Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-27
YULE JOINS WHITE.
CONTINUED from page u

Rifles are practically without officers
since the fight and 1875 additional Off
GERS have been ordered to leave Eng
land as speedily as possible.
Other accounts dwell on the severity
of the rifle fire at Rietfontein. They
say that when the Beers finally re-
treated the Lancers cut them off from
their horses and inflicted severe loss
upon them. The retreat ended in
general rout.
It was announced. today, in dis-
patch from Ladysmith dated Oct. 20
that strong achievements OF infantry
and artillery had arrived there from
PietermaritZburg.
1t was also reported that the Beers
were again massing near ElandslaaSte
and that Free State force several thou
sand strong was occupying Besters Sta
ton. ,-.
that the assembly at Putiatsu riVtc was
attended by all the principal Basuto
chiefs. The resident commander, SIR
Godfrey Lagden, was present. me ac-
lion of the paramount chief, Ler0thodl.
in pledging the nations loyalty was EN-
phatically confirmed by the chiefs urging
the claim that they be regarded as the
Queens soldiers and be allowed to share
in Great Britain's struggle. Three cheers
were given for the Queen by thousands
of natives. led by Lerothodi.
The British commissioner discouraged
the idea that the British required assist
ance and bade the chiefs queI excitement
and beware of false reports.
Details of the fighting at Rietfontein
are slowly coming in y special dispatch
from Ladysmith, dated Oct a, and filed
after the fight, says:
ION discovery that the Beers were
massed to the westward of the main road
to Dundee, an attempt was made by
train to recover the body OF Col Scott
Chisholme. killed at Elandslaagte. The
train was fired upon and obliged to retire.
and Gen. White moved out to attack the
Beers believed to be the Free Skaters
who should have Joined the IranSNaaltrS
at Elandslaagte. nv,
Gen. White personally commanded. Inc
9Th LancerS were placed on either TANK
They first came in touch with the Beers
below Modderspruit, where 1900 burghers
occupied a strong ridge whence they
opened fire at 1900 yards, hitting several
of the British.
I'm the meanwhile the Hussars and Ma
tai Carbineers advanced unscathed
through an opening in the ridge under the
fire of a Boer gun, while the Imperial
Light Horse took part of the crest OF the
ridge the Beers retiring. At about =
however, a Boer gun stationed on tht |
crest of Matawanaskop opened fire with |
great accuracy on the main force which |
in the meantime had come up, but the
shells failed to explode and the Br11ISh
artillery silenced the opposition Inc
whole British force then advanced ana
the action became general.
IA large body of Beers occupied strong
positions at Matawanaskop and the pre-
cipitious ridges surrounding it. The Brit
ish guns shelled the positions ana the IN
fantry advanced under cover of the hre
The Gloucesters and Devons crossed 4
fearful fire zone beneath Tuitanyoni Hill, |
whence the Beers poured whitening nre
with such effect that 80 of the attackers
dropped within a distance of 200 yards
Seeing the peril of the Devons and Giou-
cesters. Gen. White dispatched the car
bineers and Liverpools to take the enemy
in the rear.
"A fierce rifle and artillery duel was
maintained for some time. The British
Naxims ratified. but the Beers, under
cover of the rocks. remained cool and re-
piled with an incessant rifle lire.
1.-The British artillery swept the race
of the hill and at length the Smelling be-
came so destructive that the Beers re
treated to another ridge. whence they
were dislodged by the volunteers in the
face of a calling fire..
1.-The Beers soon reformed and took up
a position on another ridge, but the vol
unteers dashed across the Intervening
plateau again rushed the Boer position
and drove them back to the main force
occupying MatawanaSkop. The Britlsh
then sheled the latter until clusters oil
Beers were seen leaving and retreatlng
westward, when the engagement closed.