Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-31
BIG BOER VICTORY

CONTINUED from First Page)
consisting Of six two-and-a-half muzzIe-
leaders and thirty-six mules.
Thunderer's story of the Fight.
The correspondent Of the Times at Lady
smith says:
THE action seemed to be proceeding most
satisfactorily, when, at 7:15 am. the enc
my in large numbers, with field guns, Max
inns and 37-millimeter guns, began to de-
veIop a heavy attack on Col. Griunwood' 5
infantry. The cavalry brigade had moved
up our right, holding the parallel ridge
over against Col. Grtmwoods position ana
meantime our batteries kept down the
siege gun fire upon Ladysmith with shrap-
mel.
AT O'Clock there seemed to be lull, as
our reserves moved up. but suddenly the
engagement reopened. as the enemy on our
right brought further artillery to bear
Col Grimwood. who, with the three ad-
vance battalions. had held the ridge for five
hours, suddenly fell back across the open
upon our guns. The sd Battery pluckily
pushed forward to cover this withdrawal
Severe casualties occurred at this phase
The SD Battery held against cross
fire Of rifles and quick-fring guns until the
infantry were clear. The teams of the two
guns were damaged and the battery event
ually retired, made-up teams being sent to
extrtcate the two guns The cavalry, re-
naming unsupported, were forced to fall
back also.
General Retirement Begins
Then began a general retirement on
Ladysmith- The guns which had been COW
ering the Devonshire Regiment stoutly COW
cred the final withdrawal. The enemy did
not press. but showed themselves on their
position in great numbers only to find that
the naval brigade from the Powerful had
arrived Two quick-fring guns were at
once placed in position. under cover of
redoubt, and n five rounds they silenced
the enemy's forty-pounder
The troops were back in Ladysmith by
o'clock in the afternoon. The casualties
caused by the enemys artillery were not
severe The mountain battery on the left
reported that 1T had suffered through
stampede Of mules. Our artillery, cavalry,
mounted infantry and volunteer cavalry be-
haved splendidiy in difficult circumstances.
DR. Jameson and Sir John Willoughby
arrived today, and were spectators of the
action"
Gen. Whites OfhciaI Dispatch.
Gen. Whites dispatch which was dated
4:So pm. yesterday reads:
Il employed all the troops here except
the obligatory garrison before the works.
l sent mountain battery, the Royal Irish
Fusileers and the Gloucesters, to take up
position on the hills to clear my left flank.
The force moved at II o'clock yesterday
evening, and during some night firing the
battery mules stampeded with some of the
guns. which. however, l hope to recover.
These two batteries have not yet returned,
but are expected this evening
L detailed two brigade divisions of field
artillery and five battalions of infantry
aided by cavalry under Gen French to at
tack position upon which the enemy yes
terday mounted guns. We found this posi-
ton evacuated, but our force was attacked
with considerable vigor by what l believe
were Gen Jouberts troops. They had
many guns, and showed In great numbers
Our trOODS n nd
pushed the enemy back several miles but
Old not succeed in reaching his lager
Our losses are estimated at between eighty
ana hundred, but those of the enemy
must have been much greater. the fire of
our guns appearing very effective.
AFTER being in action several hours I
Withdrew the troops, and they returned
unmolested to their environments. The en-
envy are In great numbers and their guns
range farther than our field guns
now nave some naval guns, which
have temporarily silenced and I hone will
permanently dominate the enemy's best
guns, with which he has been bombar1tng
the town at range of over 5000 yards''
Gen- Butler Arrives at Cane Town.
dispatch from Cape Town announces
the arrival in Table bay of the Dunottar
Castle late last evening, with Gen. Sir
Redvers Butler and his staff, who are az
pected to land this morning. They will
meet with a tremendous ovation in Cane
Town
Sir Redvers Butler cannot arrive at the
scene of fighting until the end of this
week In the meantime Gen. White will
heed all MS resources to prevent the Beers
around Ladysmith linking their forces
1t IS reported from Pretoria that POO of
the British wounded from Dundee have ar
rived there and have been furnished ac-
cornmodatton in the state school building
The "a Battalion of the Duke Of Corn
wallis Light Infantry. Lieut.. Col. Aldworth
commanding, stationed at Deyonport
has been ordered to South Africa
Inc cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Mail says he learns that Col Baden
Powell. the British commander at Mafekine
has laid railway in a complete circle
around Mafeking. and is running armored
TaIhs around the town, ready to meet the
boers at any point
Beers RepuIse sortie at Mafekinp.
A dispatch received at Lorenzo Marquee,
Delagoa bay. yesterday from Pretoria, un
der date of October 2s, says Gen. Cronte
the Boer commander. announced there that
the British garrison at Mafekiug made a
bayonet attack on Commandment Louw's
lager. near Grandstand, but were repllsed
leaving six dead on the field. and 1t was
believed that many OF the attacking party
were wounded.
The dispatch adds that Saturday morn
Ing Col Baden-PoweH asked for an arnis-
uce In order TO bury the dead. Gen Cronie
consented to this, the Beers assisting in
placing the dead in the wagon returning to
Mafeking.
Natal Dutch DIsloyaI.
LONDON. October 31.-According to a
dispatch to the Daily Mail from Durham It
has been ascertained that the Natal Dutch
have been actively assisting the Beers by
carrying information regarding the British
movements 1t seems that, although the
landings and departures of the troops are
effected by night, and the greatest secrecy
Is maintained. yet the enemy somehow gets
informa ton. despite the severe censorship
1t IS also believed in Durham that the
Dutch nave assisted the Beers by pointing
out British officers in the battles
Beers Investing Kimberley.
CAPE TOWN. October 31-It Is reported
from Barkly-West that the Beers are con-
structing fOrts around Kimberley for the
purpose of Smelling the town.
Kaiser's Pledge of Neutrality.
dispatch from Berlin yesterday says:
Emperor Williams farewell message 10 the
British Royal Dragons of which regiment