was not his intention, however, to place anything like that number of bills on the market at once. The Commissioners for the < redemption of the National Debt were going to place at his disposal very considerable sums out of the funds in their hands, and he hoped that no undue disturbance of the money market would be caused by the plan which he had adopted. Having explained why he did not have recourse to the suspension of the fund for the repayment of the National Debt, he stated that the money to be borrowed would be repaid as soon as possible. Combating the suggestion that the expenditure should be met by taxation, he showed that to impose new indirect taxation at this period of the financial year would result in doing more harm to trade and commerce than could be compen- sated for by any gain to the revenue, or he might have increased the tax on some object of indirect taxation; but in his opinion the probable result of such an expedient would be loss to the Exchequer, and he illustrated his contention by a reference to Sir W. Harcourt's unfortunate attempt in 1894 to impose an additional impost on spirits. Adverting next to the precedents of 1867, when the Abyssinian war took place, and of 1884, when provision had to be made for unforeseen expenditure in connection with the Bechuanaland and Soudan expeditions, he differentiated between the circumstances of those years, when a penny was added to the income-tax, and the present circumstances. The tax then stood At 5d. only, whereas now it stood at 8d., and if he were to increase it by Id., without touching indirect taxa- tion, the taxpayer would have fair ground of com- plaint, and such a thing ought not to be done without absolute necessity. In the present case the Estimates which had been sanctioned by the Committee had been framed with special care. Of course, it was possible that they would be exceeded, .but so far things had gone on well. Our troops had had brilliant suocesses; the, colonies were loyal and the natiyes were quiet, and, although there might be some cause for anxiety in that day's news, every day brought us nearer to the time when we should have an overwhelming force in South Africa, and he saw no reason whatever for anticipating that the campaign would Africa, arid he saw no reason whatever for anticipating that the campaign would not be brQugfyt to a successful termination within the period covered by the Estimates. Another consideration to be borne in mind was that it was not necessary that the whole cost of the war should fall upon this country, for as our colonies had been invaded by the South African Republic it would be consistent with the laws of war that the Transvaal taxpayers should be made to bear part, at any rate, of the cost. He believed that under an honest Government it would be quite possible for the Trans- vaal to bear not only the ordinary expenses of Government, but also to provide a reasonable sum towards the cost of the war. For these reasons the Government thought it right not to have recourse to the income-tax for part of .the money that was wanted, and they also held that the consideration of the precisemanner in which the sum to be borrowed should be repayed ought to be deferred until the Budgetwas introduced. If we should meet with re- verses and the war should be prolonged, the Govern- ment. would appeal to the patriotism of tlu peoplellext April, and he felt sure that those who had supported the Government so loyally in the crisis would not fail the Government when the time came to pay the bill. There was an additional consideration that had influenced the Government. They recognised that it would be impossible to propose new taxation now without causing differences of opinion, prolonged debate, and divisions, which might be entirely mis- understood out of doors. As a Minister of the Crown, he refused at such a crisis as this to take any course which would be likely to cause division in that House when it was so desirable that we should present a united front to the world. The resolution which the righ hon. gentleman moved authorised the Treasury to raise any sum up to £ 8,000,000 by Treasury bills. Sir IIr Campbell-Bannerman expressed his concur- rence with the proposals of Sir M. Ificks-Beach, ob- serving that they contained sound financial doctrine, and at the same time accorded with the patriotic feelings which prevailed among them all. After' a debate, in which a number of members on both sides of the House took j>art, the resolution was confirmed, on a division, by 308 votes againsi '29.
THE NAVAL COMMANDER AT THE…
THE NAVAL COMMANDER AT THE CAPE. Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Hastings Harris, K.C.M.G., who has been given practically carteklanche as to the landing of marines and tars in South Africa, has been Commander-in-Chief of the Cape of Good Hope and West African Squadron for the past 12 months. He was born at Portsmouth in 1843, and is, tfhe son of the late Captain Robert Harris, R.N. He entered the navy at the age of 13, and 23 years later he obtained his captaincy. In 1889 he was appointed Naval Aide-de-camp to the Queen, and in 1893-5 he was Commodore in command of the Training Squadron. Previous to his appoint-, ment to the South African command he was Rear- Admiral of the Mediterranean Fleet.
SCHOOLBOY ESSAYS.
SCHOOLBOY ESSAYS. Among a number of amusing schoolboys' essays contributed to the current Cabell's Saturday Journal is the following by a youthful essayist, aged 10: Kragger and Kannerbulism is one. He is a man) of blud. Mr. Chamberling'has wrote to him sayin come out and fite or else give up the blud of the English you have took. he is a boardutchman and a wickid heethin. lord Kitchener has been sent for his goary blud and to bring back his scanderlus head ded or alive." By another juyenile writer Tennyson is thus sum- marised Tenyson wrote bntifull poims with long hair and studid so much that he sed mother will you call mi airly dear. his most gratest poim is calld the idoll King, He was made a lord but he was a good man and wrote many hoads. he luvd our Queen so much that be made a poim to her calld the 'airy Queen. 1
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-L. ULEROT, Judge of the Chambery Appeal Court, has been found dead at the foot of a precipice in the Valley of Ambin. It is believed the judge lost his way in a fog and fell over the precipice. CORNELL UNIVERSITY has a forestry department of 30,000 acres in the Adirondack mountains. Students work at theory during winter and in summer in the field. The professor is John Gifford. WHILB digging in the rectory garden at Merstham, near Redhill, on the supp6sed track of Old Pilgrims' Way from Canterbury to Winchester, a boy unearthed a gold coin of the period of James I. THE river steamer Montoya. in going down the Magdalena, was destroyed by fire and totally lost, with the cargo and mails. ST. LoUIS, United States, has adopted an electrical street-sweeper. The brush is revolved by an electric motor instead of the wheels, and with Advantage. THK Porte states that order is maintained in the Villayet of Kossovo, and that the reports of dissatis- faction among Albanians are without foundation. A YOUNG girl working at Sacre Francais pitmouth, near Dampremy, Belgium missed her footing, and feel to the bottom of the shaft to a depth of nearly 2000ft. THE Lords of the Admiralty have presented the Rev. Eugene Sullivan, M.A., Chaplain R.N., to the Greenwich Hospital living of Simonburn, Northum- berland. LpzxxANY, like the United Kingdom, has prohibited thfe use of saccharine in making beer. Belgium placer it on .the footing of a niedaoine, and France does not permit the use of it a* food;
I CURRENT SPORT.
CURRENT SPORT. The EJackheath Rugby Football Club were away at Birniingbam, on Saturday, where they beat; Moseley by a goal and three tries to nothing. London Scottish, who promise to be en extremely good sidb this season, defeated Oxford University bv a try to nothing, and Cambridge University easily beat the Harlequins by two goals and three tries to nothing. Richmond lost their match with Leicester by two gOak and two tries to nothing. In the county championship Durham and Cumberland played a drawn match of one try each. Among elu b results were the following: Swansea beat Gloucester, Northampton beat Coventry, Newport beat Cardiff, Guy's Hospital beat Old Leysians, Kensington beat Wickham Park, and Manchester be-at New Brighton. Saturdays Association League matches resulted as follows: Newcastle United and Sheffield United drew, at Newcastle, nothing being scored. Aston Villa bflat Manchester City (2-1). at A^ton i'nrlc. Notts Forest beat Blackburn Rovers (3—2). at Nottingham. Liverpool beat Notts County (3—I), at Liverpool. Stoke beat West Bromw;h Albion (1—0), at Stoke. Burnley beat, Biii- at ,y Burnley. Glossop drew with Everton (1-1). at Glossop. Preston North End drew with Derby County, at Preston, nothing being scored. Fog greatly interfered with Saturday's football matches in most places. The Corinthiiins and Sun- derland could not play at the Queen's Club; Cam- bridge University and London Caledonians played short time at Tufnell-park, the game being abandoned with the score three goals all. At Upton, Clapton beat the Casuals by one goal to none. Several Southern League matches had to be abandoned, among them being that between Tottenham Hotspur and Bristol Rovers, at Tottenham. The teams match between the two most distin- gnished players of the day in tennis would in any case be interesting; but its attractiveness was in- creased by the approaching departure of both men for a series of games in the United States. Peter Latham is one of the greatest champions we have ever had, and since Mr. Lyttelton Mr. Eustace Miles has easily swept the board of the best prizes in 'amateur tennis--the Marylebone gold prize and the -amatetir championship. At Prince's Club court, which is attached to the Bedford Hotel, Brighton, there was a very good dedans for Saturday's match. Peter Latham was giving the long odds of half 30. show- ing the wide guif that separates the skill of the best professional and the best amateur; but on this day Mr. Miles made such good use of his concession and of the fact that Latham lacked condition that he beat the champion in rather less than an hour and three-quarters by three sets to one. To begin with, Latham went very strongly his variety of ser- vice was very good. he kept a nice length, was strong on the openings, and made and won many short chases but thereafter he dropped his game. Mr. Miles seemed to draw him on to his particular game of hitting, and Latham never recovered his length and concerted strength for a particular point. Mr. Miles stuck to his game in a way that exacted the admiration of even those who decline to rate his play as first-class tennis. But his great activity and quickness in the corrt, his never giving up a ball, and his success for the openings make his game extremely profitable. He would be a great player were his game possessed of more finish. He won easily on Saturday. Latham was only seen at his best in the first set. His services were profitable, and his cut and length gave great wcrk to Mr. Miles. There were sundry long rests, and Mr. Miles made several clever boasts for the dedans but he was not often successful in playing for Latham's chases of a yard and there- abouts. The set progressed to four games all, and then Latham finished brilliantly and took the seat at six —four. From then began Mr. Miles's victorious career. Mr. Miles served several effective balls, and he often found the grille and the dedans, while his return was as good as ever. He got the lead from "two all," and won the set at six three. I In the third set one of the best things j was bhnse a yard by Mr. Miles, and this Latham only just lost. Following this was a period j of hard -hitting with chases mostly half-way up j the court. The sixth was a good game in which I therir were hirtriv long rests. Mr. Miles's stopping was very good and this and some effective boastin-, for the dedans enabled him to secure the set, after it had been 2-4 against him, at 6-4. In the fourth j set everything was for Mr. Miles, who reached 4 1. But Latham squared matters at 4 all," and there seemed every chance of another set. Fortune was for Mr. Miles, who won the set at 6-4 and the match by three sets to one. The golf-match between the famous professionals, Harry Vardon and Braid, on Saturday, was ruined by the weather. Braid was quite off his game, and Vardon, after establishing a lead in the first round of 18 holes, won by eight up and seven to play. Vardon was six up on the morning round, which he did in 72 to Braid s 78. The match was played over the Neaaden course, which was enveloped in fog in the afternoon. True golf was impossible. In several particulars the Highgate Harriers 82-mile road walking race and sealed handicap from East Firichley to Barnet and back on Saturday proved highly interesting. W. G. B"rn, the Essex walking champion, shared the post of honour at scratch with Harry Curtis, who was amateur cham- pion of England in the years 1890-4 (inclusive). Curtis led for half-a-mile, but was obviously unfit, and retired at two miles. Burn walked in excellent style, and. covering the course in 61min. 5 4-5sec., beat A. E. Woofer by 27sec. for first place. The way in which the latter pressed the Essex champipn came as a surprise, and with an allowance of 9inin. fvj won first prize in the sealed handicap by over 7min. from A. W. Grubb, jun. 8inin start. At the Costal Palace on Saturday F. G. Crowlv, C. H. Crowly (Silverdale Club) and J. H. Fellows (Unify Club) beat the triplet amateur records from two miles up to one hour inclusive, covering 28 miles 55 yards, as against the West, Litchfield, and Fraser record of 26 miles 1710 yards." A thick mist pre- vailed throughout the ride, and instead of going for the 50 miles record the riders were compelled to abandon the atfelnpit. At the conclusion of the first hour their record times were: Two miles, 4min. 5 4-5sec.; five miles, lOmin. 22sec.; 10 miles, 21tnin.. 12 4-5see. half-hour, 14 miles 125 yards; 15 miles, 32min. 3 4-5sec.; 20 miles, 43min. 2 l-5sec.; and 25 miles, 53n in. 44sec. The previous record for the latter distance was 55min. 25 2-5seo. { Under Association football rules on Monday Tottenham Hotspur beat Queen's Park Rangers, Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Southampton, and Small Heath beat Everton..j
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AUTHOR EVKKSHKD has been hon. treitaiireriind Mr. Clotidesly Brereton secretary to the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers. MRS. GKOHGE HOLT, wido% of one of the most generous supporters of University College, Liverpool, and her daughter, Miss Emma Holt, have iust sub- scribed E5000 to the physical laboratory. THE Christian Endeavour World's Convention next year, at which some 40,000 delegates are ex- pected to be present, will take the form of a huge camp meeting, instead of being held in a number of halls in various part of London. A picturesque park has been selected as the site, on which upwards of 1000 tents will be erected, besides two enormous meeting tents, capable of seating 10,000 persons each. The latter will be specially brought over from America. These, with several other large tents, will forliv A 11 whole city that will probably be unique in J the history of religious meetings. A LITTLE New York boy has the biggest nurse in j the world. The nurse's name is Basel, and it is the gentlest elephant that ever was. The baby is the little son of the elephant's keeper, and it is hard to tell whether the elephant loves the baby or the I baby loves the elephant most. If the elephant should i make a mistake, and set its big foot down on the little one, or should strike it with its swinging trunk, there Would be no more baby. But there is no danger of that, and the baby plays about between j the elephant's big feet, and looks up laughing at the j big, svyaying trunk. I IT is said that Miss Helen Gould, daughter of the late Mr. Jay Gould, gives E30,000, ormore than four times her own weight in gold, in charity every year. Even at this lavish rate, equalling the yearly income of a First Lord of the Treasury every two months, jfc will take Miss Gould more than 33 years to give fkway a millioii pounds sterling. That other wealthy American, Mr. A. D. Rockefeller, has given, w*ay in known amounts witfcin the last 10 years £ 5,000,000 sterling, in addition to a big swm?/' by stealth." Mr. Andrew Carnegie is said to bavespent at least three millions in iporksof charitj and ^hilan- I thropy. A COMMISSION has just been appointed by the French Prefect, of Mariae for the purpose of carrying out experituents with the submarine navigation of s II new type of boat specially constructed by the in* yentor, Goubet. The boat, in question is quite dif^ j ferent from the first submarine boat, the Goubet. Ii» -j form is very striking. Almost spherical in- shape. it j is about three metres in depth, £ hree metres in beam, j and four metres, jn.leegth. It is ,propelled by *] screw with a diamefor of 80 centimetres, apd tyro fins t or rudders are placed port and starboard for man- ] Qeuvring the boat when it is submerged. |
; MAJOR GIBBON'S EXPEDITION.
MAJOR GIBBON'S EXPEDITION. A correspondent, of a London ews Agency with Major Gibbon's Expedition sends tha following despatch: 0 Lialui (Barotsiland), August 5. The sad news, which probably arrived in England some time ago, of the death of Mr. Muller from dysentery, and the campulsory return home of Sir, 1 Welier through ill-health, has just reached Major I Gibbons and party in Barotsiland. It was cn these two gentlemen who, during the early part j of the Expedition, had proved themselves pre- I eminently qualified for the task entrusted to them that the Major relied tolproceed with the steamers and I main supplies up the Kapukee River, so that bv the time the exploring party had completed the work ¡ they had undertaken in this country, and rejoined the steamers the whole Expedition would be free to proceed overland to the Laupula, and thence by the Great Lakes to the Nile. The consequent abandon- ment of this route home, which becomes a necessity, is a great disappointment to the members of the ex- pedition who remain in Africa, more especially since the land transport over the 70 miles of rugged broken country fringing the Kebrabasa Rapids, and the passage of the Constance up the Zambesi, an ascent of 2500ft., as far as Wankies. towards the close of last year, went to prove the remaining part of the northern route not only to be quite feasible, but probably comparatively easy, as the currentlesa waters of the lakes and the favourable stream of the Nile would have substituted for the stiff head stream of the Zambesi. Mr. Weller, before his departure for England, succeeded in sending forward fresh supplies, so that the members of the Expedition will not have to finish" their work on native rations, as at one time seemed probable. In the meantime, owing to the old friend- ship between King Sewanika and Major Gibbons, and the keen and active interest evinced by Major Coryndon, the British Resident here. in the work of the Expedition, much has already been done in a comparatively short space of time. Major Gibbons has explored the Okavango from 18deg. 55min.soutb latitude to the Kwito, followed the latter river to. where 19deg. east longitude cuts 15deg. 6min. south latitude, and thence taking a north-easterly route across the Kwando. and returned to Lailtii. Captain Quicke, after ascending the Zambesi with canoes as far as Lailui, journeyed to the confluence of the Kubangui with the Kwando, followed the latter river to its source, thence in a northerly direction to the. Lungwebungn, which he followed to the Zambesi, and thence by land back to Lailui. Captain Stevenson Hamilton has just arrived here after following the- Kwando from it southern extremity for some dis- tance; he left the river and journeyed along the- eastern watershed to 14deg. 33min. south latitude, and thence to Lialui. He has been subjected to con- siderable delay through the desertion of his porters, but fortunately his head men remained loyal, and on one of them bearing a letter to, Lewanika, the King at once took steps for his release. The three travellers are in excellent health, and their routes in the aggre- gate already cover a distance of 3500 miles, mostly through unknown or unexplored districts, since. quitting the steamer early in January. Briefly, the plans for the future are these: At the end of this month Captains Quicke and Hamilton. will travel east to the Kafukwe, while Major Gibbon* will make a journey up the Zambesi, with canoes to. Nanakandundu, returning by river as far as the Kabompo confluence, whence he will make a line to. the Kapukwe. Captain Hamilton will then tmvel: down that river to its confluence with the Zambesi, where an aluminium boat awaits him, in which h& will descend the river to Zumbo, and return home via. the East Coast. Major Gibbons, with Captain Quicke. will travel up the Kafukwe, and. after following the Zambesi from its source to Nanakandundu, will make- for St. Paul de Loanda on the West Coast. All three hope to reach the Coast in December by their re- epective routes."
THE AMEER AND HIS TROOPS.
THE AMEER AND HIS TROOPS. It is said that the Ameer intends bringing to Cabul, probably for training, all the regiments which have been stationed for long periods at outlying; places. The regiments at Matun, in Khost, have. says a imla. correspondent, been there for 13 years without moving. No musketry training is attempted in these distant cantonments, and regiments which have been in them long cannot possibly be efficient. The troops brought in from the prdvinces will be relieved by fresh troops from Cabul.
NELSON RELICS.
NELSON RELICS. The Trafalgar Day Commemoration naturally- suggested to the Council of the Royal United Service Institution, in London, that the present would be an appropriate titne for the exhibition of relics con- nected with the life of the mighty seaman whose memorable victories secured for ever to Great Britain the undisputed empire of the seas. The col- lection which the council have succeeded in bringing together is one of surpassing interest. First there is a miniature of Nelson's father, Rector of Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, and an engraving of the old rectory which was pulled down in 1820; and next to this is a photograph of the certificate of the registration of Nelson's baptism in 1769, the handwriting being that of his father. In a certificate of a marriage signed by Nelson as a wit- ness when 10 years old he wrote his Christian name as Horace," but this was subsequently altered into "Horatio "by his father. A midshipman's dirk is shown which Nelson wore when serving on the Sea Horse in the East Indies in 1776. Among the miniatures there are several of Nelson at different periods of his life, and a very fine one of Viscountess Nelson, never before exhibited. A miniature of the Great Captain by A. W. Devis, painted in 1805, is lent by Lord Rosebery, and even of more interest is an engraving of the head and bust only which Nelson, in a letter dated February 2, 1S02, the original of which is shown, says he thinks it is the best like- ness" of him which had yet been taken. Among the personal relics, which are too numerous to mention in detail, are the cocked hat which Nelson wore at the battle of Copenhagen, April 2, 1801; the seal which he used in sealing his letter to the Danish Government with respect to the terms of peace; a combined gold knife and fork >vith steel edge, presented to him by Countess Spencer, wife of the First Lord of the Admiralty, to 'supply in some measure the) loss of his right arm at Santa Cruz, July 14, 1791; and the sword used by Nelson when boarding the Spanish ship San Josef at the battle of St. Vincent, 1789. It was on this occision that he exclaimed, Victory or Westminster Abbey and a few minutes later he received the sword of the Spanish captain on the quarter deck. One of the most interesting of the relics, lent by Mr. E. Eyre Matcham, is Nelson's private log of the Victory, which; is continued up to October 20, 1805, the day before the battle of Trafalgar. In the same case is a little blue silk purse, with a pearl at either end, constantly used by Nelson. It fell from his pocket as he lay dying in the cockpit of the V jctory, ana was picked up by the late Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, his flag captain. A water-colour drawing of the celebrated signal flag, "England expects everv man to do his duty," is accompanied by a letter from Lieutenant Pascoe, the signalling officer, who states I that he had the honour to suggest to the Admiral j the-substitution of the word "expects" for con- fides," which was originally proposed, because | the signalling of confides' would take some time, whereas "expects" only required one num- ber, and Nelson was anxious that the signal should be ma!de as quickly as possible because he desired to follow it by hoisting the signal (No. 16) for close actioii," Conspicuous among the presentations to the "shaibrof the Baltic and the Nile," as Tennyson calls him in his Ode on Wellington, is a magnificent aigrette of dtamonds presented as the rarest of dis- tictiohs by the Sultan of Turkey to Lord Nelson after k the °l *he Nile; the aigrette was taken from one o e Sultan B own turbans. In the same ease alW0,r.d of h°nour with an enamelled hilt f,1 p' W1.. ^iamonds, presented to Nelson after e attle of the Nile and a gold-mounted Malacca cane with a circlet of diamonds each of a different size, presented to him by the inhabitants of the island or Zante. It is said that all the diamonds in the island were collected to form this circlet. There are many other personal relics of the illustrious sailor, the examination of which will afford much pleasure to all who venerate his memory.
AGAINST CORSETS.
AGAINST CORSETS. The following circular has been addressed by the Minister of Public Instruction in Roumania, to the heads of all the educational institutions for young ladies throughout the country: "As it has been proved, practically as well as scientifically, that the corset is an article of anti-hygienic toilet, from the fact that it constitutes a permanent obstacle to the de- velopment of the body. and interferes with the functions of the pectoral organs, the undersigned suggests that the wearing of corsets by the pupils of educational institutions for young ladies be rigor- ously prohibited." j .——— —*
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MR. NEWWBDDED: This coffee is weak as water again." Mrs. N.: "I can't account for it, my dear. No matter how careful I am, it's always the same way." "Perhaps you don't use enough coffee." "N onsene! I put in a whole half cupful, and every- body says that's plenty." "Bid you measure th« water?" "Huh! Who ever heard of measuring water? All cooks pour "it right out of the tea-kettlaC "J I've seen 'Am rtnn-