New-York tribune., 1900-01-24


square for refusing to go to the front when COM
mandeered
DUTCH ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHTING.
A BoER PATROLS HEAVY LossEs-THE CAN
NONADE INCESsANT.
Boer Camp, Upper Tugela River Jan. 19-The
British now occupy three positions along the
Tugela River. Their naval guns have been fir
ing steel pointed armor piercing shells
Reports being received that two thousand
British cavalry attempting to outfiank
the Dutch along the Drakensberg ridge a strong
patrol was sent to reconnoitre. Mistaking the
signals, the scouts and patrol proceeded to
kopje, whence a terrific rife and Maxim gun fire
suddenly opened.
The Beers lost fourteen men killed and twenty
wounded. The British loss was probably insig-
nifcant.
The bombardment of the Boer positions from
Swartzkop resumed yesterday, chiefly from
battery brought across the river In the after
noon the cannonade became exceedingly brisk,
and under cover thereof the infantry advanced
in three lines to a second row of little kopjes
which they occupied nightfall, but later they
retired to their old position.
During the night a score of shells were fired
by the British, and a balloon was sent up to
spy out the Boer positions
The naval guns resumed the bombardment
this morning from new position, but without
results.
POSITION OF BRITISH FORCES.
The three British positions are the old Chieve-
ley Camp. nearest Colenso; the central position
at Swartzkop Drift where they hold both banks
of the river. and point higher up in the d-
rection Of Zunckles where they have bridged
the river and established an immense commits
sariat On the summit of the terraces at
Swartzkop they have placed five naval guns
and have brought the field artillery across the
river to a small kopje the northern bank,
whence they keep up an incessant and terrific
cannonade on the Boer trenches
Since the beginning of the week communica-
ton with the different positions has been kept
up under the ordeal OF this cannonade the casu-
alties resulting from this being heavier than
those that occurred at Colenso. One of the
shells from the naval guns killed father and
son. Free Staters. who were chatting at the
time. Strangely, neither had any visible
wounds.
January 21.-After Commandant Botha
checked the British advance yesterday morn
ing it expected that there would be no
further action until tomorrow This afternoon
however, signs were discerned of an intended
movement in the British northern camp
THE ADVANCE ON SUNDAY.
than any yet experienced. had worn off, the
British cannon opened. and their infantry ad-
vanced in extended order.
Generals Botha and Cronje held the high hills
over which the road to Ladysmth passed When
the Mauser fire opened, pandemonium of sound
filled the air. The vindictive crash Of lyddite
shells, the sharp volIeys Of Lee-Metfords, and
the whipli1e crack of Mausers were inter
spersed with the boom of the BOer Maxims The
evidences of execution among the British that
were manifest sunrise.
Field Cornet Ernst Emilio was killed and the
generals did not escape unscathed.
At the central position, Swartzkop, where the
other road TO Ladysmith crosses the hills the
British advanced from low kopjes on the banks
Of the Tugela unmoested Then they entered
the zone of Mauser fire, and although their
naval guns kept up the usual terrible racket the
advance was stopped, and the British had to
count out their dead and wounded
COMMANDANT VILJOEN INJURED.
Commandant Viljoen and two burghers were
knocked senseless by an explosion Of lyddite, but
Viljoen recovered Field Cornet
Heilbron was wounded. and, on refusing 10 sur
render, shot.
The British loss was probably insignificant
They complain that sporting Mausers were
found on the field and soft nosed bullets with
ee-Metfords. The Beers admit that sporting
Mausers were occasionally found, but they deny
the charge respecting expansive bullets. Not
shot was fired by the Beers with cannon or
rife at the Swartzkop position this side of the
river.
One thousand infantry and a battery advanced
TO the second of low hills be-
tween the republicans and the river Heavy
proceeded at a range Of two thou
sand yards, but the Federals maintained the
silence Of death. This must have staggered the
British as the advance was stopped, and this
morning they had retired TO their old positions
BOERS SAY ADVANCE WAS CHECKED.