Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-10-23
BRITON AND
BOER MEET
The British Are the VictorS and
Garry the Boer
Position.
BOERs ARE FIERCE FIGHTERS
A Rumor That Kruger Favors
Uncondi bnal Surrender,
DiscrediTed.


The attack made by Boer forces
under General Lucas Meyers, on the
British position Saturday, enabled the
British forces to score another signal
success. The Boer column was driy-
en- pell nell over the plains, losing
over 800 killed and wounded. The
British captured several hundred
horses and made many prisoners.
Inc Boer --ospital has been taken
under the wing of British hospital
corps as the Beers had only sim
pie doctor with a primitive staff quite
unable to cope with the wounded.
London, Oct. 2S-Special from
Cape Town, dated Sunday, says the
advices received there from Pretoria
report President Kruger as being in
favor of unconditional surrender. 1t
is expected an executive council will
meet Monday or Tuesday to discuss
the advisability of such step. The
report must be accepted with reserve.
London, Oct 29.-Fuller accounts of
Saturdays battle at Elandslaagte
emphasized the splendid gallantry ex-
hibited by both sides and the super
iority of the British in a pitched bat
tie, although the Beers fought win
the greatest tenacity to the last, only
yielding when further fighting was
hopeless.
An armored train with the Man
chester regiment, appeared on the
left at Ladysmith at daybreak Sat
;urdaJ, in support of the Johannes
burg Imperial lignt horse and the
Natal field artinery, with the object
of re-opening communication with
Landslaagte. lhe artiner took up
position above the town and shelled
the railway station from which the
Beers ran out and the British mount |
ed infantry entering the place, re- |
leased the English prisoners.
Beers numbering 1900 with three |
guns occupied commanding position. |
They poured such a well-directed |
fire On the British, and their scouts
were so active, that the British force |
steadily retired until reinforcements |
arrived, when the mounted infantry |
was sent to drive the Boer scouts
from ridges on the right A large |
force of mixed cavalry meanwhile
swept over the plain and up the hill
on the right The lancers met a
heavy fusilade while on the left
the British battery opened fire with
good effect
The British infantry which debarked
from the railway train during the in
term advanced steadily over the
plain and up the rocky ridge pre-
viously cleared by the cavalry. The
Boer artillery dropped shrapnel into
the advancing columns, but the Bri-
tish finally scaled the hill whence
they overlooked the broad valley to
three rocky hills forming the Beers
position, the camp being in the cen
ter. British infantry lormed for an
attack in extended order behind the
brow of the hill with the Devonshires
on the left with four companies and
the Manchesters and some Gordons
on the right. About p. m. the in
fantry advanced through the valley
steadily as on a neld day. Half way
down the slope they met a terrific
fire and men fell rapidly. Advanc-
ing me British infantry gradually
gained the upper hand and the Man.
chesters and Gordons, edging toward
the right, gained the top of the ridge
thus outfanking the enemys left.
At six bugles soundeG charge" Tue
British swept ahead. The Beers fought
to the last, only attempting to es-
cape when further fighting was hope
less.
Meantime the Devonshires press
ing steadily I'D the left were strongly
opposed at the Boer camp and from
fianking hills, and carried both at
charge with wild cheers and bugle
blasts. By o'clock the British
gained position and cease firing
was sounded.
Three 1919 FOUNDER Nordenfelts
Were captured, with quantities of mu-
nitiops. Some estimates place the
Boer losses at 500, but this is prob
ably exaggerated. colonel Scott
Chisholm, the only British officer
killed, was formerly attached to the
Ninth Lancers He served with rs
tinction in the Algnan war and or
ganized the present Imperial Light
Horse, a majority of whom are refu-
gees from Rand.
The death of General Viljoen. is a
severe blow to the burghers am. the
death of Gen. Kock and the capture
of Gen. Pretorius WI. handicap the
further movements of this column.
According to advices from Durham,
Natal. the Beers have entered Zulu
land large column advancing to-
wards Meloth
T.. best opinions do not credit the
reports that the Beers are suing for
peace or are likely to yield at pres
ent.
.,ensational rumors of designs OF
foreign powers, inimical to British
interests, meet with scant credence
though it is admitted it is difficult tc
explain the immense force on land
which Great Britain is now mobiliz
ing. Parliamentary secretary OF
the war Office, George Wyndham
made the following statement in the
house OF commons today LORD
.WolseIey sums up the position in
Natal this morning as follows: In
the battle Elandslaagte October 81
two guns were captured from tht
Beers who lost heavily A large
column Of the enemy appeared ed
vancing from the northwest on Gen
eral Yule who consequently had fall
en- back from Duuuee and was concen
frating at Glencoe Junction. In thil
operation we gathered IN the wound
ca and medical attendants were lief
at Dundee Tho general In position
at Sdysmith, is being reinforced
fri Pietermaritzburg. The enem.
appears to be in large numerical su
periority."