Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-10-23
CAPTURE OF ELANDSlAkGIE.

London. Oct. 22.-The war office
this afternoon, published the following
dispatch to the secretary of STATE for
war, the Marquis Of Landsdowne. from
the general commanding in Natal. Si1
George Stewart White, regarding the
engagement. yesterday. at Elands-
/ laagte, between Glencoe and Lady
smith, when the British under Cen
French routed the TransvaaI forces
under Gen. Jan H. NJ. Kock. second in
command in the Transvaal army. who
and has since died.
White, commander in Natal. to the
! secretary Of state for war. Filed.
Ladysmith, Oct. -. 1890 A. Mn the
action at Elandslaagte, yesterday the
| troops engaged were the following:
Cavalry, 9TH Lancers, a squadron of the
/ 9TH Dragon Guards the Imperial
Light Horse and two squadrons of
| Natal Carbineers: artillery. 21st Field
Battery. 42d Field Battery and the
Natal Field Battery: infantry. the
Devonshire Regiment. half n battalion
Of the Gordon Highlanders and the
Manchester Regiment. The whole
force was under Gen. French, with Col
Ian Hamilton commanding the in
fantry.
II was present in person from $50
p. NJ. to $50 p. NJ, but did not assume
direction Of the fight. which was left
in the hands of Gen. French. Although
desultory fighting too place earlier in
the day. while reinforcements. sent out
later on ascertaning the enemy's
strength, We're arriving from Lady
smith. the real action did not begin
until $50 p. NJ. At that hour the
Beers held a position of very excep-
tional strength. consisting of a rocky
hill. about mile and half southeast
of Elandslaagte station.
AT $50 p. NJ. our guns took q posi-
ton on ridge, 4l00 yards from tha
Boers. whose guns at once opened fire
rms fire was generally well directed
out somewhat high. Contrary to pre-
V1ous experiences, their shells burst
we'll
me Imperial Light Horse moved to-
wards the left of the enemy's position
ana TWO Squadrons of the 5th Lancers
toward his right. During the artillery
duel mounted Beers pushed out from
their left and engaged the Imperial
Ldght Horse. In few minutes the
enemy's guns ceased firing and our ar
tlllery was turned on the mounted
Beers. who opposed the Imperial Light
Horse, who at once fell back.
After the artillery preparations. our
infantry advanced to the attack. SUD-
ported by our guns in the second posi-
ton. The Devonshires held the enemy
in front. while the Manchester Regi-
mpnt and tho
turned his left flank
The Beers guns, although often
temporarily silenced, invariably open |
ed flre again on the slightest oppor-
tunity and We're served with great |
After severe firing our infantry car |
ried the position. At $50 p. NJ. this |
was accomplished, the enemy standing
MS ground to the last with courage and |
The 5th Lancers and a
squadron of the 9Th Dragon Guards
thrice through the retreating
Beers in the dark, doing considerable
execution.
We captured the Boer camp, with
tents. wagons. horse and also two
guns. The Beers losses were very con-
siderable, including number of
wounded and unwounded prisoners.
Among the former are Gen. Kock ana
oiet Joubert, nephew of Commandant
zen. Joubert.
"One train with supplies for Glen
zoe camp and nine English prisoners
we're recovered. Our loss, | regret to
ay. was heavy. 1t is roughly COM
'uted at $50 killed and wounded.
The collection of the wounded over
large area in the dark and the ar
for sending them i'm have
hus far occupied our time and atten-
ion. A full list will go to you later.
Our wounded and those Of the en-
my are now arriving by trains. Be-
Continued on page %