Iron County register., 1899-11-23
THE BoER's BEATEN BACK.
Ostails of the UnsuceessfuI Attack on Lady.
smith, by the Beers on Tues
day, November 9.

Details of the Unsuccessful Attack ON LADY.
smith, by the Beers ON Tues
day, November 9.
Durham, Natal, Saturday, Nov. 1s.--
The Times of Natal publishes the fol-
lowing, dated Wednesday, November
Is, from its special correspondent at
LaGysmith:
Determined Attack.
''The enemy made a determined at
tack on Thursday, November 9. An
Parently all the Boer forces participat-
ed. Their artillery opened at a. m.
pouring in shells thick and fast upon
the British positions, although with no
great effect. They adopted the unusual
tactics Of advancing under cover of
their guns to positions on the ridges
and kopjes adjacent to those occupied
by the British troops, on the left of
our camp.
Crept Up Under Cover,
Continuing their advance. the Beers
crept up, using every available bit of
cover. Our infantry opened with a
steady, warm fire, whicA beat back the
enemy, developing a tenacity of pur-
pose equal to their desperate stands on
previous occasions.
Occupied the Enemy's Trench.
'The BOer attack was most elaborate
on all sides of the town. The main at
tack, however, was made between the
Free State and New Castle railway
lines by a column composed chiefly of
johannesburg volunteers. 4 brigade
of tie Kings Royal rifles corps made
a splendid defense. The Beers were re-
pulsed, but soon rallied and returned
to the attack. Again the British fire,
which was very hot, forced them to re-
tire. They had made a deep trench in
front of the British lines. and while
withdrawing for their horses, they left
this unguarded, whereupon the Kings
rifles, advancing double quick, occu-
pied the trench.
A Terrible Surprise.
This smart movement was not seen
by the enemy, who soon returned with
the horses. Carefully reserving their
fire, the Kings rifles allowed the
Beers to advance almost to the edge of
the trench, and then poured voIley af-
ter volley into the astounded Beers,
who turned and fed from an awful
bail of bullets, boiling across the open.
where the artillery of the British
poured in a terrible and effective shell
Ere The enemy lost heavily.
SheIled and Scattered the Enemy.
Meanwhile another section of the
Beers had brought a mortar into ac-
ton, firing heavy shells Our guns.
concentrating upon it, soon silenced
this weapon. the enemy's artillerymen
fleeing headlong. The Beers then ad-
vaDced in force with view of repair
ing the mortar, but our artillery
shelled and scattered them right and
left. The fighting was all over at II
o'clock.
A Prince of Wales Salute.
promptly at noon Gen. White or
dered a salute of IL guns in honor of
the birthday of the prince of Wales.
As the cannon doomed cheer after
cheer rang out and scene of enthusi-
asm probably without parallel in his
tory followed.
At Caesars Camp.
"At Caesars camp, which protects
the town On the southwest. the Man.
chester regiment held the position.
Descending under cover of the British
guns for some distance on the further
side of the hill, they detected several
hundred Beers hiding in the ditch. out
OF the way of the British shells They
poured vclley after volley into the
enemy, scattering them and inflicting
heavy loss
Driven Back at Every Point.
1.-The Beers were driven back at ev-
cry point, with loss estimated at 500
men.
Nothing occurred until Tuesday,
November II, when a strong force,
chiefly cavalry party, reconnoitering.
came upon the enemy near the Colenso
road and drove them back to their
main positions. Our shell fire was most
effective, and proved to have inflicted
considerable damage. Our own loss
was one man.
''Ladysmith is able to hold out for
months. On the other hand, it is re,
ported that dysentery isworking havoc
in the enemy's camp