For
The Most Part The Men Lay Upon Their Faces, And Fired When They
Could At The Enemy; But The
Cover which the latter kept was so
excellent that an officer who expended 120 rounds has left it upon
record
That he never once had seen anything positive at which to
aim. Lieutenant Lindsay brought the Seaforths' Maxim into the
firing-line, and, though all her crew except two were hit, it
continued to do good service during the day. The Lancers' Maxim was
equally staunch, though it also was left finally with only the
lieutenant in charge and one trooper to work it.
Fortunately the guns were at hand, and, as usual, they were quick
to come to the aid of the distressed. The sun was hardly up before
the howitzers were throwing lyddite at 4000 yards, the three field
batteries (18th, 62nd, 75th) were working with shrapnel at a mile,
and the troop of Horse Artillery was up at the right front trying
to enfilade the trenches. The guns kept down the rifle-fire, and
gave the wearied Highlanders some respite from their troubles. The
whole situation had resolved itself now into another Battle of
Modder River. The infantry, under a fire at from six hundred to
eight hundred paces, could not advance and would not retire. The
artillery only kept the battle going, and the huge naval gun from
behind was joining with its deep bark in the deafening uproar. But
the Boers had already learned - and it is one of their most valuable
military qualities that they assimilate their experience so
quickly - that shell fire is less dangerous in a trench than among
rocks.
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