A SANGUINARY ENGAGEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 266, 9 November 1899, Page 5

A SANGUINARY ENGAGEMENT.

SENSATIONAL BAYONET CHARGE.

BOER COLUMN ANNIHILATED BY BRITISH CAVALRY-

A DEMORALISING ROUT.

WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER.

1000 BOERS SLAIN.

2000 IPiRJISOISnEIRS T^IKZEISr.

HE-ESTABLISHMENT OF RAILWAY COMMUNICATION WITH

LADYSMITH.

[N.Z. Peess Association.—Copyright.]

(Received 9.5 a.m.)

DURBAN, November 8.

On Friday last • a strong British detachment made -a reconnaisance from Ladysmith towards Colenso. They found a Boer force well provided with guns posted in a commanding position on Grobblerskloof, several miles from the town. The cavalry skirted the hill, while i the infantry crept to the summit, availing themselves of the rocky covering which presented itself. Attaining the eminence in face of it heavy Boer fire a hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The engagement while it lasted was a -stubborn and bloody one. "The Britishers, fighting with bayonets, gradually gained ground, and when about 100 of the Boers had fallen the remainder of the force fled. Pursued down the hill by the infantry, on reaching it base the Boers encountered the strong body of cavalry, which literally slashed them to pieces'. ■-■■•■ One thousand Boers were killed and 2000 captured. Subsequent to this decisive engagement an armoured train left Estcourt for Colenso and Puters station, some nine miles further north and about midway between Colenso and Ladysmith. '.'•♦: , The train was despatched with a View to repairing the line. The Boers have now withdrawn four miles north of Colenso. ( ; LONDON, November 7. The "Morning Post's" Estcourt correspondent reports that the British shelled the Boer eoiumn advancing from Colenso. The cavalry then charged the enemy and drove them into the open veldt,' and riding through them almost annihilated the column. No official information of the engagement has, however, yet been received.