The record-union., 1899-10-23
GORDON HIGHLANDERs CALL
Storming of Dargaf Ridge Child's
Play Compared With This.

LADYSMITH, Oct. 22.-Realizing
that the first attack on Glencoe was
part of a general combined attack by
three columns, and that the situation
was still serious so long as the Beers
held the railway at Glands Laagte, sew
ering communication between Lady
smith and Dundee, Sir George Stewart
White on Friday resolved to give bat
tie with a view of recapturing Glands
Laagte.
On the morning of that date all the
mounted troops here, supported by two
battalions of infantry and two bat
teries Of artillery, reconnoitered some
twelve miles along the Newcastle road
an open, rolling country, very suitable
for cavalry operations, although the 60
ing was heavy after the recent rains.
On approaching within three miles or
SO of the break in the railway Inc, our
men saw the Boer outposts falling back,
apparently in no great force. We cap
tured four, who had mistaken our men
for Beers until we were too near for
them to get away. Then our men re-
turned and, later Friday night General
White determined to advance in force
on Glands Laagte at an early hour the
following morning. 1t was imperati
that we dislodge the Beers from Glands
Laagte, as We had learned that the
Orange Free State Burghers were de-
scending from their positions on the
slopes of the Drakenburg, from Tintwa
and other western passes, to cooper
ate with those already posted at Glands
Laagte
At an early hour our forces moved
out by road and rail. It was COM
puted that there were about 1,2UU
Beers, with big guns and Maxims COW
ering their front and occupying a we'll
chosen position at the base of a hill,
some little distance south of Glands
Laagte. On both f1anks were strong
Kopjes, on which We're three big guns
strongly posted and commanding a
wide sweep on all sides, leaving an
opening for retreat.
A British armored train, supported
by two trainloads of infantry, imme-
diately on approaching the enemy's po-
sition, was shelled by the Beers. Our
artillery was at once brought up and
drove the Beers from their guns. MAX
ing a series of brilliant dashes into
the valley and up the successive nights
Thrice were the Boer batteries on the
way silenced by our artillery, although
the Beers fought with great pluck and
determination returning each time our
guns moved and raining shrapnel and
Maxim bullets against our advance.
At 4 O'Clock a tremendous artillery
duel was in progress. Two Boer guns,
splendidly placed, were stubbornly
fought for two hours and a quarter,
while mounted Beers endeavored to
come into contact with our men on the
| left and on the right.
Then, at 6:15 p. m, the Devonshire
Regiment half the Gordon Highland
| ers, half the Manchester Regiment and
the Imperial Light Horse advanced on
the position and stormed the enemys
front A bayonet charge was sounded
as the roar of artillery on both sides
suddenly ceased, and our men, the
/ Devonshires leading, made a superb
1 dash against the main body of the
Beers, undaunted by facing a fearful
fire. Twice were they checked by the
/ terrible fusillade. Once the advance
quivered for moment, but then, with
ringing, roaring cheers, the whole of
our force hurled itself forward like an
avalanche and swept over the Kopjes
bayoneting the broken enemy in all
! directions.
| The Beers were overwhelmed and as
| founded. They paused, then retreated
then raised the white flag and surren-
dered. Two or three hundred broke
and ran, pursued by the Fifth Lancers
who charged through and through
| them.
| 1t was quite dark by this time, but
the slaughter must have been great.
The Gordon Highlanders say the storm
ing of Dargai Ridge was mere child's
play compared with this attack The
Boer loss must have been very heavy
| The best estimates place it at certainly
over 400 killed. One of the captured
Beers told me that, if he had known
English soldiers could shoot as our men
did he would never have come. Another
| Boer said he knew he was fghting for
a lost cause. Yet a third expressed sur
prise that he had to shoot at men wear
Continued on Eighth Page)