Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-10-27

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| South Africa resulted Friday in tine rout of
the Beers at Glencoe. The loss is estimat-
ed at 800 but this is probably an exaggera-
ton. The British loss is placed at 80 kill
ed and 173 wounded, but the percentage OF
officers who fell was unusually high, ten be-
ing killed and % wounded. 1t was found
| in the morning that the Beers had seized
Dundee Hill, a commanding position, dur
| ing the night. This was great surprise
to the British Although the pickets had
been exchanging shots all night it was not
| until a shell doomed over the town into the
camp that the presence of the Beers was
discovered The fright was almost an
exact counterpart of that of Mejuba Hill,
except that the positions of the two forces
were reversed The engagement lasted
eight hours. At 1880 Gen. Symons order
ed a general advance of the infantry
brigade, which he himself accompanied
The Dublin fusileers were well in front,
with the kings royal rifles out on the right
and the Leicestershire regiment on the left.
! The men advanced smartly, taking ad-
vantage of every bit of cover-tactics in
which they had been exercised for weeks
past. The advance was covered by a
terrific fire from three batteries, and sever
al Boer guns were silenced before the fusi-
leers began to climb the hill. By this time
the fusileers aud royal rifles got within 1000
yards of the crest, the Boer batteries had
been completely silenced, the British guns
having pounded them at $500 yards range
with crushing effect. The Beers mean
time were keeping up a heavy rifle fire,
which thnned our ranks considerably.
By 0 o'clock the fusileers aud royal
rifles had swarmed over the hill and the
Beers were on the run. Meantime the
18th hussars and all the colonial mounted
infantry and the Leicestershire regiment
had been moved north and east, thus prac-
tically cutting off the Boer main line of
retreat, and the enemy caught between
two fires, lost heavily. Gen. Symons was
dangerously wounded during the battle
and Gen. Yue assumed command.
The Beers evidently planned to hold the
English force at Ladvsmith by demonstra-
tions of the Free State burghers on the
western side so as to prevent reinforce
ments being sent to Glencoe. The lat
ter place was to be isolated by cutting
the railway between it and Ladysmith.
Finally, large force was to make con-
verging attack on Glencoe. The first two
items of the program were successfully
carried out, but the combined operation
against Glencoe failed owing, probably, to
the fact that the Boer military organiza-
ton is too crude to bring large forces into
simultaneous action. 1t is believed that
only 1000 Beers were in actual action
Dispatches dated Oct. IA, and brought
by despatch riders were received at Cape
Town Friday. They stated that Col.
Baden-P Powell inflicted tremendous blow
on the Beers nine miles north of Mafeking.
Two trucks laden with dynamite, which it
Ill 70 20 10 FOL
account of risk of explosion should the
town be shelled, were sent by Col Baden
Powell nine miles out in the hope that the
Beers would shell and explode them. And
SO it happened. When the engine had I'M
coupled from the trucks and retreated
about a mile the enemy shelled the trucks,
with the result that a terrible explosion oc-
Cured, killing it is estimated 100 Beers.
Another crushing defeat was administer
ed to the Beers at Elandslaagte, about -
miles up the Newcastle road from Lady
smith Saturday afternoon. A force of
1000 Beers, with artillery and machine
guns, was dislcdged from a strong posi-
ton with loss of 400 killed and many
prisoners, among them Gen. Jan Kock,
their commander who has since died of
his wounds, and Plot Joubert, nephew of
Gen. Joubert. Kock was the second in
command of the Transvaal army. The
British loss was about $50 killed and
wounded The utmost bravery was dis
played on both sides.
Gen. French discovered the enemy to be
in greater force than was expected and in
a position of great natural strength, strong
w intrenched The enemy commenced the
action by artillery fire from an advanced
position, falling back quickly, however,
/ L. ,f 81 lt1n
battle formation. The English artillery
played on the guns of the enemy, which
were bravely defended. The Boer gunners
were driven off several times, but returned
when the opportunity afforded and reopen
ed their fire.
Late in the afternoon theEngligh infantry
pushed forward on the enemy's left and Sc
cured possession of high ground, forcing
the Beers to retire. This involved a very
| long flank movement. The infantry also
attacked the enemy's right, which held a
very strong position, which was well de-
Tended until flank attack was made and
the main position was carried with a rush,
though with heavy loss. The Boer camp,
with wagons and guns, was captured as
daylight failed. The battlefield was very
rough and stony, and with the enemy's
resoute resistance the victory was fine
feat of arms.
Col. Scott Chisholm, the only British
officer killed, was formerly attached to the
| Ninth Lancers. He served with distinction
in the Afgan war and organized the present
Imperial Light Horse, a majority of whom
are refugees from the Rand. The death
of Gen. Vilioh is a severe blow to the
burghers and the death of Gen. Kock and
the capture of Gen. Pretorious will handi-
cap the further movements of this column
According to advices from Durham, Natal
the Beers have entered Zululand, a large
column advancing toward Aeloth. The
reports that the Beers are suing for peace
or that they are likely to yield at present il
not to be credited, though the Beers will
probably retreat to their line of defence il
the mountain passes of Laings Mex anC
Drakenburg, which they have blocked witt
great houlders and where, if they so desire
they would be able to hold out until the ad
vance of Major General Sir Redvers Butler
though the Orange Free State should com
pei them to leave the Natal side to meet
the invasion from the south. The sensation
rumors of the designs of foreign power
inimical to British interest meet will
scant credence though it is admitted it j
difficult to explain the immense force OIL
land and sea which Great Britain is nov
mobilizing In Vienna it is reported tina
British naval movements are due to
rumor that Russia, with the assent o
France, is about to acquire from Spain
Ceuta or some other naval station on tn
African coast. Elsewhere it is stated tina