Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-12-02

1850
Oou'hward were unable to traverse the
Boo ..lcs, gives an interesting ac-
count Ci the fighting during the last
woeh II October. The correspondent
says:
AI,er the failure to rush the town
General Cronje had recourse to the tao
Hcs employed during the seige of Pot
chefstroom in 1884, making an advance
10 the town by succession of trenches
In cchelon. Such a movement had been
anticipated by us for some time, and
for that reason there had been sent out
parties to worry the Beers necessarily
by night attacks. These tactics the
Onemy disliked, but he contented him
sell with daily shell fire, which ex-
posed him to little personal risk. Then
Colonel Baden-Powell played his trump
card by sending out Fitz-Clarence's
Darty to worry the occupants Of tren-
ehes. The little force stole out silent
~ IN tho darkness. No shot was fired,
and the men, with fixed bayonets,
creeping rather than walking along,
approached the chief Boer position
near the race course. Then, as they
closed in there was shrill screech.
Il was Fita- Clarence's whistle and the
signal for onslaught.
A ringing cheer, which the listeners
back in camp caught up, was the only
reply as the party dashed into the
trenches. There was a short struggle,
the attacking forces catching and bay
oneting the Beers under the tapaulins,
where they crouched, crying for mercy.
At least fifty bayonets got to work and
the havoc wrought was terrible.
For Just a moment there was no sys-
tamatlc return fire, but then perfect
hailstorm of bullets poured In from the
trenches to the rear. Again Fitz-Clar-
ence's whistle sounded. 1t meant
cease firing and scatter homeward."
The British forces scattered, creeping
back under the furious fire in the dark
ness to the appointed rendezvous,
where the roll was called.
Colonel Baden-Powell met and con-
graduated Captain Fitz-Clarence and
mis- men upon their splendid work, say
ing that it was a heavy price to pay,
but that the Beers had to be stopped
making rifle trenches within range Of
the town. The members of the party
ere now the envy and pride Of the gar
-ison. Even the Boer commander,
Botha, expressed admiration of the at
tack, and added that he would take
Mafeking before long, for he meant to
do one thing or the other quickly.
Sunday passed quitely, the Volunteer
band laying in the womans lager.
All Sunday night the Beers poured a
rifle fire into the town. 1t was still go
ing after dinner Sunday evening, when
Colonel Baden-Powell hoisted a red
lamp en- the commonage, which was
the scene of Captain Fitz-Clarence's
night attack. The ruse answered splen-
didly The moment the light appeared
the Beers opened fire and their fusilade
lasted the whole night through.
There has been tremendous waste
Of an .lunition. Indeed, 1t is estimat-
ed that $4,000 rounds of bal cartridges
were wasted on the occasion of the
night lttack on the Boer trenches
Double rations have been served out
to the men, who are under shelter, so
az to be on the safe side IL the Beers
should sweep the town by long rifle
fire. The garrison is hanging on fine
ly. Colonel Baden-Powell has the full
est confidence in everybody, and especi-
ally IN the matter of implicit obedience
to the order to hold the fire until the
Boers get to close range.
The Smelling continued all Sunday at
intervals, About o'clock in the after
noon General Cronje sent in a flag Of
truce giving Mafeking's last chance to
sure eI at the eleventh hour. While
the fig was receiving attention the
heavy COMMANDMENT continued.
TIL dispatch then describes General
Cron $ great attack OF Monday, the
detail a which have already been OBJ
tame from Colonel Baden-Powell's
oficif '3latch
"Tl end came" SAYS the correspon-
dent or Ave hours lighting The
enemy retired being heavily beaten for
all IT, q, so far as Mefeking Is con-
aerne It was the hottest day of the
Siege, 5ld the firing was terrific, the
Beers evidently recognizing that the
only way into Mafeking, il any, was
by a kopje which was CALAMITY de-
tended by Colonel Walford's men. The
garria is jubilant, while the Beers
nave been hurled back in disorder OF