Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-10-26
IDOERS utterly DEFEATED.
British Rout the Enemy at Glen
coe After Heavy Fighting.
SYMONS FATALLY WOUNDED.
Reports Sent to London Place the
Losses at ESQ Killed and Wound ed,
Including the General In Command
Boer Loss Very Heavy.

London, Oct. 23.-The FIRST really de-
cisive battle in the Transvaal was
fought and won by the British yes
terday. The scene was the immediate
vicinity of Glencoe. Gems. Symons and
Hunter led the British, Gen. Joubert
the Beers.
The losses are serious on both sides.
The British have 250 killed and
wounded, while the Boe- loss is esti-
mated at 800 killed ard wounded.
Gen. Symons is among the injured
and it is thought his wound is mortal.
The Beers fired the initial shell of
the battle from guns placed on an emf
nence commanding Dundee. Hardly
dozen shots had been fired until the
British replied with their big guns. An
artillery duel followed. The British
aim was the better, for the Boer guns
were silenced in less than IN hour.
The Beers, estimated at 5000, held
good positions on Dundee hill, north
east of Dundee, and on a hill south
facing toward both wings. The Brit
ish charged the instant the Boer bat
teries had been quieted. The Beers,
according to British reports-all, Of
course, that are obtainable at present
were unable to stand the charge, and
after losing half the guns commanding
their position fell back in disorder.
Gen. Symons, an experienced fighter,
eagerly pressed his advantage. Bring
ing up two untouched battalions, the
Leicestershire and Devonshire, and
placing the Eighteenth hussars and
their field batteries at their head he
pushed on in pursuit.
1t was in this advance that Gen. Sy-
mons, practically at the head of his
forces, was struck down by a rifle shot
and wounded in the abdomen. The re-
ports of the seriousness Of his injury
differ, some saying it is mortal and
others that it is not necessarily fatal.
1t is certain, however, that the daring
leader will be unfit for service for
some time at least.
AS soon as Gen. Symons had been
taken to the rear Brig.-Gen. Yule took
command and led the troops on as IL
nothing had happened.
The battle commenced about $50
o'clock. The preliminary assault was
made by the Kings Royal rifles, for
merly the Sixtieth rifles, which suf-
fered severely at Laing's Mex and Ma
juba hill in 1881, and the Dublin fusi-
leers.
This movement began at o'clock,
but was not easily or quickly success
full. The ascent to the point where the
Boer guns were stationed was toilsome.
Finally in the face of a terrific but
poorly aimed fire the almost inaccessi-
BILE heights were crowned.
There hand to hand fight ragged for
over four hours, the British finally
carrying the position at 100 o'clock.
At this particular point the Beers
had five guns, which were all promptly
captured.
Then the Boer retreat began. Down
the hillside and into the valley the
fugitives poured like frightened sheep.
They were followed quickly by fresh
troops from the field below.
The fighting in the valley was still
on when the last reports were received
in London.
1t is quite evident that the Boer
campaign had been planned to include
an assault on Glencoe and another one
from Hattingspruit, opposite the Brit
ish right flank, almost simultaneously.
This was undoubtedly intended for a
wide flank movement and would have
compromised Glencoe. At the same
time a similar demonstration was to
have been made against Sir George S.
Whites position to the left and much
farther to the rear The Orange Free
Staters, who had been massing in and
back of Tintwa pass since having been
driven back by Gen. White several days
ago, again advanced toward Acton
Homes for the purpose of engaging
White. The news Of the defeat of their
forces at Dundee hill, however, arrived
before they were able to cover half the
distance and the plan was suddenly
changed. 1t is now believed the Free
Staters have fallen back toward Tint
wa pass and that, REINFORCED by some
of the remnants of Joubert's other col
umn, they will make fierce charge
on Sir George S. Whites camp at
Ladysmith.
There is a suspicion that the Beers
will make another effort to take Glen
coe, probably employing other tactics.
They may try long-reaching raids and
incursions rather than fighting in the
open field, in which they never have
heen successful