The record-union., 1899-10-21
GLENCOE CAMP BATTLE.
A BRILLIANT SUCCESS FOR THE
BRITISH.
Beers Get a Reverse Which May
Possibly, for a Time at Least,
Check Aggressive Action.

GLENCOE CAMP, Oct. 20.-(After-
noon. 1.-The battle to-day has been
brilliant success. The Beers got re-
verse which may possibly for time
at any rate check all aggressive action.
The British artillery practically in the
early part of the day decided the bat
tie. The seizure of Dundee Hill by the
Beers was a surprise, for although the
pickets had been exchanging shots all
night, it was not until a shell doomed
over the town into the camp that their
presence was discovered. Then the
shells came fast. The hill was posi-
lively alive with the swarming Beers;
still the British artillery got to work
with magnificent energy and precision.
The batteries from the camp took up
positions to the south of the town, and
after a quarter Of an hours magn1h-
cent firing, silenced the guns on the
hill.
The correspondent could see shells
dropping among the Boer pieces with
dous execution, for the enemy were
present in very large numbers and in
places considerably exposed.
By this time the enemy held the
whole of the hill behind Smiths farm
and the Dundee Kopje, right away to
the south, in which the British infan-
try moved at once. The fighting ragged
particularly hot at the very valley out
side the town Directly the Boer guns
ceased firing, General Symons ordered
the infantry to move on the position.
The infantry charge was magnificent.
The way the Kings Royal Rifles and
the Dublin Fusileers stormed the posi-
ton was one of the most splendid sights
ever seen. The firing of the Beers was
not so deadly as might have been ex-
pected from troops occupying such an
excellent position. but the infantry lost
heavily going up the hill. and only the
consummately brilliant way in which
! General Symons had trained them to
fighting of the kind saved them from
being swept away Indeed, the hill
was almost inaccessible to the storm
ing party, and hesitation would have
have lost the day.
The enemy's guns. SO far as the cor
respondent could see, were all abandon
ed, for the Beers had no time to re-
move them. A stream of fugitives pour
ed down the hillside into the valley.
abatement.
General Symons was wounded early
in the action, and the command de-
volved on Major Yule.
The enemy as they fled were followed
by the cavalry, mounted infantry and
artillery The direction taken was to
the eastward. At the latest reports the
cavalry had not returned.
Although the enemy's position was
carried soon after / o'clock, scattering
fire went on almost all afternoon.
The British losses are very severe,
but those of the Beers are much
heavier.
The final rush was made with a
triumphant YELL and as the British
troops charged to close quarters the
enemy turned and fled, leaving all their
impediments and guns behind them in
their precipitate flight
While this was going on one battery
of artillery, the Eighteenth Hussars
and the mounted infantry, with part
of Leicester Regiment, got on the
| enemy's flank and as the Beers
streamed wildly down the hills, making
for the main road. they found their re-
treat had been cut off, but they rallied
for awhile and there was severe firing
with considerable loss to each side.
Many of the enemy surrendered.
A rough estimate places the British
loss at 80 killed or wounded and that
of the Beers at 500.
A newspaper correspondent states
that through his glasses during the
fighting to-day he noticed how much
the Beers seemed to be nonplussed by
the tactics of sthe Imperial troops, es-
pecially of the we'll drilled, swift NOV
ing horsemen. The enemy are still as
of OLD, mob They are without horses
and forage, and many of them rely for
food upon what they can obtain by
looting. Their animals are mostly in a
wretched condition.
1t is understood that before to-days
battle several Beers. had left their COM
mandos and gone home to their farms,
and many others are now likely to fol-
How.