Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-24
VICTORIES FOR BRITISH.
The Beers Have Fallen Victims to The
Very Plans

very PlaDS
ON WHICH THEY COUNTED FOR
SUGGESTIVE BATTLE AT
ELANDSLAAGTE WAS Sc
WE'RE, AND RESULTED IN
MANY CASU ALTIE S-THE
BUTCHERS FOUGHT BRAVE
LY BUT COULD NOT WITH
STAND THE FIRE OF BRITISH
ARTILLERY AND THE IMPET-
UOUS CHARGES OF THE BRIT
ISH TROOPS.
LONDON, October 23.-The British
victories in Natal following each 9TH
er in quick succession, though ac-
companied by heavy losses on the
side of the victors, bear striking tes-
timony of the valor of the vanquished
Beers. They appear to have fallen
victims to the very plan which they
COunI6Q on u uIlN6 TIC bllIloA iAtO
the sea. They have been beaten in
detail by counter strokes carefully
considered and brilliantly carried out
in the face of courageous opposition,
which has done much to increase Brit
ish respect for the Burghers, whose
splendid valor and determination, 1t
is universally admitted, reached the
highest level.
Fuller accounts of Fridays battle
at Elandslaagte emphasize the splen-
did gallantry exhibited on both sides,
and the superiority of the British in
battle, although the Beers fought
with the greatest tenacity to the last,
only yielding when further fighting
was hopeless.
The armored train with the men of
the Manchester regiment appeared on
the left at Ladysmith at daybreak
Saturday in support of johannesburg
light horse and the Natal field artil-
lery, with the object of reopening
communication at Elandslaagte. The
artillery took up a position above the
town and shelled the railway station,
from which the Beers ran out, and,
the British mounted infantry enter
ing the place, released the English
prisoners.
The Beers, numbering some 1000
men, with three guns, occupied a COM
manding position. They poured such
a well directed fire on the British, and
their scouts were so active, that the
British forces steadily retired until re-
irforeements arrived, when the mount
ed infantry was sent to drive the Boer
scouts from the ridge to the right.
A large force of mixed cavalry mean
while swept over the plain and up the
hin on the right. The Lalcers were
met with heavy fusilade, while on the
left British battery opened fire with
good effect.
The British infantry who had debark-
ed from the railway train il the in
term, advanced steadily over the plain
and up the rocky ridge previously
cleared by the cavalry. The Boer ar
tillery dropped shrapnel into the SG
vancing columns, but the British finally
] scaled the hill whence they overlooked
&the broad valley to three rocky hills
1orming the Beers position, -heir camp
b6ins in the center. On the left center
th3 Beers had a battery of three large
pufls. The smaller hills were also
strAngly held. On the Boer right was
the lsation in valley on the British
left. \The latter's cavalry was on both
fianks\ and battery on the right was
busy throwing shrapnel at the Boer
batterieA
The British infantry formed for The
attack in \extended order, behind the
brow OF the hill, the Devonshires on
the left with four companies of The
ManchestersS and some of the Gordons
on the rightly
At about SIP. m. the infantry advanc-
Cd through the valley as steadily as on
a field day !Half way down the slope
they met terrific infantry and artil-
lery fire. Tho men fell rapidly and the
wounded wereNcarrled to the rear. But
in spite of the steady work Of the Boer
guns and the sharpshooters concealed
behind the rocks, the increasing fire Ct
the advancing British infantry gradual
ly gained the upper hand. and the
Manchesters and Gordons, edging to-
ward the right, gained he top of the
ridge, thus outfanking the enemy's left.
At 6 the burghers sounded the
charge" and the British swept ahead.
The Beers fought to the last, only at
tempting TO escape when further fight
ins was hopeless.
Meantime the Devonshires, pressing
steadily up the left, were strongly
opposed at the Boer camp and from
the fanking hills, but they carried
both positions with wild cheers and
bugle blasts, by o'clock the British