FINAL CHARGE AT ELANDS LAAGTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 292, 9 December 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

FINAL CHARGE AT ELANDS LAAGTE.

DESCBIBED BY STEEVENS

George W. Steevens. who reached Ladysmith just in time to witness the brilliant action at Elands Laagte, cables the "Daily Mail" a spirited account thereof. This will of course be stale news to you, but you may perhaps like to print the following vigorous and graphic description of the Gor-

don's final charge. Mr Stevens explains that as the afternoon wore on it. became necessary to take some desperate step. He says: — "We vigorously shelled the enemy's whole position vtdtli shrapnel, and about five o'clock, under cover of the artillery and sheets of rain, our in- ■ fa.nt.ry attack developed, with the Devon's left, the Manchester's centre, and the dismounted Light Horse extended right along the crest of the lon£" hill. This position suited the Boers admirably, as ridge after ridge had to be crowned, and we could see small stony boulders offer excellent cover to the enemy. The Gordon's, who advanced in magnificent order, were immediately saluted with a heavy fire, which'told from the first, Lieut.Colonel Dick Cunyngham being almost the first man hit s1 Soon after the major of the Gordon's dropped with a bullet through his leg. but as he lay where he had fallen he lit his pipe and placidly smoked while the advancewas going on. As man after man dropped, supports were rushed into the firing line, and shooting went briskly on, our men darting from cover to ! cover, splendidly led and ever advanci ing. Yet as ridge after ridge was won the Gordon's still found a new ridge j confronting them. Men 5 still dropped; men still reinforced the firing line; and yet. the advance was ever steady j : and ever forward. Thus the Gordon's j fought their bleeding way till the final ridge was neared, with nearly every officer down. Then slamming every j available man into the firing line, Mnnchesters, Devon's and Light Horse all mixed with the bugles chanting the advance, bagpipes shrieking", and the battle a confused surge, the men swept yelling forward and the position was" won. Meanwhile one squadron of the sth Lancers and one of Dragoon Guards had lapped round the Boer left flank, and now catching them as they retired in disorder, gored and stamped them to pieces, and the eon>mando was not. Our Tommies (says the "Telegraph" correspondent in his account of Langlasfe) got wonderful quantities of loot, from silk hats and frock coats to beaded Kaffir loin-cloths. It was a sight to-day to see them loaded with their booty. Although we gave the prisoners the best seats around the camp fires, many of the poor wounded had to lie out on the bare hill-sides, where they spent a terrible night, crying "For God's sake, give me water! Get a doctor to me! Out here are British and Boers!" One man fired round after round from his rifle to attract attention to his wherea.bouts for the field of battle covered miles. j A ghastly picture this of the realities of war.