German composition

Section 177 The Battle of Kassassin. V.

The Infantry there⁠1 had indeed had a hot time of it⁠2. Hundreds of shells had (S. 29, N. 3) burst in the confined⁠3 space, and the shelter trenches⁠4 afforded but an insufficient protection. On the left of the position⁠5, next to the Canal, were⁠6 the Marine Artillery, then came the 46th, and next⁠7 to them the 84th⁠8, the⁠9 slight earthworks sweeping round again in a semi-circle almost to the Canal. The Mounted⁠10 Infantry were in front under Captain Pigott, who⁠11 has received a wound, having been shot through the thigh.

The Egyptians came on with great bravery, and in spite of the⁠12 heavy like of our men⁠13, were rapidly gaining ground, and would soon have rushed⁠14 into the entrenchments, when the roar of our guns on⁠15 their left rear, followed⁠16 by the rush of our Cavalry, proved⁠17 too much for them, and from (S. 102, N. 4) that moment they thought only of flight.

Our casualties are surprisingly⁠18 small considering⁠19 the fire to which our men were exposed. Lieutenant Edwards, of the Mounted Infantry, was⁠20 shot in the arm, Surgeon-Major⁠21 Shaw, of the 46th, was⁠22 killed, and some ten or a dozen men, but, fortunately, the Remington bullet wounds rather than kills; the hospital was crowded⁠23 with wounded men.

About 10 o’clock the Cavalry came in⁠24 in high spirits over their brilliant achievement. Many, of course, are missing in the darkness, but will, no doubt, turn up⁠25 in the morning. Upon their⁠26 return from the pursuit they⁠27 were unable to find the guns over which they had charged, but these⁠28 will doubtless be discovered at sunrise. After learning from them⁠29 the events⁠30 of the charge, I⁠31 started to ride here to get off⁠32 my despatches,—a⁠33 distance of twenty-four miles. This solitary ride over the dismal desert by moonlight was not⁠34 the least exciting part of an exciting day.

Late⁠35 as it was, I found at (auf) the different posts the men⁠36 busy at work entrenching, and met troops also on⁠37 their march to reinforce those at the front.

The enemy’s force⁠38 engaged was estimated at 13,000. The Egyptians fought well until our Cavalry and guns took⁠39 them in the rear, and, had⁠40 it not been for the gallantry of the defenders of Kassassin, would⁠41 have carried the position before our reinforcements came upon the scene.

At⁠42 the time I left, the losses were unknown, but were⁠43 supposed to be about twenty killed and a hundred wounded.

As⁠44 I am writing, Sir Garnet Wolseley and⁠45 the entire army are marching to the front.—The Correspondent of the London “Standard.”

Notes

1 there, dortig, which is an attributive adj., to be placed before the noun ‘Infantry’.

2 to have a hot time of it, einen schweren Stand haben.

3 = narrow.

4 die Schanzgräben.

5 = camp.

6 = stood.

7 next to them = finally.

8 Supply ‘regiment’.

9 = whilst the insignificant entrenchments (Verschanzungen) swept round in a semi-circle almost to (bis zu) the canal. ‘To sweep round,’ here sich hin´schlängeln, of which the pron. sich must be placed immediately after the subject, and the verb?

10 beritten, adj.

11 = who was wounded (S. 2, N. 1) and had received a shot through the thigh.

12 Nom. das lebhafte Schießen.

13 = troops; were rapidly gaining ground = advanced rapidly (schnell vor´wärtsrücken), sep. comp. w. v. intr. Where must you place the verb? and where the separable particle?

14 to rush into the entrenchments, in die Schanzwerke dringen (str. v.).

15 on — rear, an ihrer linken Flanke.

16 und der darauf folgende un´erwartete Angriff unserer Kavallerie.

17 = had not terrified them (einen in Schrecken jagen).

18 = extraordinarily.

19 = if one considers (bedenken), that our troops were exposed to a really murderous fire.

20 = is wounded; in, an, contracted with the Dat. of the def. art.

[21] Stabsarzt.

22 was — kills = and ten or a dozen (zehn bis zwölf) men (= privates, Gemeine) are killed, but fortunately the Remington bullet (Kugel, f.) is but (nur) rarely fatal (ist... von tödlicher Wirkung).

23 = quite full of. The wounded man, der Verwundete.

24 = returned; in high spirits, höchst erfreut.

25 to turn up, sich wieder ein´stellen; ‘in the morning’, here morgen früh.

26 = the; from their pursuit, von ihrer Verfolgung.

27 Literally = could the Cavalry the cannons, which they had conquered, not find again (wiederfinden).

28 = the same.

29 = the horsemen (Kavalleristen).

30 = details, Einzelheiten.

31 ritt ich nach hier ab.

32 = send off.

33 Commence a new period here, and say: ‘The distance from Kassassin to here [Ismailia] is (beträgt) 24 miles’.

34 = by no means, keineswegs, adv.

35 = Notwithstanding the late hour.

36 Mannschaften.

37 on their march, welche auf dem Marsch begriffen waren.

38 Streitkräfte, pl.; was = were; at 13,000, an 13,000 Mann.

39 = attacked.

40 hätten die Verteidiger von Kassassin nicht eine solche Tapferkeit bewiesen, so, etc.

41 = the enemy would.

42 = When I rode away.

43 = were estimated at (auf) about, etc.

44 = Whilst.

45 = with.