The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-20
0utposts at Pietermaritzburs Dlscov.
cred Them Moving Across Country
ADVANCING ON ESTCOURT.
They Are Now Encamped Within Six
Miles Of that Town.
THE GARRISON IS YET CONFIDENT.
Natal Times Has Report Of the Battle Of
November 8.
THE GARRISON IS YET CONFIDENT.
A SMART MOVEMENT BY THE BRITISH
Beers Were Rcpuiscd In slight En-
gagcmcnt Near tho Coienso Road
Last Tuesday with Heavy Loss

London, November 1o.-The war office
posted the following telegram today from
General Sir Redvers Butler to the Marquis
of Landsdowne cnpotown, November is,
$3.50 p. m.--The following is from the geu-
eral commanding at Pietermaritzburg:
To-day at a, m. the officer commanding
our northern outposts reported that the
enemy's mounted patrols were advancing
across tho whole country from Gourtcn
Road to Ulan, moving ON Estcourt. My
force stood TO arms The outposts re-
ported various bodies from 800 TO 700
strong advancing on Esteourt from n
northwesterly direction The party, 500
strong moved toward the railway bridge
| half mile northwest OF Estcourt. Our
outposts fred on the enemy and one OF
the naval guns fred shell at 5000 yards,
the she'll bursting close to the enemy, who
then hurriedly retired. At 10 o'clock re-
ports We're received from three plckets
| that large rvIlber OF Beers were in sight
on hill above Leslies Homestead, The
troops have returned to the camp.
! London. November ia special dis
patch from Estcourt dated Sunday. No
vcmber 10. says: All Is quiet here. The
enemy is believed to be encamped six
miles away. Our position Is good and our
forces are sufficiently strong to repulse an
attack.
Durham, Natal Saturday. November 49,
The Times of Natal publishes the follow
ing. dated Wednesday, November 10, from
its special correspondent mt Ladysmith
The enemy made a determined ATTACH
Thursday November 0. apparently all the
Boer forces participating. Their artillery
opened at in the morning pouring IN
shells thick and fast upon the British POSI-
tions although with no great effect, They
adopted the unusual tactics of advancing
under cover OF their guns to positions on
the ridges and kopjes adjacent TO those
occupied by the British troops on the left
of our camp, Continuing their advance the
Beers crept with steady. warm and accu-
rate fire which beat back the enemy. not
withstanding display of tenncity OF pur-
pose equal 10 their desperate stands on
previous occasions The Boer attack wne
most elaborate on all sides OF the town.
The main attack. however, was made be-
tween the Free State and Newcastle rail- |
way lines by column composed chiefly
OF Johannesburg volunteers. A brigade
of the British Royal rifle corps made q
splendid defense. The Beers were re-
pulsed but soon rallied and returned to the |
attack. Again the British fire. which |
was very hot. forced them to retire. They /
had made a deep trench in front OF the
British lines and while withdrawing for
their horses, they left this unguarded
wheroupon the Kings Rifles advancing at
double quick occupIsd the trench.
This smart movement was not seen by
The enemy, who soon returned with their
horses. Carefully rescrylng their fire. the
Kings Rifles allowed the Beers to advance
almost to the edge OF the trench. and then
poured volley after yolley into tho as (
ounded Beers, who turned and fed fDn )
IN awful hail of bullets boiling across the
open, where the artillery OF the British /
poured in terrible and effective shell
ire. The enemy lost heavily. Meanwhile
another section OF the Beers had brought
/ mortar into action, firing heavy shell q
DUR guns. concentrating upon II, soon Z
Iilenced this weapon. the enemy's artil-
erymen fleeing headlong. the Beers ,
then advanced in force with view o I
eparng the mortar. but our artillery ]
helled and scattered them right and I
eft. The fighting was all over at II !
o'clock.
Promptly at noon General White order
ID a salute OF twenty one guns In honor
II the birthday OF the Prince OF Wales.
rs the cannon doomed, cheer after cheer ,
ang out from the troops and scene OF
enthusiasm probably without parallel In
which protects the town on the southwest 7
he Manchester regiment had the posi- !
ion. Descending under cover OF the Brit n
sh guns for some distance on the further
ide OF the hill they detected several |
hundred beers hiding In the ditch out OF /
he way of British Shells. They poured
Obey after yolley into the enemy, in
letting heavy loss. The Beers were driy-
n back at every point with loss esti- ;,
lated at 800 men.
Nothing important occurred until Tues b
ay, November IA. when strong force r
hiehy cavalry and artillery, reconnoiter- !,
~. came upon the enemy near the Coll O.
nso road and drove them back to theiI n
ostions. Our shell fire was most ef- h
ectiye and il is believed TO have inflicted !,
damage. Our own loss was !,
ne man. That same day Boer shell
illed trooper OF the National Mounted
lilies. who was sleeping in his tent. Our
zen are III, well and In good spirits. II
reported that the iyddite Is terrifying b
be Beers who have 10 be driven 10 their a
un positions BY reyohyers pointed at o
heir heads. 7
Ladysuitn is able to hold out for o