NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ELSEWHERE we have commented on the week's warfare which has enlivened the western heaths of Surrey ; and here we may describe the operations, such as they were. The first series were marred by too much pre-arrangement ; the last, which continued for one day, was improvised. Eight days ago the 1st Division, 10,000 strong, under Sir Hope Grant, and representing the British Army, was attacked by the 2nd (Carey) and the 3rd (Staveley), each as strong as the let. These two were, one to carry the Hog's Back, the other to turn it by Aldershot, and drive the British to Chobharn. Sir Hope Grant, however, refusing to hold the Hog's Back, retreated to Gravel Pit Hill, above Ash, and seducing Staveley to follow him, routed that General before Carey's wide sweep to the westward could take effect. Nevertheless, Grant, au pre-arranged, retired by Pirbright to Sisley, on the north of the Basingstoke Canal and South-Western Railway. On Monday, the two divisions again assailed the first, Staveley cross- ing the canal, and Carey working round by Frimley and Bag- shot. The overwhelming force directed against him compelled Grant once more to yield, and he fell back into an entrenched camp, the apex of which was Staples Hill, the right flank towards the railway at Sunningdale, the left over Gracious Pond, all marked in Wyld's map. On Tuesday the two divisions made a fruitless attack on the guns, redoubts, and rifle-pits, and were, of course, repulsed. So far, the sole use of the mauceuvres had been to teat the tactical management of troops and their marching capabilities, to test also " the Control," and exercise infantry and cavalry in outpost work and scouting.
