In making their dispositions the Boers occupied in chief force the western elevations, intrenching their artillery on the inner and lower of the two.

A thinner firing line was developed thence to the eastward, along the summit of the ridge covering the approach from the front.

A flank being usually the weakest part of a line, the natural course for the assailant would {p.051} be to attack in flank at the lower--eastern--extremity of the ridge, and to advance thence toward the main positions, supported in so doing by a secondary front attack by riflemen and artillery.

To impede such an attempt the Boers had set up at intervals barbed wire fences.

Through these, and over a broken rocky surface, the attacking column must fight its way, step by step, till the final hills were reached and could be rushed as Talana had been by their countrymen the day before.
The plan above outlined was the one adopted by General French; seven companies of infantry being allotted to the front attack, a regiment and five companies to that upon the flank.