The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-23
BATTLE OF ELANDsLAAGrE.
Transvaal Forces Again Defeated by
the British.

London, Oct. 23.-The secretary of
state of war, the Marquis of Lans-
downe, has received the following mes
sage from the queen, dated at Balmoral
castle:
My heart bleeds for these dreadful
losses again today. 1t is a great sue
cess, but, fear, very dearly bought.
Would you convey my warmest and
heartfelt sympathy with the near rela-
tives of the fallen and wounded and
my admiration Of the conduct of those
they have lost. v r. l. >.
The war office this afternoon pub
liShed the following dispatch to the
secretary of state for war, the Marquis
of LansdOwne, from the general COM
manding in Natal, Sir Stewart White,
regarding the engagement at Glands
laagte, between Glencoe and Lady
smith, when the British under General
French routed the Transvaal forces un-
der General Jan H. M Kock, second in
command in the Transvaal, who was
himself wounded and captured and has
since died:
In the action at Elandslaagte yes
terday, the troops engaged were the
following: Cavalry, Fifth lancers, a
squadron of the Fifth dragOOn guards,
the Imperial light horse and two squad
rons of Natal carbineers; artillery,
Twenty first field battery, Forty-sec-
Ond field battery and the Natal heId
battery; infantry, the DevOnshlre reg
iment. half a battalion of the Gordon
Highlanders and the Manchester regi-
ment. The whole force was under Gen
eraI French, with Colonel Ian Hamil-
ton commanding the infantry.
Il was present in person from 3:3O
D. m. to $50 p. m, but did not assume
direction of the fight, which was left IN
the hands of General French. Although
desultory fighting took place earlier IN
the day, while TeinfOrcementS, sent OUT
later, on ascertaining the enemy s
strength, were arriving from Lady
smith the real action did not begin
until $3.50 D. N. At that hour, the
Beers held a position of very excep-
tionaI strength. consisting of rock hill
about a mile and half southeast OF
ElandsIaagte station.
AT $3.50 p. m. our guns took position
on a ridge 4,100 yards from the Beers
! whose guns at once opened fire. This
fire was generally well directed, but
somewhat high. This time, contrary to
| previous experiences, their shells burst
well.
toward the left of the enemys position,
and two squadrons of the Fifth lancers
toward the right. During the artillery
duel, mounted Beers pushed out from
their left and engaged the Imperial
light horse In few minutes the en-
| emy's guns ceased firing and our artil-
| lery was turned on the mounted Beers,
who opposed the Imperial light horse.
/ The Beers at once fell back. After the
| artillery preparations, our infantry ad-
I vanced to the attack. supported by our
| guns in the second position The
| DeVonshireS held the enemy in front
/ while the Manchester regiment 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 courag
/ After severe fighting. our infantry car
| ried the position. At $50 p. m. this
| was accomplished, the enemy standing
his ground to the last with courage and
| tenacity. The Fifth lancers and q
! squadron of the Fifth dragoon guards
/ charged three times through the re-
/ treating Beers in the dark, doing con
| siderable execution.
| I'VE captured the Boer camp, with
tents, wagons, horses and also two
/ guns. The Boer losses were very con
| siderable, including a number o.