BOOM. Thud, thud. Boom. Boom. Thud—thud thud—thud thud thud thud—boom. A long succession of queer moaning vibrations1 broke the stillness of the sleeping camp. I became suddenly awake. It was two o'clock on the morning of January 6. The full significance of the sounds came with consciousness. We had all heard them before—heavy cannonading at Ladysmith. They were at it again. How much longer would the heroic garrison2 be persecuted3?
I turned to rest once more. But the distant guns forbade sleep. The reports grew momentarily more frequent, until at last they merged4 into one general roar. This was new. Never before had we heard such bombarding. Louder and louder swelled5 the cannonade, and presently the deep note of the heavy artillery6 could scarcely be distinguished7 above the incessant8 discharges of field pieces. So I lay and listened. What was happening eighteen miles away over the hills? Another bayonet attack by the garrison? Or perhaps a general sortie: or perhaps, but this seemed scarcely conceivable, the Boers had hardened their hearts and were delivering the long expected, long threatened assault.
An officer came to my tent with the daylight. Something big happening at Ladysmith—hell of a cannonade—never heard anything like it—worse than Colenso—what do you think of it? But I was without opinion; nor did I find anyone anxious to pronounce. Meanwhile the firing was maintained, and we breakfasted to its accompaniment. Until half-past ten there was not the slightest diminution9 or intermission. As the day advanced, however, it gradually died away, showing either that the fight was over, or, as it afterwards turned out, that it had passed into the hands of riflemen.
We all spent an anxious morning speculating on the reason and result of the engagement. About noon there arrived an unofficial message by heliograph, which the young officer at the signal station confided10 to his friends. It was brief. 'General attack all sides by Boers—everywhere repulsed11—but fight still going on.'
At one o'clock, just as were sitting down to luncheon12, came an orderly at full gallop13 with the order for the whole force in Chieveley to turn out at once. Whereat the camp, till then dormant14 under the midday sun, sprang to life like a disturbed ant-hill. Some said we were about to make a regular attack on Colenso, while many of the covering army of Boers were busy at Ladysmith. Others suggested a night assault—with the bayonet. The idea was very pleasant to the hearts of the infantry15. But I soon learned that no serious operation was in contemplation, and that the force was merely to make a demonstration16 before Colenso with the object of bringing some of the Boers back from Ladysmith, and of so relieving the pressure on Sir George White.
The demonstration was, however, a very imposing17 affair. First of all the mounted forces threw out a long fringe of patrols all along the front. Behind this the squadrons made a line of black bars. The mounted infantry, Bethune's Horse, and the Natal18 Carabineers formed the left: the South African Light Horse the centre, and the 13th Hussars and Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry twisted back to watch the right. Behind this curtain marched the infantry, Hildyard's brigade on the right, Barton's on the left, line after line of brown men ten yards apart, two hundred yards between the lines, spreading in this open formation over a wide expanse of country, and looking a mighty19 swarm20. Behind these again dark blocks of artillery and waggons21 moved slowly forward. Behind, and above all, the naval23 battery began to throw its shells into the village.
The cavalry24 soon cleared the front, the squadrons wheeled about, the patrols retreated. The South African Light Horse, with whom I now have the honour to serve, were stationed in rear of Gun Hill, a rocky eminence25 so called because a heavy battery was placed there in the last engagement. From this feature an excellent view of the operation was afforded, and thence we watched the whole development.
Sir Francis Clery, General Hildyard, and their respective Staffs had also taken their position on Gun Hill, so that its crest26 was thickly crowded with figures peering exhaustively through field glasses and telescopes. The infantry, who were now moving steadily27 forward, were literally28 sprinkled all over the country.
In the text-books compiled from the results of past experience the military student reads that armies divide to march and concentrate to fight. 'Nous avons changé tout29 cela.' Here we concentrate to march and disperse30 to fight. I asked General Hildyard what formation his brigade was in. He replied, 'Formation for taking advantage of ant-heaps.' This is a valuable addition to the infantry drill.
Meanwhile the demonstration was in progress, and not without effect. Only the well-informed realised that it was a demonstration, and the privates, as they walked phlegmatically31 on, did not know that they were not about to be plunged32 into another deluge33 of fire.
'You watch it, Bill,' I heard one man remark, 'we'll have that —— laughing hyena34' (the Vickers-Maxim gun) 'let off at us in a minute.'
The Boers, too, seemed to be deceived, or, at any rate, doubtful, for we could see them in twos and threes, and presently in fives and sixes, galloping35 into their trenches37, which were evidently deep enough to shelter horse and man. It was most probable that larger bodies had already begun their countermarch from Ladysmith. We were not wasting our time or our trouble.
The infantry halted about three thousand yards from the enemy's position, and the artillery, which numbered fourteen guns, trotted38 forward and came into action. All these movements, which had been very deliberately39 made, had taken a long time, and it was now nearly five o'clock. Dark thunder-clouds and a drizzle40 of rain descended41 on the silent Boer position, and the range of hills along which it stretched lay in deep shadow as if under the frown of Heaven. Our batteries also were ranged in this gloomy zone, but with the reserves and on the hill whence we were watching there was bright sunlight.
The bombardment and the storm broke over the Boer entrenchments simultaneously42. A swift succession of fierce red flashes stabbed out from the patches of gunners, teams, and waggons, and with yellow gleams soft white balls of smoke appeared among the houses of Colenso and above the belts of scrub which extend on either side. The noise of explosions of gun and projectile43 came back to us on the hill in regular order, and above them rang the startling discharges of the 4.7-inch naval guns, whose shells in bursting raised huge brown dust clouds from houses, trench36, or hillside. At the same time the thunder began to rumble44, and vivid streaks45 of blue light scarred the sombre hills. We watched the impressive spectacle in safety and the sunlight.
Besides creating a diversion in favour of Ladysmith the object of our demonstration was to make the enemy reveal his position and especially the positions of his guns. In this latter respect, however, we were defeated. Though they must have suffered some loss and more annoyance46 from the bombardment, and though much of the infantry was well within the range of their guns, the Boers declined to be drawn47, and during two hours' shelling they did not condescend48 to give a single shot in reply. It needs a patient man to beat a Dutchman at waiting. So about seven o'clock we gave up trying.
It had been intended to leave the troops on the enemy's front until night and withdraw them after dark, the idea being to make him anxious lest a night attack should be designed. But as some of the battalions49 had turned out without having their dinners, Sir Francis Clery decided50 not to keep them under arms longer, and the whole force withdrew gracefully51 and solemnly to camp.
Here we found news from Ladysmith. 'Enemy everywhere repulsed for the present.' For the present! Hold on only a little longer, gallant52 garrison, and if it be in the power of 25,000 British soldiers to help you, your troubles and privations shall soon be ended—and what a dinner we will have together then!
That night we tried to congratulate or encourage Ladysmith, and the searchlight perseveringly53 flashed the Morse code on the clouds. But before it had been working half an hour the Boer searchlight saw it and hurried to interfere54, flickering55, blinking, and crossing to try to confuse the dots and dashes, and appeared to us who watched this curious aerial battle—Briton and Boer fighting each other in the sky with vibrations of ether—to confuse them very effectually.
Next morning, however, the sun came out for uncertain periods, and Ladysmith was able to tell her own story briefly56 and jerkily, but still a very satisfactory account.
At two o'clock, according to Sir George White, the Boers in great numbers, evidently reinforced from Colenso, surprised the pickets57 and began a general attack on the outpost line round the town, particularly directing their efforts on C?sar's Camp and Waggon22 Hill. The fighting became very close, and the enemy, who had after all hardened their hearts, pushed the attack with extraordinary daring and vigour58. Some of the trenches on Waggon Hill were actually taken three times by the assailants. But every time General Hamilton—the skilful59 Hamilton as he has been called—flung them out again by counterattacks. At one place, indeed, they succeeded in holding on all day, nor was it until the dusk of the evening, when the rain and thunderstorm which we saw hanging over Colenso broke on Ladysmith, that Colonel Park led forth60 the Devon Regiment—who, having had half their officers killed or wounded by a shell some days before, were probably spiteful—and drove the Dutchmen helter skelter at the point of the bayonet. So that by night the Boers were repulsed at every point, with necessarily great slaughter61, greater at any rate than on our side. Their first experience of assaulting! Encore!
Battles now-a-days are fought mainly with firearms, but no troops, however brave, however well directed, can enjoy the full advantage of their successes if they exclude the possibilities of cold steel and are not prepared to maintain what they have won, if necessary with their fists. The moral strength of an army which welcomes the closest personal encounter must exceed that of an army which depends for its victories only on being able to kill its foes62 at a distance. The bayonet is the most powerful weapon we possess out here. Firearms kill many of the enemy, but it is the white weapon that makes them run away. Rifles can inflict63 the loss, but victory depends, for us at least, on the bayonets.
Of the losses we as yet know nothing, except that Lord Ava is seriously wounded, a sad item for which the only consolation64 is that the Empire is worth the blood of its noblest citizens. But for the general result we rejoice. Ladysmith, too, is proud and happy. Only ten thousand of us, and look what we do! A little reproachfully, perhaps; for it is dull work fighting week after week without alcohol or green vegetables.
Well, it looks as if their trials were very nearly over. Sir Charles Warren's Division marches to Frere to-day. All the hospitals have been cleared ready for those who may need them. If all's well we shall have removed the grounds of reproach by this day week. The long interval65 between the acts has come to an end. The warning bell has rung. Take your seats, ladies and gentlemen. The curtain is about to rise.
'High time, too,' say the impatient audience, and with this I must agree; for, looking from my tent as I write, I can see the smoke-puff bulging66 on Bulwana Hill as 'Long Tom' toils67 through his seventy-second day of bombardment, and the white wisp seems to beckon68 the relieving army onward69.
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1
vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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3
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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4
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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11
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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12
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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13
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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14
dormant
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| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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natal
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| adj.出生的，先天的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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23
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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tout
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| v.推销，招徕；兜售；吹捧，劝诱 | |
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disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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phlegmatically
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32
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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36
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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38
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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39
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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40
drizzle
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| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
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41
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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42
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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43
projectile
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| n.投射物，发射体；adj.向前开进的；推进的；抛掷的 | |
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44
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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45
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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46
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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47
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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49
battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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50
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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51
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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52
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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perseveringly
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| 坚定地 | |
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54
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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63
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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66
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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toils
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| 网 | |
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68
beckon
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| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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