A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 274, 18 November 1899, Page 5

A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION.

FIGHTING FROM DAWN TILL DARK.

BOERS BRAVELY DEFEND A STRONG POSITION.

FINALLY CONQUERED BY A BRILLIANT CHARGE.

(.Received 9.50 a.m.)

ADELAIDE, this day,

The following details of the battle of Elands Laagte are from Cape files just to hand: —i ,

The Boers' main position was admirably chosen. The force was posted at the base of a sugar-loaf hill about 5 two miles from Elands Laagte station. | The position was covered in the front and on both flanks by rough, stony kopjes, or small hills.

■The Boer artillery consisted of three big guns strongly secured and posted.

A British armoured train, followed by two train loads of infantry run out early from Elands Laagte station in the early morning, was promptly shelled from the enemy's position.

The shells, however, sank in the soft ground and did not explode. The trains retired.

The Natal Field Artillery and, the Imperial light Horse, both colonial forces, were then brought into action. Unfortunately the guns of the Natal Boys Artillery was not sufficiently long range to be of any \ise during the half hour's action, the enemy's shells falling thick around them. At half-past two the British again moved forward towards the ridges.

The infaxrtry consisted of the Manchester, Devons and Gordons, with the Lancers, Light Horse, and Dragoons, while the 42nd and 21st Batteries of: Artillery brought up the rear. No sooner had the cavalry attained the summit than the enemy's artillery opened fire. The range of the gunnery was very good.

The men retired in the face of the tremendous JSxe and the British artillery galloped into action. Within twenty minutes the enemy's battery was silenced, and the British advanced on to the crest of the ridge. Soon a tremendous artillery duel was in progress. The enemy's guns were, splendidly placed and stubbornly fought. '.

For two hours and a quarter nothing but" the deadly roar of big guns and Maxims could be heard, during which time our infantry and light horse and Lancers were advancing from the front, while a couple of squadrons flanked towards Guested's farm.

The Dragoons had to retire before a tremendous shower of shells. The Boers' courage and gallantry cannot be too highly" spoken of. They stuck to their guns like men and fought with indomitable energy and stubbornness.

By a quarter-past six the British were ready to storm from the front and left flank. The signal for the bayonet, charge was sounded, and then was seen one of the most splendid pieces of stormin «• possible to conceive. The Devon* took' the lead, closely followed by the other three regiments in the face of a tremendous killing- fire. The roar of the artillery of both stifles ceased in. expectancy of the result, ' Once the British charged- and were checked by the awful fusila.de of the Boers' rifles, but undaunted they rushed to the attack, once again to be warded off.

Then with -i rinsr'tig1 ■cheer, the whole"force charged and rushed upon the position, whereupon the enemy immediately hoisted the white flag- and Surrendered. Two or three hundred Boers, wlio were* retreating- in disorderly array, were pursued by, the Lancers, who wen* through and through them for about seven miles beyond Elands Laag-te. The Gordons state that the storming of Darsrai heights was child's play compared with this piece of work.