We have no intention of blaming any portion of the
troops on present reports, and doubt, indeed, when the facts are known, whether it will be shown that as far as the courage of the troops went ' there was any failure—in the confusion caused by a mob of stampeding animals disaster is almost unavoidable— but it is, at any rate, safe to say that the gunners, and the infantry of the Northumberland Fusiliers and the Loyal North Lancashires, showed great courage and steadiness. We regret to see, however, that before the facts have been ascertained, an attempt has been made to lay the blame of the panic on the Yeomanry. To judge by the casualty lists, this is most un- fair, for the mounted men appear to have been chiefly Colonial troops,—i.e., Cape Police and Diamond Fields Corps of various kinds. By all means let us know the exact facts as to the behaviour of the various corps, but it would be unjust, in any case, to single out the Yeomanry for condemnation. Even if they were seized with panic on this particular occasion, it would not be proved that they were worthless, any more than it would be proved that our magnificent Regular cavalry (and we yield to none in our admiration of them) are worthless because during the present war Regular cavalry have shared in our disasters.
