SOME COMMENTS ON THE ENGAGEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 278, 23 November 1899, Page 9

SOME COMMENTS ON THE ENGAGEMENTS.

LONDON, October 31

The engagement yesterday at Ladysmith, which, despite the rather heavy losses, must be reg-arded rather as an extended reconnaissance or skirmish than a battle, seems fo make little change in the actual position. It is disappointing to the British public, as again revealing tactical skill of an unexpectedly high order on the side of. the Boers. In addition to the possession of a number of heavy guns, the transport of which causes wonderment here, they have available marvellous ability. Unless commanded by skilful European officers, it is hardly considered probable that Boer farmers would have assumed a feignad position, as they evidently did, in front of the right column, with the intention of retreating ____n it to their real line of defence and of inducing the British to attack over a fire swept zone.

The special despatches describing Ihe engagement aguin fail to confirm General White's official account that the Boers were pushed back several miles. When it is considered.that the. '.'eiisbrsh-'ip is-very severe, the only .:Onchision that can be arrived at-is :hat .the action was .'extremely inconclusive. The fighting' began with „'• frontal attack on the main Boer posl-

Hon, which; however, was'found evacuated. The enemy having retired, .now made a change.'of, front and developed a, heavy- attack' on Colonel Grimwood's brigade. Z To meet this, the British artillery which had been shelling the -evacuated position -also changed front. ■ ■'■ Grimwood's brigade was promptly reinforced, but soon, was obliged to fall back rapidly, with consequences which might have been .serious had not the Fifty-third field battery pluckily covered the movement at considerable loss to itself. ■ It is quite certain that General: White failed fo accomplish the object he intended, and the day's proceedings are an instructive example of the.difficulty, of. operations: when the enemy holds an extended position by which he is able to make sudden -and unexpected developments and changes of ront. Sir Bedvers. Buller cannot arrive at the-scene of the fighting until the. end of this week.. In the meantime General. White will need all his- resoiirces to prevent the Boers around Ladysmith linking their forces. The. omission of all Zletails likely to give a true idea of. the position from General White's despatch may be due to his reticence, but editing-by war office . officials is likely to. be again severely commented upon.