The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-24

me sea-EngliSh Prisoners Re-
leasod.
LONDON. Oct. 2a.-Ths British VIC
tories in Natal following each other in
quick succession though accompanied
by heavy losses on the side Of the vic
tof5 gives striking testimony to the
vaIor OF the vanqulshed Beers. They
appear to have fallen victims to the
very plan which they counted on to
drive the British into the sea- They
have been beaten in detail by counter
strokes carefully considered and brill
lIaHtly carried out in the face Of cour-
asaous opposition which has done much
to. Increase British respect for the
burghers, whose splendid valor and de-
termination, It Is universally admitted,
reached the highest level.
Fuller accounts of Saturdays battle
at Elandslaagte emphasize the splendid
gailantry exhibited on both sides, and
the superiority OF the British In battle.
although the Beers fought with the
greatest tenacity to the last, only yield
ing when further lighting was hopeless.
An armored train with the men of the
Manchester regiment appeared on the
left ct Labyrinth at daybreak satur-
day, in support Of the Johannesburg
Light Horse and the Natal field aitll-
ieFy with the object OF reopenIng COM
mpnication at Elandslaagte. The artll-
iery took up position above the town
and shelled the railway station, from
which the Beers ran out and, the BRIT
ish mounted infantry entering the
place, released the English prisoners.
The Beers, numbering some 1900
men, with three guns, occupied a COM
mandlng position. They poured such
weIl-directed IRE on the British and
their scouts were so active that the
British force steadily retired until reIn-
forcements arrived. when the mounted
infantry was sent to drive the Boer
scouts from the ridge on the right.
Alarge force OF mixed cavalry. In the
meanwhile swept over the plain and up
the hill on the right. The Lancers were
met with heavy fusilade while on the
left a British battery opened FIRE with
good eject.
The British infantry who had debark-
ed from the railway train in the In
term, advanced steadily over the plain
and up the rocky ridge previously
cleared by the cavalry. The Boer artIl-
lery dropped shrapnel into the the adj
vanclng columns but the British finclly
scaled the hill, whence they overlooked
the broad valley to three rocky hills
forming the Boer position. their camp
being in the center on the left center
the Beers had a battery of three largo
guns. The smaller hills were also
strongly held. on the Boer right was
the station in a valley on the British
left The latter's cavalry was on UOth
TANKS and at battery on the right was
busy throwing shrapRel at the Beers
batteries.
The British Infantry formed for the
attack in extended order, behind the
brow OF hill. the Devonshires on the
left with four companies of the Man
chesters and some of the Gordons on
the right.
At about p, M, the infantry adj
vanced through the valley as steadily
as on field day. Half way down the
slope they met terrific infantry end
artillery FIRE.
The men fell rapidly and the wounded
were carried to the rear. But in spite
OF the steady work OF the Boer guns
and the sharpshooters concealed be-
hind the rocks. the increasing fire Of the
advancing British infantry gradually
gained the upper hand. and the Man
cheSters and Gordons, edging towards
the right, gained the top Of the ridge
thus outdanklng the enemy's left.
At the bugles sounded the charge"
ana the British swept ahead, The Beers
fought to the last, only attempting to
escape when further fighting was hope
lesaa
IN the meantime the DsvoushIreS,
pressing steadily Up the left were
strongly opposed at the BOer camp and
from the thanking hills but they carried
both by charge. with Wild cheers and
bugle blasts
BY o'clock the British had gained
the position and cease IRE" was sound
ca.
Three i2M-pounder Nordenfelts were
captured with quantities of munitions
The Boer dead and wounded among
the rocks who we're numerous, were at
tended to.
General French thanked. the troops on
the field. especially mentioning Colonel
Ian Hnmllton's splendid handling of the
infantry.
The British bIvouncked on the cap
tured position Saturday night.
Some estimates place the Boer Losses
at 800 men. but this is probably exag-
gerated.
Col. Scott Chisholm, the only British
oficer killed, was formerly attached to
the Ninth Lancers. He served with
distinction In the Afghan war ana or
Fanlzed the present Imperial light norsa