Battles of the nineteenth century . ranco-German?war there were from 5,000 to 10,000 men to the mile of front. Inthese South African battles, on the Boer side theproportion has frequently been as low as a fewhundred men to the mile. When he advanced, on the morning of Mayloth. Lord Roberts hoped not only to force thepassage of the river, but also to cut off the Boerretreat. With this object in view, while Pole-Carew crossed near the wrecked railway bridge (ofwhich four out of five spans had been destroyed)and Tuckers division attacked the Boer left,French with the newly arrived ca%alry divisio
Battles of the nineteenth century . ranco-German?war there were from 5,000 to 10,000 men to the mile of front. Inthese South African battles, on the Boer side theproportion has frequently been as low as a fewhundred men to the mile. When he advanced, on the morning of Mayloth. Lord Roberts hoped not only to force thepassage of the river, but also to cut off the Boerretreat. With this object in view, while Pole-Carew crossed near the wrecked railway bridge (ofwhich four out of five spans had been destroyed)and Tuckers division attacked the Boer left,French with the newly arrived ca%alry divisionwas to cross the river some miles to the west ofthe railway, sweep round the Boer right, andendeavour to seize Ventersburg Station, somemiles to the rear of their position. The actual crossing of the river by the twoinfantry divisions was effected without anydifficulty. It was only when they began todeploy on the north bank that the Boer gunsopened fire. Roberts then brought severalbatteries into action against the enemys centre. THE CROSSING OF THE ZAND RIVER. and left. Far away to. the right French hadcrossed with his cavalry at dawn. Porter, withthe 1st Brigade, led the way, the Inniskillingsbeing pushed well to the front. As they reachedthe high ground above the river, they sawapproaching at short range three small columnsof mounted men in khaki uniforms. Theymoved in such regular order that they were atfirst supposed to be some of our own mountedinfantry. Just before thev appeared Porter hadsent back word to French that there was nosign of the enemv in front, and the Inniskillingsdid not realise that they were in the presence ofBoers until the khaki-clad men suddenly haltedat short range and poured in a deadly fire fromtheir Mausers. The enemy to be thenewly raised regimentknown as the Afrik-ander Horse, each manof which was providedwith a spare horse inorder to enable thecorps to make morerapid marches. The Inniskillingscouts were driven inwith a loss of four-t
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1901
