The San Francisco call., 1899-11-16

General Cronje had recourse to the tactics
employed during the siege of Potchef-
strocm in 1881, making an advance to the
town by succession Of trenches in eche-
Ion. Such movement had been antici-
pated by us for some time and for that
reason there had been sent out parties to
worry the Beers necessarily by night at
tacks. These tactics the enemy disliked
but he contented himself with a daily
shell fire, which exposed him TO little per-
sonal risk. Then Colonel Baden-PoWell
played his trump card by sending out
F1tz-Clarence's party to worry the occu-
pants of the trenches. The little force
stole out silently in the darkness No
shot was fired and the men, with fixed
bayonets, creeping rather than walking
along, approached the chief Boer position
near the racecourse. Then as they closed
in there was a shrill screech. 1t was
Fitz-Clarence's whistle and the signal for
onslaught. ringing cheer which the
listeners back In camp caught up, was the
only reply as the party dashed into the
trenches. There was a short struggle the
attacking forces catching and bayonetinR
Beers under the tarpaulins where they
crouched. crying for mercy. At least fifty
bayonets ~~t TO work. and the havoc they
wrought was terrible.
For just moment there was no sys-
tematic return fire, but then a perfect
hailstorm OF bullets poured In from the
trenches to the rear. Again Fitz-C -CIar-
ence's whistle sounded. 1t meant cease
firing and scatter homeward. The British
forces scattered. creeping back under the
furious fire in the darkness 10 the ap-
pointed rendezvous, where the roll was
called.
Colonel Baden-Powell met and congrat-
ulated Captain Fftz-Clarence and his men
+Aas.-
was a heavy price to pay, but that the
Beers had to be stopped making rifle
trenches within the range OF the town.
The members of the party are now the
envy and pride of the garrison
Even the Boer commander Botha ex-
pressed admiration of the attack. and
added that he would take Mafekine before
long. for he meant to do one thing or the
other quickly Sunday passed quietly. the
volunteer band playing in the woman's
laager. All Sunday night the Beers poured
a rifle fire into the town. It was set going
after Sunday evening. when Colonel Ba-
den-Powell hoisted a red lamp on the
commonage. which was the signal for
Captain Fitz-Clsrence's night attack. The
ruse answered splendidly. The moment
light appeared the Beers opened fire
ld their fusillade lasted the whole night
through.
lHrrt las Ottll tremendous waste
of ammunition. Indeed, II is estimated
that 10000 rounds of ball cartridges were
wasted on the occasion OF the night at
tack on the Boer trenches. Double rations
have been served out to the men, who are
under shelter, so as TO be on the safe side
If the Beers should sweep the town by a
long rifle fire. The garrison is hanging
on finely. Colonel Baden-Powell has the
fullest confidence in everybody, and es-
pecially in the matter Of implicit obedi-
ence to the order to hold the fire until the
Beers get to close range.
THE shelling continued all Sunday at
intervals About o'clock in the after
noon General Cronje sent a flag of truce,
giving Mafelking a last chance to surren-
der at the eleventh hour While the flag
was receiving attention the heavy bonn
bardment continued"
The dispatch then describes Genera.
Cronje's great attack Of Monday. the de.
tails of which have already been OBJ
tanned from Colonel Baden-Powell's off,
cial dispatch.
''The end came,' says the correspond