NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE usual news of disaster from South Africa. General Colley decided, under the circumstances detailed elsewhere, to seize Majuba Hill, a position from which, with artillery, be 'could turn the Boer encampment at Laing'e Neck inside out, his ..guns completely commanding the position. The idea was brilliant, and had he waited a few days, must have given him the victory ; but the General was impatient of his defeats, and on Saturday, February 26th, set out for the hill with only 697 men and officers, of whom 800 were left to guard communica- tions. He seized the hill, after a most difficult march, and -thought it impregnable ; and the Boers, believing be had artillery, prepared for flight. General Colley had, however, no cannon, and a Gatling gun which he carried with him never got up ; and on Sunday, the Boers, discover- ing this weakness, swarmed up on all sides. Three times they were repulsed, but the fourth time they broke in, and drove the British down the hill, firing on thorn as they fled, till of less than 400 men actually on the hill, 266—more -than half—were killed, and wounded, and taken. General Colley was shot through the head, and though the men fought well, they were taken by surprise, and part of them at least—two companies of the 92nd Highlanders in particular— had exhausted the ammunition in their pouches, and could get no more. This was at first attributed to carelessness, but it is now said that the reserve ammunition was cut off by the Boers, who are led, it would appear, by an Irishman named Aylward, formerly a Fenian Centre.
