The Monticellonian., 1899-10-27
BO[D COUNTER STROKES.
The Boers in Na:al Fell Victims te the Plan by Which They
 Hoped to Succeed.
SPLENDID VALOR SHOWN 0s BOTH SIDES
to Give Way Before the Superior Training of the British Troops When Brought Face to Face in . Pitched Battle.

Pitched Battle.
 London, Oct. 24.-The British victo- ries in Natal. following each other in quick succession, though accompanied by heavy losses on the side of the yic- tors, bear striking testimony to the valor of the vanquised Boers.
 Victims of Their Own Plan.
 They appear to have fallen victims to the very plan which they counted on to drive the British into 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 British respect for the burghers, whose splendid valor and determination, it is universally ad- mitted, reached the highest level Full 1 Ter accounts of Saturdays battle at Elandslaagte emphasized the splendid gallantry exhibited on both sides, and the superiority of the British in a l pitched battle, although the Boers fought with the greatest tenacity to the last, only yielding when further fighting was hopeless
 Armored Train Appeared
 An armored train with the men of the Manchester regiment appeared on the left, at Ladysmith, at Daybreak, Saturday, in support of the Johannes burg imperial light horse and the Ma 1 tai field artillery, with the object of reopening communication with Eland- sla"gtc. The artillery took up posi- tion above the town and shelled the railway station, on which the Boers ran out, and the British mounted in fantry, entering the place, released the English prisoners
 The BOer Force. The Boers, numbering 1,600 men, with guns, occupied commanding posi- tions. They poured such a well-di- rected fire into the British, and their scouts were so active. that the British force steadily retired until reinforce ments arrived, when the mounted in fantry drove the Boer scouts from the ridge on the right. \ large force of mixed cavalry, in the meanwhile, swept over the plain, and up the hill on the right The laneers met with a heavy fusilade, while on the left a British battery opened fire with good effect.
 British Infantry Advanced The British infantry, who had de- parked from the railway train in the interim, advanced steadily over the 1 plain and up the rocky ridge previous y cleared by the cavalry. The Boer artillery dropped shrapnel into the advancing columns, but the British finally sealed the hill, whence they overlooked the broad valley to three rocky hills forming the Boers posi- tlon, their camp being in the center.
 The Boers' Position.
 On the left center the Boers had a battery of three large guns. The smaller hills were also strongly held. On the Boer right was the station in valley on the British left. The lat ter's cavalry was on both Hanks. and T battery on the right was busy throw ing shrapnel at the Boers' batteries.
 The British infantry formed for the attack in extended order. behind the brow of hill, the Devonshires on the left, with four companies of the Man ' ~4iNt''' i' anu oOlllt oI tue 1OEuOnS on tie right
 Steady as On Field Day
 At about D. m., the infantry ad- VaHeed through the valley as steadily as cn field day. Half way down the slope they met terrific infantry and artillery fire. The men fell rapidly and the wounded were carried to the rear But in spite of the steady work of the Boer guns and the sharp-shoot- ers concealed behind the rocks, the in- creasing fire of the advancing British infantry gradually gained the upper hand and the Manchesters and Cor dons, edging towards the right, gained the top of the ridge, thus oVtfanking the enemy's left.
 BuEIes Sounded "Chnrge." i Al six o'clock the bugles sounded the Charge" and the British swept ahead. The Boers fought to the last, cnty attempting to escape when further fighting was hopeless.
 In the meantime, the Devonshires, pressing steadily up the left, were strongly opposed at the Boer camp and from the fanking hills, but they i vol lSd bbAH at tHt charge, With Wild cheers and bugle blasts.
 "Cense Fire" Sounded.
 By seven o'clock the British had gained the position, and Cease fire" was sounded.
 Three 12-pounder Nordenfeldts were captured, with quantities of muni- tioHs.
 The Boers' dead and wounded among the rocks, who were numerous. were attended to as far as possible in the dark.
 The Troops Thanked. Gen. French thanked the troops on the field, especially mentioning Col. Ian Hamilton's splendid handling of the infantry.
 The British bivouacked on the cap tured position Saturday night. Some estimates place the Boer losses at 500 men but this is probably exaggerated. Only British Officer Killed. Col. Scott-Chisholm, the only British officer killed. was formerly attached to the Ninth lancers. He served with distinction in the Afghan war, and or YInized the present Imperial light