The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-31
FIGHT AT LADYsMITH.
An Incessant Artillery Battle for Four
Hours.

Ladysmith Oct. 80. p. m.-The ad
vance was made at dawn with the OBJ
ject of shellng the Beers from the posi-
ton where yesterday they had mounted
number of guns On reaching the
spot, however, it was founu that they
had evacuated the position.
The British continued to advance and
the movement developed into a recon-
noissance in force. The enemy We're
posted on a range of hills, having a
frontage of about 16 miles. The Brit
ish force was disposed of in the follow
ing order:
On the right three regiments of cav
airy. four batteries of the royal field
artillery and five battalions of infantry;
in the center three battalions of the
royal field artillery, two regiments of
cavalry and four infantry battalons,
and on the left the Royal Irish Fusi-
liers, the Gloucestershire regiment and
the 10th 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 kopje about
thr-= IS from the town, should
th- ,or W. upon the enefly while the
lert ian41 was being held by the Fusi-
liers and the Gloucesters. The scheme
w
ton, owing to the fact that the Boer
position which formed our objective was
evacuated
Our artillery quickly reduced the vol
ume of the enemy's fire, but the attack
delivered on our right flank was the
principal one and the column was COM
PEELED to change. The Boer attack had
been silenced for a time and our in
fantry advanced covered by the cav!
airy.
The enemy now began to develop
heavy counter attack. and as they were
in great numerical superiority. General
White gave orders for the infantry to be
gradually withdrawn. The movement
was carried out with great steadiness
and deliberation, under cover Of our
guns, which made excellent practice.
Some shells were thrown into the
town from the enemy's 40-pounders at
a range of over 5000 yards. but no dam
age was done. The engagement lasted
several hours and resulted. on our SIDE,
in casualties estimated at from so TO
1Oo The Boer 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 strongholds
near Lombardskop. 1t was not pos
sible, however to push the success
much further. as beyond that point lay
a long, broken ridge, affording every
kind of natural cover. OF this the
enemy took the fullest advantage
Our shells failed to dislodge the Beers
and as our infantry moved forward in
extended order they came under
heavy and well 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
were somewhat pressed, sent to their
assistance the whole center column
with the exception Of the Devonshire
regiment.
The battle had then lasted four hours,
during which the artillery fire On ,7o,h
sides had been almost incessant. The
naval brigade which landed at Durham
had arrived on the scene toward the end
of the fight and Immediately brought
their heavy guns into play Their prac-
tice was magnificent. The town is now
freed from apprehension of lombard
ment Throughout the engagement the
Beers held their ground with courage
and tenacity and considering the inten-
sity of our artillery fire, they must have
suffered severely.