New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-31
ACCOUNTS or THE BATTLE.
CORRESPONDENTS TELL THE STORY OF
THE ACTION

London. oct 31.-Thc correspondent Of THE
Times" at Ladysmth. says:
The action seemed TO be proceeding most sat
,sfactorily when. at 715 m, the enemy in
large numbers. with field guns. Maxms and
37-millimctre guns, began to develop heavy
attack on Colonel Grimwoods infantry. The
cavalry brigade had moved up on our right.
holding tho parallel ridge over against Colo
mel Grimvood's position and practically acting
as infantry In the mean time our batteries
kent down the siege gun fire upon Ladysmith
with shrapnel
At q o'clock there seemed TO Zoe a lul as our
reserves moved up. hut suddenly the engage
ment reopencd as the enemy ON our "Rhl
brought further artillery to bear. Colonel GRIM
wood who with the three advance hattalohs'
had held the ridge for five hours. suddenly fel
back across the open upon our guns. Inc '''l
Battery pluckily pushed forward 10 cover ms
withdrawal Severe casualties occurred al TINS
phase The sd Battery held on against cross
fire Of rifles and quick firing guns until the IN
fantry were clear The teams If the two guns
were damaged and the battery eventually re
tired made up teams being sent 10 eX'rica'e
The two guns The cavalry. remaining unsup-
ported were forced 20 fall back also
ARTILLERY COVERS RETREAT
Then began q general retirement on Lady
smith The guns which had been covering the
Devonshre Regiment stoutly covered the maj
withdrawal The enemy did not press but
showed themselves on their positions IN great
numbers only % find that the naval brigade
from the Powerful had arrived Two quick
firing guns w.re at once placed in position
under cover II a redoubt. and in I'VE ROUNDS
they slenced the enemys l0-pounder
The troops We're back i'm Ladysmiih by
o'clock in the afternoon. The casualties caused
by the enemys artillery were not severe. ihe
mountain battery on the left reported that
had suffered through a stampede Of mules
our artillery. cavalry mounted infantry ana
volunteer cavalry behaved splendidy In diff
cult circumstances Dr. Jameson and Sir John
Willoughby arrived to-day and were spectators
OF the action.
.The Daily Telegraph" has the following ac-
rount Of the I.adysmith engagement from its
Especial correspondent at the fronts
An ,n6ecisive reconnaissance occurred to-day
General Sir George Stewart White advanced
before daybreak (donday) with all the available
forces from Ladysmith. moving toward TntWa-
3n,.oni Two hrieades were under Colonies Ian
Hamilton and Howard. and another. with Cen
eral Sir Archibald Hunter went toward Bull
wan, while two regiments, guided by Major
Adye. marched on our extreme left beyond the
old camp
BOERS' DETERMINED STAND.
The Beers were found to be in great force at
all noints. Although We had seven batteries OK
artillery their fire failed entirely to crush that
of the enemy until our infantry. the 9th Ian
Gers nluckilv rode across the enemy's front and
feirned retreat This. however. failed to en-
fice the enemy out the Beers only replying with
g shell fire.
This flank attack so developed that Colonel
Hamilton had TO reinforce right with three
batteries and the Gordon Hghlanders. the Dev-
onshire regiment and the Manchester regiment
ut intervals. our artillery then changed front,
and a severe artillery duel ensued, the guns gen
erously supporting the reinforcing infantry as
they advanced.
Two batteries remained In action against the
12-pounder, and the quick frers Of the naval
contingent came into action. The enemy had
field pieces machine guns and a lOO-pounder
General White in the afternoon withdrew his
forces upon Ladysmith. The losses on the Boer
sside were considerable.
BATTLE BEGINS AT DAWN.
The war correspondent Of The Standard"
with tie British force at Ladysmith. telegraph
ing as 10 Mondays engagement saysi
During the opening stages Of the fight at
tached myself to The centre column We
marched out before dawn and, after covering
three miles. halted under a kopje TO await de-
relopments. in The attack on the right tho
first shot was fred at 80 A. m. il came from
Iomhard's Kop a lofty eminence rising some
r1ive miles TO the east Of Ladysmth.
Battery after battery went into action. and
gradually the enemy's fire sackened. For near
Nv two hours not shot Of ours was returned
save when Long Tom The name our soldiers
had given 10 the Boor 40-pounder, hurled a
shell which we followed with anxious eyes
toward the town Of Ladysmith. Presently the
,ncnv's horsemen were seen streaming on d
hill 10 our left Sheltered by rising ground. they
occunied ridge on our left flank; and there
hidden by the scrub and trees, they could watch
the turn OF events in safety and await their
chance. The Devonshires now advanced toward
Kaf1r Kraal under a hiIock. and there they
,o,oained with orders not TO fire a shot until
they were called upon
F1-sILEERs IN ACTON.
orlv when vollcys were heard on their rear
I'D eark did they show the least sign Of rest
,essness. The sound Of this firing feeble though
:. seemed satisfied us that the Gloucesttrs ana
1rfeb rusileers were at work. and that there
was no truth i'm the story Of a disaster 10 these
,o,+alions after the stampede of the mountain
battery mules.
Sir George White Sir Archibald Hunter and
The STAFF officers watched the development OF
Inc artillery attack which gave the hrst prom
Use = a realization Of General Whites plans
Soon after q o'clock messengers began 10 arriN r.
with news that the right column needed sup