Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-11-24
MOVING ON
ESTCOU2T
BOFmS MOUNTED PATROLS Al
VANCING ACROSS NTRY.
MADE AN ATTACK ON LADYsMITIi
THURSDAY.
REITERATED UNDER HEAVY FIRE
WITH GREAT LOSS.

London. Nov. 20.--The war office the
following telegram Sunday from Gen.
Sir Redvers-Buller TO the Marquis of
Lansdowne:
Cape Town, Nov. 1888 p. m
The following Is from the general com
mandlng ut Pietermartzburg:
To-day at 8 Il. III. the officer COM
manding our northern outposts report
ed that the enemy's mounted patrols
were advancing across the whole coun-
try from Gourton road 10 Ulandi, NOV
| Ing Oh Estcourt My force stood 10
arms. The outposts reported various
bodies, from 5OU TO 700 strong, advanc-
Ing on Estcourt from a noTthwesteriy
direction. one party, 500 strong
moved toward the railway bridge, half
a mile northwest Of Estcourt.
Our outposts flied on the enemy
and one OF the naval guns fired shell
ut $500 yards range, the shell burst
ing close TO the enemy, who then hur-
riedly retired.
"At u o'clock reports were received
from three pickets that u large mum
Der OF Beers were in sight on hill
above Leslie's Homestead The troops
have returned To camp
a special dispatch from Estcourt,
dated Sunday, Nov. 10, says: ''All is
quiet here. The enemy is believed 10
be camped six miles away. Our po-
sitlon is good and our forces are SUI
tciently strong to repulse attack
Durham, Natal, Nov. lS.-Tnc Times
of Natal publishes the following, dated
! Wednesday, NOV. IL, from its special
correspondent at Ladysmith: The
enemy made 4 determined attack on
Thursday, Nov. 8. Apparently all the
Boer forces participated Their artll-
lery opened ut 1 Il. M, pouring III shells
thick ana fast upon the British lo-
sitions although with no great effect.
They adopted the unusual tactics or
advancing under cover of their guns
TO positions on the ridges and kopjes
adjac, Mt to those occupied by the Brit
iSh troops on the lett of our camp.
continuing their advance the Beers
crept up. using every available bit OF
cover. Our infantry opened with a
steady. warm and accurate fire. which
beat back the enemy, nOtwit standing
display of tenacity Of purpose equal
10 their desperate stands on previous
occasions. The Bocr attack was most
elaborate on all sides Of the town.
The main attack, however, was
made between the Free State and
Newcastle railway lines by column
composed chiefly Of Johannesburg vol
unteGrs. a briga, Of the King
Royal Rifles corps made n splendid de-
Tense. The Beers were repulsed, but
soon rallied and returned to the aa-
tack. Again the British fire forced
them TO retire. I hey had mad" n
deep trench in froll Of the British
lines, and, whilee Withdrawing for
their horses, they ], this unguard, H.
wherCupon the Kings Rifles. advanc-
ing Mt double Qu.ek, occupied the
trench.
This smart movement was not seen
by the enemy, who soon returned with
the horses. Carefully rCServing their
fire, the Kings Rifles allowed the
Beers to advance almost to the edge or
the trench and then poured vOlley af
ter volley into the astounded Beers,
who turned and fled from an awful
hail OF bullets, boiling across the open,
where the artillery of the British pour
ed in a terrible and effective shell fire.
The enemy losa heavily.
meanwhile another section OF the
Beers had brought n mortar into ac-
ton, firing heavy shells. our guns
this weapon. the encmy's artillerymcn
fleeing hcadlong The Beers then adj
vanccd In force with n view OF repair
Ing the mortar, but our artillery shellcd
and scattered them right and left The
fighting was all over at IL o'clock"