The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-21
BOERS MET WITH DEFEAT.
I.eO0 MEN AND FIVE GUNS Lost IN
~ ATTACK on GLENCOE.


the Town-Their Guns Were silsnced by
tho British Fire and THEIR strong POSI-
ton Was Taken BY Assault-Bril-
liant Charge by the Dublin Fuslliers.
Sp,cioI cable Dstpdiches TO The SuS.
IoypoS. Oct 2l.-The first serious action
between the British aud the Beers was fought
IN the immediate neighborhood OF the Brtish
.c.mp at Glencoe Yesterday and resulted In
yic,orv for the British. but the extent OF tho
vio,ory and its comparative value cannot yet
ho ,,serted The British commander is now
dv,,o from a wound received in the engage
ment. ,-
Tbs battle Ia declared in his successors
ao,r,,ch to the War Offlce to have been
an important success" AMI the London
nonsrs describe the victory as brilliant.
Bsvond the somewhat bare Official de-
matches nothing OF substantial value has
basn received which enables any Judgment OF
the true character OF the defeat OF the invaders
10 he formed The estimates OF the losses are
mere guesses Up to midnight the War ONCE
had received no figures OF the Killed and
wounded.
The hill where the Bosr artillery was posted
and which was calamity stormed by the Irish
Tnsili.rs and the English Royal Rifles in the
face OF a heavy rifle fire by the Beers is vari-
ou,ly described as Glencoe Hill. Dundee Hill
and TeIana Hill. 1t is about two ana halt
miles east OF the Glencoe Hill.
The Standards correspondent at the Glencoe
Camp says that the attacking force was led
nv Commnndant- General Joubert. Nobody
Int Gen Symons and his staff was
aware that the Beers intended to
attack, though they were known to be
advancing southwark. Unusual precautions
were taken overnight to guard against sur
prise. The correspondent adds that the Boer
artillerymen Judged the range badly and that
the quality Of their ammunition was very poor.
Scarcely six shells burst within the British
lines
Gen. Symons at 1880 ordered a general
advance OF the infantry brigade. which he
accompanied The mon had been exercised
for weeks past in taking advantage OF cover
and they carried out the tactics thoroughly.
terrific FIRE from three British batteries at
q range OF $500 yards covered the ad-
vance. Several OF the Boer guns were
the HILL and by the time the in
iautry were within thousand yards OF
the crest. the Boer artillery was completely ST.
fenced by the excellent British practice. The
Beers meanwhile kept up heavy rifle fire.
which thinned the British ranks considerably.
The correspondent continues:
by 8 o'clock the Irish Fusilers and Royal
Rifles had swarmed over the hill and the
Beers were on the run Meantime tho
Eighteenth Hussars. all the colonial and
imperial mounted infantry and the
Leicestershirs Regiment had been moved
north and east. This practically cut
Off the Beers main line OF retreat
The enemy were caught between two
fires and lost heavily. At noon the
fighting was still going on. but the defeat
OF the enemy was already complete and crush
ing. 1tlooks as though few would escape"
GLENCOE. Natal. Oct. 20. S:25 A. M.-Durng
the night the Beers got their artillery in posi-
ton on hill overlooking the town. and they
opened fire at daybreak this morning. but
with very little effect. The British guns i'm
mediately replied and made good practice.
The Boer artillery was no match for the
British guns. After an hour and halts lr-
ing the Boer guns were sienoed and not one
OF them replied to tho British fire.
Then the Kings Royal Rifles and the Dublin
Fusiliers were ordered out. The troops ad-
vanced. and. taking advantageous pos tions on
the ground. maintained hot fire. The Beers
replied vigorously at first. but after prolonged
firing fell back. Then the Fusilers and the
Royal Rifles made a splendid dash forward
and rushing up the hill carried the Boer posi-
tons and captured the guns.
LONDON. Oct. 20.-The War ONCE received
this cable despatch from Ladysmith. Natal. at
$50 A, Nj. to-day
The following WAS received from Gen.
symons at the Glencoe camp at $50 o'clock
this morning: The Beers are Smelling the
camp with big guns. The troops are moving
out"
The War Office received this despatch from
Glencoe at 1854 A. NJ.
The Kings Royal Rifles and the Dublin Fu-
s!liers are attacking the hill. which is defended
by the Beers with artillery. Scouts report that
5000 Beers are advancing from IIalling's
sprut. The Leicestershre regiment has gone
to meet them"
Later the War Office received the following
despatch from Glencoe
We were attacked at daylight this morning
hya force roughly estimated at 1000. They
placed four or five guns on a hill 5.4OO yards
east of the camp and fired plug shells at our
infantry, which was formed opposite them.
After the Smelling had ceased the infantry adj
ranced and there was hard fighting till l 80.
when an almost inaccessible position WAS
taken. the enemy retreatng eastward. The
cavalry and artillery are still out.
Gen. symons is severely wounded. Our
losses were heavy"
It's reported that the British losses were
800 and those OF the Beers 1.2O0. The Gem
trail News says that report that Gen.
symonSs wound Is mortal is officially con-
frmed.
despatch to the Central News from Glen
coe at 1925 A. NJ. says that the Boer position
near the Glencoe camp was carried 10y the
British after heavy fighting. Five guns were
captured. A later despatch to the Central
News from Glencoe. regarding the repulse OF
the Beers. says
Credit on the infantry side must be ac-
corded to the Dublin Fusillers. who were first
In the Boer lines and captured the guns"
In reply to n question. Mr. George Wyndham.
Parliamentary Under Secretary OF State for
War. confirmed the statement in the des-
patches from Ladysmith and Glencoe In re-
gar! to the fighting between the British and
the Beers
lApYsMITH, Natal. Oct. 2O-The Beers have
opened fire on Dundee. which Is near Glencoe.
N"n. Sir William Penn SymonS. X. c. b., was
born IN cornwall. July II. 1873. lie entered
ne army IN 1853 and was made Colonel in
lNNI. He served ia the Xuiu war in 1879 and
ttsa. 4 "A ala.