The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-10-25
A CRUSHING DEFEAT.
BOer Forces Again Badly Whipped
by Britons.
A Fierce Battle at EIandslaagte-vic-
tory of the Successful Troops Is
Dearly BOught-Gen. kOek,
BOer Commander, Killed.

London, Oct. 23.-The war Office pub
fishes the following dispatch to the
secretary of state for war, the marquis
of Lansdowne, from the general COM
manding in Natal, Sir George Stewart
White, regarding the engagement Sat-
urday at Elandslaagte, between Glen
coe and Ladysmith, when the British,
under Gen. French, routed the Trans
vaal forces under Gen. Jan II. M. Kock,
second in command in the Transvaal
army, who was himself wounded and
captured and has since died
THE whole force was under Gen French,
with Col. Ian Hamilton commanding the
Infantry. l was present in person from $3.50
p m. to $50 p m, but did not assume direc-
ton of the fight, which was left in the
hands Of Gen. French Although desultory
fighting took place earlier In the day, while
reenforcements, sent out later on ascer-
tanning the enemy's strength were arriv-
ing from Ladysmith. the real action did not
begin until $3.50 p. m. At that hour the
Beers held position of very exceptional
strength, consisting of a rock hill about
mile and a half Southeast Of Elandslaagte
station.
AT $3.50 p. m. our guns took position on
ridge AGO yardG from the Beers whose
guns at once opened fire This fire was
generally well directed but somewhat
high. Thus contrary to previous expert
ences their shells burst well. The i'm
perial light horse moved towards the left
OF the enemy's position, and two squadrons
OF the Fifth lancers toward his right. Dur
ing the artillery duel mounted Beers
pushed out from their left and engaged the
imperial light horse. in a few minutes the
enemy's guns ceased firing, and our arti-
lery was turned on the mounted Beers, who
opposed the imperial light horse. The lat
ter at once fell back. After the artillery
preparations our infantry advanced to the
attack supported by our guns in the sec
ond position. The Devonshires held the
enemy in front while the Manchester regi-
ment and the Gordon highlanders turned
his left flank
''The Boer guns, although often tenn
porarily silenced. Invariably opened fire
again on the slightest opportunity, and
were served with great courage After Sc
we're fighting our infantry carried the po-
sition. AT $50 p. m. this was accomplished,
the enemy standing his ground to the last
with courage and tenacity. The Fifth
lancers and a squadron of the Fifth dragoon
guards charged three times through the
retreating Beers in the dark, doing consid-
cradle execution.
we captured the Boer camp, with tents,
wagons, horses and also two guns. The
Boer losses were very considerable, includ-
Ing number of wounded and unwounded
prisoners. Among the former are Gen.
Jan kock and Piet Joubert, nephew OF
Commandant General Joubert. One goods
train, with supplies for Glencoe camp, and
nine English prisoners were recovered.
Our loss. regret to say, was heavy. It
is roughly computed at $50 killed and
wounded. The collection of the wounded
over large area in the dark and the ar
rangements for sending them in have thus
far occupied our time and attention. A full
list will go TO you later. Our wounded and
those OF the enemy are now arriving by
trains Besides Beers, we have many Hol-
landers, Germans, and prisoners of mixed
nationallties. The behavior of our troops
and OF the colonial forces was admlrable- !
nrfIIfanf Eaok 80 49,.