The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-20
BOERS ATTACK A FAILURE.
,IpysMI1H EoRCE DROvE THEN BACK
Ar EYERr POINT

AT EpERf POINT.
n.,o,I. Of the Fighting on Nov. Zone
Correspondent says the Town Can Hold
Ont for Montbs-Boers Reported to
Have Lost 700 or acknowledgements
Leave Durham for Estcourt - British
Force Gathering Mt Orange River to
Alliance to the Relief of Kimberley
Naval Guns Forwarded to De Aar.
e,,1,a, Cibn Ds,pa,eha to THE SOS,
p,,rrnM.RITzBuRa. Nov 1o.-The Lady
18th correspondent OF the Times Of Natal
.snds the following account OF the Boer at
,scL on Nov. 81. which Is authenticated by
Major Altman. tho press censor:
"Ths enemy made determined attack on
y,y o all tho Boer forces apparently taking
,,,, Tho Boer artillery opened fire at 1
ncl,ek in the morning. Shells poured
,hlcl into the British position. but
Mi no great effect. The Beers
.hso oJopted tactics unusual for them.
iar,ncng under cover OF their guns.
,hsv took position on tho ridges and
top,es adjacent to those occupied BY
,hs British. Our troops In splendid
v,v thercupon left their camp. whore they
had been standing TO arms. and lined the
tlls surrounding our position. Continuing
10 advance the enemy crept up. using
avery available bit OF cover. Our infantry
,penei steady, warm md accurate
Ar. and beat the Beers back. though
the, displayed n tenacity OF purpose
On A mar with the desperate stands they made
IN previous occasions The enemy's at
p,k was most elaborate. affecting all
sides o., the town. but the main at
,,ek was delivered between the Free
state and Newcastle Railway lines The
btunt o, this attack was sustained by column
composed chiefly Of johannesburg volunteers.
The Kings Rides and the Ride Brigade. They
made a splendid defence. The enemy were
,epused. but rallied and returned to the
attack The British returned n hot fire and
again forced the enemy to retire.
In front OF the British lines tina enemy had
made deep trench for their horses. They left
this uneuardcd. Seeing this the Rife Brigade
advanced on the double quick md occu-
piet the trench. The smart movement
WAS not observed by the enemy.
who soon returned with their horses.
Carefully reseryng their fire. the Rife Brigade
allowed the Beers TO advance almost TO the
edge OF the trench. Then they poured voey
inter yoley into the astoundcd Beers. who
turned and fed amid an awful hail OF bullets.
As the enemy holted across thsopen ground
cur artillery opened terribly effective IRE.
and the enemy lost heavily.
Meanwhile another section OF the Beers
brought a mortar into action. firing heavy
shells. cur guns concentrated their Are and
soon slenced Il. the enemy's artlllerynen
fleeing from the mortar. The Beers advanced
in force with the object OF repairing the mortar.
our artillery shelled them. scattering them
right and left. The lighting was over By IL
o'clock.
III accordance with the traditional practice.
Gen. White ordered a salute OF twenty-one
guns cred In honor o, the Prince OF wales's
birthday. As the cannon doomed the troops
raised cheer after cheer. and there was a
scene OF enthusiasm. Tho incident was prob
ably unparalleled.
AT CRsar's Camp. which protects tho town
on the southwest, the Manchester regiment
had taken a position. but they descended
under cover of tho guns some distance
on the further side OF the hill,
when several hundred Beers were
observed hiding In ditch for protection from
our shells. The Manchesters poured a series
otvo,,eys into them. scattering them and in
fcting heavy loss.
To sum up the Doors were driven OF at
every point with loss estimated at from 700
to so. Nothing Of further importance hap
Tened until Nov. Il. when a strong British
force, chiefly cavalry and artillery. made a
Renaissance and came In contact with
the enemy on the Colenso road They
drove the enemy back upon their main position
Our shell FIRE was most effective. II Is believed
itHh.ced cons ,derable damage. Our loss was
enc man The same day shell killed trooper
Of the Natal mounted police while he was
asleep In his tent"
LONDON Nov 20.-A despatch to the Daily
b .Ne'r5 from Ladysmith. dated Nov. IL. and sent
by runner by way OF Estcourt. Nov. IL. con-
firms the account OF tho fighting at Ladysmith
on Nov o. 1t adds: Labyrinth Is now left
severely alone, The place can hold out for
months ="
Tie Mag, correspondent at Ladysmith re-
la'es an interesting feature OF the battle OF
EIanislaagte. After describing the frst little
successful portion OF the fight, he proceeds:
All this while Gen. French had been Ia tel
ephon!c communication with headquarters
by means Of cunnlngly contrlved ap-
paratus worked by telegraphlsts OF tho
Natal Government Post once. All the
arrangements for that purpose had been
made BY Mr. Weghtman. assistant engineer OF
ule department. With the armored train.
win the haIor-Gonoral's stan. were opera
p's carrying phonopOres. appliances
which could be attached to the
railway telegraph wires rapidly at any
point, and In few minutes the officer
N charge would be talking with the Chief
Of Stan at Ladysmlth. BY this means
ieehiorcements were summoned 40 quickly
NAV by the time the British had
ANsn back to tho second position a
ua'n with trucks laden with the Devonshire
regiment steamed up and the men were ready
70 take their places on the fighting line.
Another train with 400 OF the Gordon High
later"
Inc same correspondent. describing the end
'he battle. when the HIghlanders. tho
Manchester Regiment and the Light
morse were sweeping to the final
sharge, says: ITO our astonishment we
Geard cease FIRE and retire sounded
W'he euGlers 1t was difficult to account for
men but not when we knew that the Beers
"au learned our buge calls. In obedience to
mat sound tho Gordon Hghlanders
sete beginning 20 fall back when
Heir 10y bugler. saying Retire
swuamhed,' rushed forward and blew hasty
nsHago' whereupon the ranks closed up and
VIC Nctory OF ElandslaaRte was won"