The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03

tails of the south African StrrggI
 Received by Mali.
 London, Feb. 14.-The last mails iron South Africa brought dramatic account: of the war. From Ladysmith, the Tu gela, Modder river, Rensburg, and Mafe king come thrilling episodes and deeds of daring that make the English justly proud of the men who are fighting theil battles on the veldt Moreover, in tho many published columns there are min ute explanations by experienced wal correspondents that help to take away the sting of recent defeats, though these writers do not hesitate to criticise blunt " when the occasion demands.
 But these men who are rislling and losing life and limb in South Africa fol the sake of telling the world the pro gress of the war by no means confine their talents to criticism. Few more brilliant stories have been written thar the three column account in "The Standard" from Ladysmith of the ter rife assault upon that camp by the Boers on January 6. It is now an old story in ita main features, but it takes time to get copy out of Ladysmith, and many of the betails told by "The stand ards" correspondent prove well worth waiting for. First of all he gives a lu- cid explanation of the mysterious way in which the Boers managed to get SC close before they were discovered. He says:
 At o'clock Friday night five hun dred picked Boers rode from the laager behind Bulwana, and fording the river, came to kopje south of Caesars Camp. Here they bivouacked until o'clock in Q the morning when they crept cautiously along the ravine and across Fouries Spruit. Avoiding our pickets and pa trols, one section moved up the ravine to the eastern shoulder, and climbed silently up the slope in the fold of the hill. Another company moved along the bowlder-etream ascent toward the pla- teau on the south. Three of four thou sand were in reserve among the kopjes and broken ground. They were ready to assist the etorming parties, and to occupy the hills in force as soon as their comrades secured a footing.
 Tn the attack upon Caesars Camp one party of fifty Boers, seeking to make good their retreat were overtaken by the Border Mounted Rifles. and es- capped for the moment by declaring that they were the Town Guard. This trick, has, however, become too stale, and every man was shot down as he came into the open. The Boers, as I have repeatedly said, appear to think that the white flag is a legitimate weapon of offence and may be used as cloak for any treachery A Boer officer, with a dozen armed followers advanced up the hill with white flag and shouted that they were coming to surrender. When called upon to drop their weap- ons they made it clear that their in- tention was not surrender, but treach- cry.
 When after many hours, of fierce fighting. the Boers were almost repulsed at Caesars Camp, storm came to aid their dire extremity. The volleying musketry of hail and the roar of thun- der added dreadful note to the can nonade, and sheets of flooding rain turned the spruits into raging torrents and the plains into lakes. To sec fifty yards through this binding shower was lIupUSSlple. otlZlllS lIie IlOiilchIi tile Boers pushed forward another force from behind RulWana. But they did not get beyond the kopje east of Caesars Camp, where our naval guns threw few useful shells into their midst. The storming party made a dash down the hillside, hoping to find protection in the storm. Many were shot in flight, while others flung themselves into the river and were swept out of sight. This rush brought the fight at 'Caesar's Camp to close amid a fusillade that almost drowned the thunder.
 THE STRUGGLE FOR WAGON HILL.
 But it was at Wagon Hill where the most dramatic features of the assault occurred. Of this "The Standards" correspondent says:
 Colonel Edwards was leading his men into position on the east of Wagon Hill when a bullet struck him in the shoul- der. Though robbed of their leader at a critical moment, the Light Horse never. ,wavered Creeping forward to points least exposed to the devastating fire from the front of the hill, they fought manfully, often within twenty and even ten yards of their enemy.
 
 manifest advantage to either side, though men were falling on every hand. Major Bowen called for volunteers among the Goth Rifles. Only half dozen camo forward, and with this handful of heroes the gallant officer dashed at strong position held by the enemy. Not 6 man lived to tell the story of their valor. Lieutenant Tod, with twenty-five men, made another gallant charge Thus the fight wavered through the long and anxious hours of the morning
 "At noon tha Devons came to the res- cue. The Gordons, having no officer were again falling back, but rallied to the call of Major Miller Walnut, whose gigantic figure was soon at the head of desperate charge. The enemy left the emplacement, and, rushing up the western ascent, took cover among the rocks. Their presence here was not lees dangerous, and another effort was made to dislodge them. "A subalteran was in charge of a working party of sappers, Lieutenant Digby-Jones, youth of twenty-one, | who had already won fame by the des 1 truction of the howitzer on Surprise | Hill When the enemy first appeared | on the crest of Wagon Hill Lieutenant | Disby -JoneS engaged the stoImInS pal i ty from a sungar on the west front.