New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-23
STORUTNG or TALANA HILL.

HOURS OF DESPERATE FIGHTING.
1onaon oct. 22.-A correspondent in Glencoe
Camp. teleeraphing on october 20 and descrio-
inc the lighting that followed the first engage
ment in the Boer attack upon the British posi-
ton that day says:
1T was after the battle renewed. follow
ing the lull that ensued upon the sharp can
| nonadlng Of the British which sienced the guns
Of the Beers on Smiths Hin. that our casualties
| began The Indian hospital corps Of coolies
under Major Donegan, OF the 18th Hussars, ran
out keeping in the rear Of the advancing IN
fantry and artillery that had ealloped from the
second position through the town. amid the
cheers Of the citizens.
AT this point the Beers became erratic. our
artillery was firing the hill where the Beers
were stationed in great numbers. but the return
fire did little damage. The enemy kept up an
| incessant shooting. but our shrapnel began 10
tell its tale. with the result that the Boer hre
vsibly slackened. From oeaseless rattle the
rife fire dwlndled away TO struggling shots.
"A corporal Of the Dublin Fusers was car
ried past me TO the rear on a stretcher. Major
Davidson. Of the Irish Fusiliers. was shot
through both legs. and Color Sergeant Anderson
Of the Dublin Fusiliers was brought in, wound
ed in the right shoulder
A DUEL OF HEAVY GUNS.
The artillery in front was Smelling the hill,
and the Kings Royal Rifles. on the right front.
were busy with the Maxms. making the Beers
anxious about their position. Their artillery
had been silenced by the splendid service OF
ours
Meanwhile a squadron Of the 18TH Hussars
and a mounted company of the Dublin Fusners
were creeping around on The enemy's left flank.
while another squadron OF the Hussars and
mounted company Of the Kings Royal Rifles de-
ployed to the right flank at the cornfelds
The artillery continued to play on Smiths
| Hill with a range Of nearly three thousand
yards Under its cover the Dublin Fusers and
the Kings Royal Rifles pressed forward. It was
in the execution Of this man@uvre that the
casualties 10 our infantry occurred. several men
being killed or wounded
The firing now eascd off on our side and
only a solitary shot was returned now and then.
General Symons taking advantage Of the lul.
rode forward with his STAFF in front ~ the guns.
taking cover at the rear Of tn plantation ncar
the base - the hill All this time cur infantry
in extended formation. had gradually pressed
forward. Watching the Beers from the rear or
! the artillery and massing on the extreme left Of
the hill
] saw three shells in quick succession cu'
| some 10 pieces and drive others away. the
! Boer fire was becoming hot. but the Isl Bat
talon Of tho Kings Royal Rifles and the irish
! Fusilers. led respectively 10y Colonel Cunning
/ ana Colonel Carlton. continued I" mount the
| hill Gradually they extended along tho ridge.
and at 10 o'clock. after four and half hours or
artillery firing To screen them. they managed 10
| reach wall running parallel with the rdge'
! about six hundred yards from the summit
This position was gained under cover OF some
| magnificent shooting by artiilerymen who
/ placed shells at points where the Boers were
massed with amazing accuracy. compelling ihrm
to retire But not for long. ON again the de-
| termined enemy would come. only 10 he beaten
| back again by the excellent shooting OF the
| 18th and U@th batteries under Major DaNklhs
and Major King
| At II: A. a. m the firing had almost ceased.
and our infantry were over the wall in twink
| ling and rushing toward the plateau at the base
| Of the top or secondary ridge. The defence
| made 10y the Beers was most determined the
! enemy again ana again pouring a long fusllladc
into the British ranks which was hotly re-
turned in we'll directed Volleys by the slowly adj
/ VanCing Dublin FuSihers ana kings FoNal
| Rifles
A large body Of Beers driven from Smiths
/ Hill took rcfuc. i'm a cattle kraal intending
! cross fire. The 18Th Battery opened fire. how
! ever and poured IN such hail of bullets as
caused them speedily 70 shift the position
Thus far the enemy have displayed undoubtcd
courage, perhaps unequaIed by the best euro
pean troops They had stood UP to our scatter
| ing artillery fire with the greatest determine
| ton. and then on Tallna Ridge. standing
clearly out on the sky line they still appeared
unbeaten and defiant The battle had now ragged
! six and one-half hours. when the Gith Battery
| tory galloped into a new position in splendid
FORM and was in action at the front in
moment
So effective was the apparent result Of this
! close range firing that the 18Th Battery
was at once ordered up. and after two rounds
| from each battery perfect silence regncd over
the enemy's front broken only by the whrring
| Of the Maxms. served by the Dublin Fusiliers,
who had secured an excellent position to the
right. During momentary cessation the Beers
| had taken UP position ON n hill Ia the right Of
the road leading to Mama Colliery but the
| 18th Battery soon opened fire on them and COM
PEELED them 20 retire
EIGHT HOURS OF HARD FIGHTING.
Meanwhile the two infantry hattalons con
tinucd to climb the hill and al 80 p m after
eight hours Of desperate fighting the position
was carried the Beers having prccipitatey
evacuated the hill Thus what had begun
with battle al Dundee ended In a glorious vic
tory for British arms at what must be known
as the battle Of Talana Hill
Just as the Kings Royal Rifles and the Dublin
Fusiliers gained the hilltop tho mounted in
fantrv could be seen working around the left
flank NJ the Boer position. and actually getting
I'm their rear. without any attempt on the part
Of the enemy 30 check the movement. while the
bulk Of he mounted volunteers well hidden In
the plantation to the right We're ready 10 fall
upon the retreatns enemy in that DIRECTION
when the moment came.
Finally our batteries ceased their murderous
fire. and the infantry charged up the rocky
heights still separating them from the enemy
and reached the SUBMITS Of both peaks ~
Smiths Hi and Of the mex" between without
q check halt
1t was gallant work on both sides and scores
81 men fell within distance Of couple Of
hundred yards but the situation soon became
too hot for The Beers who broke and fled for
their horses. which they had left at the foot OF
the hills Oh the northeast. There. however. they
We're received with a fusillade from the hus-
sars "a no had CAPTURED or Stamu.l.l AN the