The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-31

LONDON. Oct. 50.-Ihe war 0EIce mere
has received a dispatch which says
General White has fought an engage
ment, presumably with General J0u-
bert's forces. which were pushed back,
after several hours fighting. The Brit
ish lost about 100 men and the Boer
losses We're much greater. The Boerg
were in greater number and had better
artillery.
a General Whites dispatch. which was
dater 1850 p. m, today. read: FL en-
ployed all the troops here, except the
obligatory garrison before the works. I
sent a mountain battery, the Royal
Irish fusileers and the GIoucesteTs to
take up position orl. the hills atO clear
my left flank. /The force moved at II
o'clock yesterday evening. and during
the night firing the battery mules
stampeded with some of the guns.
which, however, L hope to recover.
These two battaIions have not yet re-
turned, but are expected this after
noon.
Beers Fought Vigorously.
81 detailed two brigade. divisions Of
field artillery and five battalfons Of in
fantry, aided by cavalry under General
French, to attack a position upon which
the enemy yesterday mounted gums.
I'VE found this position evacuated,
siderable vigor by what l believe were
General Joubert's troops. They had
many guns and showed in great num-
bers. Our troops were all in action
and we pushed the enemy back several
miles, but did not succeed in reaching
his laager. Our losses are estimated
at between eighty and 100, but those of
the enemy must have been much
greater, the gums of our forces appear
ing very effective.
After being in action several hours.
withdrew the troops and they re-
turned unmolested to- their canton
ments. The enemy are in great num-
beers and their guns range further than
our field guns
Il now have some r1aval gums which
have temporarily silenced, and 1 hope
will permanently dominate the enen1y's
best guns, with which he has been
bombardfng the town at a range of over
5000 yards
Ladysmith. Oct. 30s-The advance was
made at dawn with the object Of she'll
ing the Beers from the position where
yesterday they had mounted q number
of guns. On reaching the spot, how
ever, it was found hat they had evacu-
ated the position.
The British continued to advance
and the movement developed into a re-
connoissance in force. The enemy were
posted on a. range of hills having a
frontage of about sixteen miles. The
British force was disposed in the fol-
lowing order:
On the right three regiments of cav
airy. four batteries of the Royal Field
artillery and five battafiOns of infan-
try; in the center three batteries of the
Royal Field artillery, two regiments of
cavalry and four infantry battaIiOns,
and on the left the Royal Irish Fusil
leers, the Worcestershire regiment and
the Tenth mountain battery.
This force had been detailed to guard
our left flank at a late hour last night.
General Whites plan of operations was
that as the movement developed the
force constituting our center. which
was disposed under cover of a kCpie
about three miles from the town, should
throw itself upon the enemy, while
the left flank was being held by the
fusileers and the Gloucesters. The
scheme was we'll devised. but failed in
execution. owing to- the fact that the
Boer position which formed our OBJ
jective was evacuated.
British Troops Withdrawn.
Our artillery quickly reduced the vol
ume of the enemy s. fire but the at
tack delivered ON our right flank was
the principal one and the column was
to change. The Boer at
tack had been silenced for a time and
our infantry advanced, covered by cav
airy.
The enemy now began to develop a
heavy counter attack, and as they were
IN great numerical superiority, General
White gave orders for the infantry to
be gradually withdrawn, The move
ment was carried out with great steadi-
ness and elaboration. under cover of
our guns, which made excellent prac-
tice.
Some shells were thrown into the
town from the ene.ny's f0rty-pOumdews
at a, range of over 5000 yards but 70
damage was done. The engagement
lasted several hours and resulted, en-
our side, in casualties estimated at
from so to 100. The B0aF losses must
have largely exceeded this total
The attack was admirably delivered
by our right, and the Beers were fairly
driven out of one of their stronghulds
near LOnpbardSlSop. 1t was NOT possible,
however, to push the success mulch
further. as beyond that point lay a
long, broken ridge, affordfng every kind
of natural cover OF this tine enemy
took the fullest advantage.
Failed to Dislodge Beers.
Our shells failed to dislodge the
Beers, and as our infantry moved for
ward in extended order. they came un-
der a heavy and we'll directed rifle fire,
the effect of which was soon apparent.
General White. who was with the CEN
ter. seeing that the troops on the right
We're somewhat pressed. sent to their
assistance the whole. center column,
with the exception Of the Devonshife
regiment.
Tne battle had them lasted four
hours, during which the artillery fire
on both sides had been almost inces-
SAINT. The naval brigade! whichy land
ed at Durham. had arrived on the scene
toward the end of tiefgilt. and fmme-
diately brought their eheavy guns into
play. Their practice was magnificent.
At the fourth shot the etteniy's forty
FOUNDERS had been knocked out of ac-
ton.
The town is now freed from appre-
tension of bombardmenf Throughout
the engagement the Beers held their
ground with courage and tenaefty. and.
the. intensity of our arti1-
!ery fire. they must have suffered &C.
verelys 4.