The Portland daily press., 1899-10-31


Ths advance was made at dawn with the
object Of shsliing the Beers from the
position where yesterday they bad
mounted a number of guns On reach
ing tine spot however. it was found that
they had evacuated the position.
The British continued TO advance and
the movement developed into recon
Nuisance in force. The enemy we pest
on range OF hills having a frontage oil
about 10 miles.
Lady smith. October 80, 6 p. m. THE
British force was disposed in the follow.
ing order;
On the right three regiments OF oaval.
ry; four batteries of the Royal Field ar
tillery and five battalions of infantry.
In the centre, three batteries of the
Royal field artillery, two regiments of
cavalry and four infantry battaiions; on
the left the Royal Irish fusilie.s, the
Gloucestershire regiment and the Tenth
Mountain battery.
This force has been detailed to guard
our loft flank At a late hour last night.
General Whites plan Of operations was
that. as the movement developed the force
constituting our centre, which was dis
posed under cover of a kopje about three
miles from the town should throw itself
upon the enemy, wh lie the left flank was
being held by the fusiliers and the Glou-
oesters. The scheme was we'll devised but
failed In execution, owing to the fact that
the Boer position which formed our OBJ
isctiye was eyacuatsd
Our artillery quickly reduced the vol
ume OF the eneniy's fire, but the attack
delivered on our right flank was the priu-
cipal one and the column was compelled
to charge.
The Boer attack had been silenced for =
time and our infantry advanced, covered
by cavalry.
The enemy now began to develop
heavy counter attack and as they were In
great numerical superiority, General
White gave orders for the infantry to be
gradually withdrawn. The movement
was carried out with great steadiness
and deliberation, under cover of our
guns, which made excellent practice.
Some shells were thrown into the town
from the enemy's forty Founders at
range of over 6000 yards but no damage
was done. The engagement lasted several
hours and resulted on our side in casual
ties estimated at from 20 to 100. The
Boer losses must have largely exceeded
this total.
The attack was admirably delivered by
our right and the Boers wers fairly
driven out of one OF their strongholds
near Lombard's kop. 1t was not posi-
BILE, however, to push the success much
further, as beyond that point lay long
broken ridge affording every kind Of ma
tural cover. or this this enemy took the
fullest advantage.
Our shells failed to dislodge the Beers;
and, as our infantry moved forward in
exteued order, they came under heavy
and well directed rifle fire, the effect Of
which was soon apparent. General
White, who was with the centre, seeing
that the troops on the right were some
what pressed, sent to their assistance the
whole centre column, with the exception
of the Devonkhire regiment The battle
had then lasted four hours, during which
time the artillery tire on both sides had
been almost incessant The naval brigade,
which landed at Durham, had arrived on
tn scene toward the end of the eight and
Immediately brought their heavy guns
into play. Their practice was magnih-
cent. At the fourth shot the enemy's
forty Founders had been knocked out Of
action, the town. therefore freed from
pprehension of bombardment
Throughout the engagement the Beers
hal their ground with courage and
tenacity and /, considering the intensity OF
our artillery fire, they must have suffeed
severely.
BRITISH SAILORS GOOD MARKS
MEN.
Lady smiht, Natal. October 80. 10 80 p.
m.-1he naval brigade arrived this morn
ing at half past nine and has just com-
mencsd flriag with six quick firing guns,
with great precision. This boers' forty
Founders, which again begun to shell the
Town, were temporarily disabled as the
third and fifth shots. Brisk fighting Is
in progress on the right and left fanks