The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-22
WAS A GALLANT CHARGE.
How the British Troops Routed and
Demoralized the Beers.

London, Oct@ 21.-The earliest dis
patches regarding yesterdays battle
conveyed the impression that the whole
affair was over in a couple of hours,
the British artillery sflencing the Boer
guns and infantry and then simply
charging right over the hill. According
to latest adviceS, however, the battle
lasted eight hours, and nearly seven
hours elapsed before the last Boer gun
was put out of action.
The Irish fuSileers and the King S
Rifles meanwhile had advanced to the
assault, and We're shooting their way
UP the hill, driving the Beers back from
shelter to shelter until the final rush of
the British carried them to the summit.
1t was a bright. clear morning, which
enabled the operations to be followed
without difficulty
A curious fact was that several times
lull occurred in the fighting on both
sides, the British infantry apparently
taking breathing space in the stiff
climb, and the Beers also holding back
their fire. The magnificent practice of
the British guns was an immense help.
and the success of the assault was
greatly due thereto.
Once the British bayonets showed on
top of the Kopje, the Beers retreated
and when on descending the other side
they found a British battery and Brit
iSh cavalry outfianking them, the re-
treat became a rout. The British guns
followed and Numbering from time to
time, threw shells into the flying foe.
The latter did not try conclusions with
the Hussars, and mounted infantry was
apparently, seldom gotten near enough
to deliver effective volleys. This policy
was continued until dusk, when the
Beers were completely demoralized
A heavy rain began to fall during the
afternoon. which naturally impeded ar
tillery operations. 1t was a coincidence
that yesterday was the anniversary of
a similar feat of British arms in India,
when the Gordon Highlanders stormed
the heights.
The war office has issued the follow
ing announcement: "The queen has
been pleased to, approve of the pro-
motion of Lieutenant General Symons,
commanding the Fourth division of the
Natal field forces. to be a major general
supernumerary to the establishment
for distinguished service in the field. ;"
General Syn1ons was one of the few
who escaped on that memorably Janu-
airy morning at Isandula, when nearly
the whole of his regiment, the gallant
Twenty-fourth, persisted. Thus there
is q tragic completeness in his victory
near the. scene of thatInassacre.
The operations thus far seem to
show that the Orange Free State Beers
have a strong Discrimination to fight at
close quarters. This was anticipated
The Transvaal Boer is rough farmer,
accustomed to live in the open air and
20 bivouac. The Free State burgher
lives in comfortable brick house and
is much more civilized. 1t would also
appear, as was. predicted, that only the
younger burghers of the Free State
have. responded to the call to arms
There was pleasing incident today
as the American line steamer st. Louis
passed the British transport Casgon.
about to sail with the Coldstream
guards for South Africa. The passen-
gers of the liner cheered Justify. way
ing Their hats and handkeechiefs, and
the so.riers responded with three
cheers for the Americans.
William Waldorf Astor has donated
$1,000 to the British Red Cross funH
for the South African war