The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-26

nght at Glencoe was M anything like
the decisive victory at first alleged and
General Yule would in all probability
nave been annihilated or have met with
the same fate as the captured hussars
II he had not retreated
General Whites artillery duel at
| hletontein was a very severe engage
memt In which the rifle did great eye
| cution and where success was achieved
at a distressing cost.
MAFEKING BoMBARDED.
The bombardment of Mafekfnr has
commenced with unknown results and
the Beers have got their hussar pris-
oners safely to Pretoria. Altogether
the campaign is being pushed by the
Beers so strenuously and on such sound
strateglcal lines that the situation of
the British must i'm all probability give
cause for deep anxiety for some time to
come.
1t is difficult to see how the concen-
trated force ait Dadysmith will be able
10 take the aggressive immediately.
apart from the fatigue regiments.
the Gordon Highlanders and Royal RI
lies have been practically without off,
GERS since the fight and one hundred
and'fhirty-flve additional officers have
been ordered 70 leave England as speed
lily as POSSIBLY.
AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
An official British account of the
fighting at Rietfontein given out at
Cape Town Gays:
THE enemy posted battery two
miles south of Modderspruit and open
ed with infantry fire at long range on
the British advance guard consisting of
the Nineteenth Hussars
This was followed by artillery fire di-
rected with considerable accuracy
against the British guns. An action last
ing six hours ensued at Rietfontein
farm. The enemy were driven from the
hills commanding the roads. Sir George
Whites object being accomplished the
column returned to Ladysmith. The
enemy is believed 10 have suffered. Sew
eral Beers own officially that they lost
over one hundred killed at Elandslaagte.
BoER PRISONERS.
Three hundred >rsoners. wounded
and dnwounded. are in the hands OF
the British. including several OF high
positions. The Transvaal force defeat
ed at Elandslaagte was the Johannes
burg corps.
other accounts dwell on the severity
of the rifle fire at Rietfontein. They
say that when the Beers finally re-
treated the Lancers cut them off from
their horses and inflicted severe loss
on them. The retreat ended in gen.
1t was announced today in a dispatch
from Ladysmith dated October %.
that strong reinforcements of infantry
and artillery had arrived there from
II was also reported that the Beers
were again massing near Elandslaagtc
and that a Free state force several
thousand strong was occupying Bes-
ters Station.
GORDON AT KIMBERLY.
There is little news from the western
border. The Gordon around Kimberly
is drawing closer. but hopes are ex-
pressed that a flying column will
shortly be sent to its relief
The Beers have occupied Windsor
own an unprotected town. The mag
strate. with the consent of the inhabl-
ants, Surrendered on demand. condi-
ional upon the lives and properties Of
he people being respected. 1t is al
eyed, however. that the Beers refused
% respect the property Of the absen-
ees.
There is intense anxiety for further
news from Mafeking. where II is be-
ieved number OF officers who were
to be on furlough joined Col.
Powell
The Portuguese authorities have re-
conducted over the Transvaal border
800 white and black prisoners whom
he Beers released from their tais and
turned loose in Portuguese territory.
CONTINUED on Page Two.)