The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-23
OFFICIAL STORY.
General White Tells of Elandslaagte
Fight.

Right.
London, Oct 22.-The war office this
afternoon published the following dis
patch to the secretary of state for war,
the Marquis of Lansdowne, from the
general commanding in South Africa,
General Sir Stewart White, regarding
the engagements yesterday at Glands
laagte, between Glencoe and Lady
smith, when the British under General
French routed the Transvaal forces I'M
der General Jan H. NJ. Kock, second in
command in the Transvaal, who was
himself wounded and captured and has
since died:
white. Commander, in Natal to the
Secretary of State for War:
Filled, Ladysmith, Oct. %, 1890 a. m.
in the action at Elandsgaate yes
terday the troops engaged were the fol-
lowing
Cavalry, Fifth Lancers, a squadron
Of the Fifth Dragon Guards, the I'M
perial Light Horse. and two squadrons
of Natal carbineers; artillery. Twenty
first field battery, Forty-second field
battery, and the Natal field battery:
infantry, the DevonShiTe regiment, half
a battalion Of the Gordon Highlanders.
and the Manchester regiment. The
whole force was under General French,
with Colonel Ian Hamilton command
ing the infantry.
Il was present in person from $3.50
to $50 .. m. but did not assume direc-
ton of the fight, which was left in the
hands of General French. Although
desultory fighting took place. earlier in
the day. while reinfOrcements, sent out
later. on ascertaining the enemy's
strength. were arriving from Lady
smith, the real action did not begin I'M
til $3.50 D. IN. At that hour the Beers
held a position Of very exceptional
strength, consisting Of rock hill about
q mile and half south aast of Glands
laagte station.
Beers Shoot Well.
AT $50 p. m. our guns took position
on a ridge AGO yards frcm the Beers,
whose guns at once opened fire This,
fire was generally well directed but
somewhat high. This time, contrary to
previous experience, their shells burst
well.
The Imperial Light Horse moved to-
wards the left Of the enemy's position,
and two squadrons of the Fifth Lam
GERS towards MS right During the ar
tillery duel, mounted Beers pushed out
from their left and engaged the I'm
perial Light Horse. In a few minutes
the enemy's guns ceased firing and our
artillery was turned on the mounted
Beers, who opposed the Imperial Light
Horse. The latter at once fell back
After the artillery preparations, our in
fantry advanced to the attack, support
ed by our guns in the second position
The DevonShires held the enemy in
front. while the Manchester regiment
and the Gordon Highlanders turned his
let flank
The Boer guns. although often tenn
oT0hrlad FIRE
again on the slightest opportunity. and
We're served with great courage. After
severe fighting. our infantry carried the
position. At $50 p. m. this was accom-
plished. the enemy standing his ground
TO the last with courage and tenacitv.
the Filth DIaSoc n guards cnarSe1 Inree
times through the retreating Beers in
the dark. doing considerable eXecu-
ton
Beer General Wounded.
1--WE captured the Boer camp, with
tents. wagons, horses and also two
guns. The Boer losses were very con-
siderable. Including a number of
wounded and unwounded prisoners.
Among the former are General Jan
Kock and Pet Joubert. nephew of Com
lna,,ae~ General Joubert
zone goods train with supplies for
Glencoe camp, and nine English prison.
ers. were recovered. Our loss, I regret
TO say. was heavy, if roughly computed.
al 100 killed and wounded
THE collection Of the wounded over
large area in the dark and the arrange
ments for sending them in has thus far
occupied our time and attention. A
full list win go to YOU later.
Our wounded and those of the enc
my are now arriving by trains. Besides
Beers. we have many Hollanders, Ger
mars and prisoners of mixed national
tiles. The behavior Of our troops and
Of the colonial forces wes admirable
There is no longer. however. any ap-
prehension of even the expected initia
success of the Beers. The two victories
already gained by the British must
Rave completely disillusioned them of
the idea they had gained through the
Ma5uba affair, and looking to the state
ments already circulated that President
Kruger himself was opposed to sending
the ultimatum. there is speculation ir
some quarters that the Beers may now
sue for peace
At least. it is considered that all fears
of a Dutch rising in the British colonies
may be set aside.
Much admiration has been excited. by
the bravery shown by the Beers.
TIE Times says: They are honorable