The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-23

the Niodder river, w ednesday, Feb. e1.-s
One of the costliest actions of the war oc-s
Cured at Paardeberg Drift Sunday. Feb
ruary 18TH General 1<elly-Kenny, in his
pursuit of General Cronje, caught his
rear-guard at Kip Drift and followed
the burghers to the Beers laager at skoo-5
does Rand.
The drift action began at daybreak.
the mounted infantry driving the Boer
rear-Suard up the river towards the
main BODY. while another body OF
mounted infantry manoeuvred on the
right front and flank of the Beers
The British main body advanced 70
outtiank the Beers laager on the north
bank of the river. General kelly-henny
having seized two drifts, found the Boers
strongly enclosed and ordered an attacks
with the, Highland brigade on the lett
and General Knox's brigade on the CEN
ire and right, while General Smith Dor
rien's brigade crossed the river and adj
yanced along the north bank. On both
the north and south banks the ground is
level and the advance across this was
deadly and the British losses We're heaVS.
THE battle was an exact replica Oh the
Modder river. The soldiers We're under
fire all day long and all the fighting had
no definite result. as the Beers lager
was well barricaded and they remained
therein. The British guns shelled the
lager vigorously and the Beers con-
fessed to a loss of over 500 men.
The terrific shell!ng was resumed Mon
dav. wien General Cronje asked for an
a-mistice.
The snelling was continued Tuesday,
over fifty. guns pouring lead into the
Boer camp.
Genera. Cronje's magnificent night
march from NIagersfontein now appears
likely to end in disaster The main BODY
of Beers is enclosed in terrible death
trap. The enemy are hiding in the bed
of the Modder, commanded by the British
artillery and enclosed on the east ana
west by the British infantry SUNDAY
witnessed a gallant stand on the part
of the retreating foe Tired, harassed.
they still maintained a bold front. It is
somewhat difficult to explain the Sun
dav action, in which all the British force
was engaged. in which General Cron1e,
under difficult conditions, managed 10
hold his own. On Saturday night the
British mounted infantry came into touch
with Cronje's rear guard, driving them
hack ,rpon the main body. On Sunday
morning the action was renewed, but
the Beers who had entrenched the river
bed during the night prevented 1tr-
Their advance of the mounted infantry IN
this direction.
Meanwhile the Highland Brigade. con-
sisting OF the SIaforths. the ,Slach.
watch, and the Argyles. advanced from
the south bank and the Essex, Welcn'
and Yorks1lires formed long line on
the left. which rested on the river, tue
extreme right being the Welch. Inc
whole line was ordered to envelop the
| Beers, who lined both banks Oh inc
| river. rha
Eoers holding splendid position, covered
| the left of. the Highland Brigade. which
| advanced partly up the river ped ana
| nartly in the open, while the rest OF inc
/ brigade, with the other regiments, s"u
| round the front of the Highland Brigade
! on the, level, coverlcss ground exposed 20
! = terrible fire, which obliged the men 10
| lie upon the ground as they olo lor .hI &c -
| mainder of the day. This began at A ail
| past seven in the morning.
| Through the dreadful heat and terrloie
| thunderstorm our men hung to the posl-
| ton, answering the Bocr fire and shootihs
| steadily.
| In the meantime. the rest of the infan-
| try completed the enveloping movement
| the WEIGH Regiment having SUCCEEDED IN
| Selling the drift, thus closing in the Beers
Who had fought throughout with splendid
| courage. General Cronje's lager 1ull OF
! carts ammunition and stores, could De
plainly seen.
! a large body of men, including the cana
dians, and crossed the river by way OF
| Paardeberg Drift, advancing toward tne
| lager, which was being vigorously shell
cd. The force made a gallant attempt 70
charge into the lager, but failed beiore
Selling the drift the Beers occupleo
! kopie on the south bank, running down
the river. Therefore. their force is cut IN
two. The Beers hold the kopje and nave
one yickers-Maxim and probably one OF
two other guns. ~,
Toward evening the battery on the
south side opened. cooperating with tne
battery on the north side. y Wonderiu
sight followed The shells fell WIZ
amazing precision along the river bee
and in the laager. damaging everything
1t contained. One shell set fire to SINAI
ammunition wagon, which burned nearly
| all day Many other wagons were Sc
on fire and the glare was visible at
considerable distance far into the nlsht
The infantry also maintained terrible
| tire. which was answered vigorously
The scene towards nightfall was terr1pl!
picturesque, with the blazing wagons
the roaring artillery and the cracklin:
rifle fire.