River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-10-26
BRITISH TROOPS WIN.
Fierce Engagement Fought at Ei-
nndsiaagte Beers Attack
Town of Glencoe.


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
handing 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. NJ. 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 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
requirements, 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 Al that hour the
Beers held position of very exceptional
strength. consisting of a rock hill about
mile and half southeast of Elandslaagte
station.
AT $50 p. M our guns took position on
a ridge 4,le0 yards from the Beers, whose
guns at once opened fire. This fire was
generally well directed, but somewhat
high Thus, contrary to previous expert
enees, 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 artil-
lery was turned on the mounted Beers who
he tai Ifo-ht he "a r
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 highanders 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 Dragon
guards charged three times through the
retreating Beers in the dark, doing consid-
cradle execution.
1--WE captured the Boer camp, with tents,
wagons, horses and also two guns. The
Boer losses were very considerable, includ-
ing a number of wounded and unwounded
prisoners. Among the former are Gen.
Jan Kock and Pet Joubert, nephew of
Commandant General Joubert. One goods
train, with supplies for Glencoe camp, and
nine English prisoners were recovered.
"Our loss, l regret TO say, was heavy. II
is roughly computed at 100 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
iSf will 70 n wounded
those of the enemy are now arriving by
trains. Besides Beers, we have many Hol-
landers, Germans, and prisoners of mixed
nationalities. The behavior of our troops
and of the colonial forces was admirable.
London, Oct 24.-The Daily Tele-
graph has received the following from
Ladysmith, dated Sunday at 2:10 p. m:
The Beers, reported to be 5000 strong
and under the command of Com
mandant Gen. Joubert and Presi-
dent Kruger in person, are again at
lacking Glencoe. Gen. Yule, command
ing our troops, has moved his camp
back into a better defensive position.
The parliamentary secretary of the
war office, Mr.. George Wyndham, made
statement in the house of commons
Monday, saying:
Lord Wolseley sums up the position in
Natal, early this morning as follows:
In the battle of Elandslaagte. october
q, two guns were captured from the Beers,
who lost heavily
"A large column of the enemy appeared
advancing from the north and west on Gen.
Yule, who consequently had fallen back
from Dundee and was concentrating t
Glencoe Junction. In this operation we
gather in the wounded and medical attend
ants left at Dundee.
Gen. White was in position at Lady
smith. and is being REINFORCED from PETER
maritzburg.
The enemy appears to be in large nu-
merical superiority