Rock Island Argus., 1899-11-08
BOERS CUT TO PIECES
Two Fights Near Ladysmitn in
Which the British Are
Victorious.
ENEMY CAUGHT OUT IN THE OPEN,

Driven from the Hills by Stormins Par
ty in the Second EnGagement,and Caught
Between Bayonet and saber OH the Plain
Below They Lose Terribly. Evidently
Fighting to the Last-Boers Smelling the
Town. but Doing Little Damage -
Colesburg. Nov. cit is reported
3, 900 Beers left Pretoria and are going
to protect the southern border of the
Orange Free State. They are said to
be accompanied by large contingent
of German artillery with quick firing
guns of heavy calibre.
Estcourt, Natal. Nov. >, evening
1t is now possible to furnish official
details of Fridays fighting around
I.adysmith. The Boer artillery fire
was accurate and we'll sustained. but
ineffective. The British cavalry was
constantly out. the investment not be-
ing close enough TO prevent this. Cav
airy and artillery under Colonel Brock
lehurst about noon drove the enemy
from all their positions with great
slaughter. This attack was directed
against Il reported move of the enemy
toward Maritzburg. The artillery
shelled three of the enemy'S guns into
silence. The British casualties were
slight. The Beers are now Shelling the
town. Their artillery is well handled.
but is doing little damage. The Beers
protited by Il flag of truce on Thurs
day TO send in TranSvaal artillery
officer disguised as an ambulance
driver with the wounded to observe
the action of the Boer artillery fire.
Beers Caught in the Open.
London, Nov. S.-LaSt nights wei
Il f1..r In rAr1f
the veil OF gloom enveloping Lady
smith, showing the British garrison not
merely standing on the dOgged defen-
sive but executing IL series of brilliant
sortieS. Accounts from different
sources agree that the laconic official
description of Thursdays engagement
as AN effective shelling of the Boer
laager' was unduly modest. 1t ap-
pears that General Sir George Stewart
White sent n strong force of cavalry
and infantry To- attack the Beers at
Tatham's Farm. about ten miles to
the northwest. near BeSter'S. and ap-
parently achieved Il surprise. the Beers
being caught on the open veldt and
cut to pieces and their camp captured.
Encouraged by this success General
White decided to risk an even more
important engagement on the follow
ing day. which was again justified by
success.
Purpose of the British Attack.
Ladysmith had been isolated and
Boer force had intercepted the railway
between Lady smith and ColenSO. This
force on Friday had descended upon
ColenSO. and as shown 10y the dis
patches from Estcourt had compelled
a hurried abandonment of ColenSO and
a retirement of the British TO EStcourt.
General White had aScertained thai
the Beers We're attacking ColensO. but
he was not aware of the British retire
mcnt. He determined. therefore, 10
attack the Beers in the rear, thus hop
ing to achieve the double object of
drawing off an attack upon the weak
garrison of ColensO and possibly of re-
opening communication southwark.
British in Front and Rear.
The Beers had advanced southwark
until they had occupied the hills north
of Tugela river and dominating Co
lenso on the other side of the stream.
The hills slope to a plain that reaches
TO the banks of the Tugela. General
Whites division caught the Beers in
the rear. and after the hills had been
Shelled the British infantry stormed
the position. Meanwhile the British
cavalry swept round the hills. and as
the retreating enemy descended into
the plains with the British bayonetS
benIlu llitn anu lIlt river III iipil VI
them they We're charged by the cav
airy and seem TO have periShed almost
to a man. The British then returned
to I.adysnith without coming into
touch with the ColensO garrison. which
had retired To Estcourt.
Hope to Restore Communication.
Sundays dispatch from EstcOurt.
however. showed that an armOred
train had been sent back to Colenso
to repair the line. and the next news
may possibly be of the restoration of
the communication with Ladysmith.
While the British troops were thus EN-
gagged in successful endeavors to wipe
out the \icholsOn's Mex disaster the
situation inside Ladysmith, as shown
by an official dispatch from the general
at EStcourt. was most satisfactory.
encouraging hope that General
Whites force may emerge triumphant
from the ordeal through which it is
now passing.
NEWS BROUGHT BY A KAFFIR.