New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-20
FIERCE FIGHTING AROUND LADYsMITH.
A STORY OF HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED BY

A SlOh1 Of HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED BY
BOER ATTACKING COLUMNS.
Durham. Nov. 1S.-"The Times OF Natal" pub
lishes the following. dated Wednesday. Novem-
ber Is. from it's special correspondent at Lady
smith
The enemy made determined attack
Thursday November 9. Apparently all the Boer
forces participated. Their artillery opened at
a.. n pouring in shells thick and fast upon
the British positions. although with great
effect. They adopted the unusual tactics OF ad-
vancing under cover of their guns to positions
on the ridges and kopjes adjacent to those
cupied by the British troops on the left of our
camp.
Continuing their advance the Beers crept up.
using every available bit Of cover. our infantry
opened with a steady, warm and accurate fire,
which beat back the enemy. notwithstanding a
display Of tenacity Of purpose equal TO their
desperate stands on previous occasions. The
Boer attack was most elaborate on all sides of
the town.
The main attack. however. was made between
the Free State and Newcastle railway lines by
a column composed chiefly Of johannesburg vol
unteers. A brigade Of the Kings Rife Corps
made a splendid defence The Beers were re-
pulsed but soon rallied and returned to the at
tack Again the British fire, which was very
hot forced them to retire. They had made
deep trench in front of the British lines and
while Withdrawing for their horses they left
this unguarded whereupOn the Kings Rifles,
advancing at double quick. occupied the trench.
This smart movement was not seen by the
Carefully reserving their fire the Kings Rifles
allowed the Beers to advance almost TO the edge
of the trench. and then poured volley after vol
ley into the astounded Beers, who turned and
fed from an awful hail Of bullets. boiling across
the open. where the artillery of the British
poured in a terrible and effective shell fire. The
enemy lost heavily.
Meanwhile another section Of the Beers had
brought a mortar into action. firing heavy shells
Our guns, concentrating upon it, soon silenced
this weapon the enemys artillerymen fleeing
headlong. The Beers then advanced IN torce
with a view Of repairing the mortar. but our
artillery shelled and scattered them right and
left The fighting was all over at II O'Clock.
Promptly at noon General White ordered
salute of twenty-one guns in honor of the birth
day Of the Prince of Wales. AS the cannon
doomed cheer after cheer rang out from the
troops. and a scene Of enthusiasm probably
without parallel in history followed
At Casar's Camp which protects the town on
the southwest the Manchester Regiment held
the position. Descending under cover or the
British guns for some distance on the further
side of the hill they detected several hundred
Beers hiding in the ditch, out Of the way OF the
British shells. They poured volley after Voliey
into the enemy, scattering them WluelE anu III
fcting heavy loss.
The Beers were driven back at every point,
with a loss estimated at eight hundred men.
Nothing important occurred until Tuesday, NO
vember IA. when a strong force, chiefly OF cav
airy and artillery. recOnnoitrng, came upon the
enemy near the Colenso road and drove them
back to their main positions our shell nre was
most effective and is believed 10 have inflicted
considerable damage. Our own Joss was one
man. =, ,,,, ..ouo-
of the Natal Mounted Rifles. who was sleeping
in his tent All our men are f1t well ana IN
good spirits. 1t is reported that tne ,o Eoiite te
is terrifying the Beers, who nave 10 ne orlVsh ~ ~
their gun positions by revolvers pointed at
their heads. .,. or
the other hand it is reported that dysentery Is
making havoc In the enemys camp.