The Portland daily press., 1899-10-31
Beers Were Found In Great
Strength At All Points.
British Columns Were Driven Back Into
The Town.

London, Ostober 3i.-The Daily Tele'
graph has the following account Of the
Ladysmith engage ent from Its special
correspondent at the fronts
IAN indecisive reooDnG'ssance occurred
today. Gen. White advanced before day
break (Nonday), with all the available
forces from Ladysmith. moving toward
Tinta Inyoni. Two brigades were under
Colonels Ian Hamilton and Howard and
another with Gen. Sir Archibald Hunter.
went toward Bulwayn, while two regi-
nients, guided by Major Adye, marched
on our extreme left beyond the old camp.
1.-The Beers were found TO be In great
force at all points. Although we had
seven batteries Of artillery, their fire
failed entirely to crush that OF the enemy
until our infantry, the 9th Laneers,
pllekiiy rode across the ehemy's 'front.'
and feignsd retreat. This, however,
faiIei to tntiee the enemy out. the Beers
only replying with a shell fire.
sihis hank at.snk 60 developed that
Col. Hamilton had - reinforce our right
with three bastsries and the Gordon
Highlanders, the Deyonshire regiment
and the Manchester regimen. at inter-
vals. Our artillery then changed front
and severe artillery duel then ensued,
the guns generously supporting tne in
fantry as they advanced.
"Two batteries remained In action
against the I2-pounder and the quick
fires of the naval contingent came into
action. The enemy had field pisces, ma
chine guns and i00-pounder.
"Gen. White In the afternoon withdrew
his forces upon Lady smith. The Losses
on the Beer side were considerable"
The correspondent of the Times at
Ladysmith says;
1.-The action seemed to be proceeding
most satisfactory when at 7.15 a. M, the
enemy in large mum bers, with field guns,
Maxims, and 37-millimetre guns, began
to develop heavy attack on Col Grim
woods infantry. The cavalry Brigade
had moved up on our right, holding the
parallel ridge over against Col Grim
woods position and practically acting
as infantry. In the meantime cur batter
les kept down the siege gun tire upon
Lauy Snltu Win huFapue1
SAT o O'Clock there seemed to be lull,
as our reserves moved up, but suddenly
the engagement re-opened, as the enemy
on our right brought further artillery to
bear.
Col. Grimwood who, with the three ad-
vance battalions, had held the ridge Tor
live hours, suddenly fell back across the
open upon our guns The $50 battery
pluckily pushed forwari to cover this
withdrawal Severe casualties occurred
at this place.
The SD battery held on against cross
fire of rifles and quick k-iiring guns. until
the infantry were clear. The teams of
the two guns were damaged and the
battry eventually retired. made up teams
being sent to extrIcate the two guns
The cavalry remaining unsupported,
were forced TO fall back also.
Then began general retirement on
Ladysmith. The guns, which had been
covering the Devonshire regiment. stout
Iy covered the final withdrawal. The
enemy did not press, but showed them
selves on their positions in great num-
Dcfh, only 70 uuu tnht tuc haNui bhikouo
from the Powerful had arrived. Two
quick firing guns were ut once placed in
position, under cover of q redoubt, and
in five rounds. they silenced the enemy's
forty FOUNDER.
The troops were back In Ladysmith by
O'Clock In the afternoon. The casual
ties caused by the enem'ys artillery were
not severe. The mountain battery on
the left reported that 1t had suffered
through stampede of mules.
Our artillery. cavalry. mounted infan-
try and volunteer cavalry behaved
splendidly in difficult circumstances.
DIR. Jameson and Sir John Wllioughby
arrived today and were spectators OF the
action.
PORTUGUESE TROOPS On HAND.
London, October Si.-A special des-
patch from Lorenzo Marques says q
strong force of Portuguese troops has ar
rived ON the TransvAal border from Moz-
ambique territory owing to fears regard
ing hostilitiss between the British and
Beers.