A SUCCESSFUL SORTIE FROM KIMBERLEY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10539, 28 December 1899, Page 6

A SUCCESSFUL SORTIE FROM KIMBERLEY.

KIMBERLEY, November 25. A most successful sortie, carefully planned and daringly executed, took place this afternoon. A strong force, composed of portions o! tho Kiraberky Light Horse and Cape Mounted Police, under Major Scott Turner, stole a march on the Boers under cover of a bushy range, and moved steadily towards -he enemy, position to the south-west of _Umberiey, on Schmidt's Drift road, whence tire town was recently bombarded. At five o'clock Major Turner opened fire. The Boers wore evidently astonished at his appearance, and maimed the earthworks crown--cfig the ridge. They poured a heavy fire into the troops, but our men, who were ■pleodidly led, ooothraed to move forward in the teeth of the enemy's fire, which was responded to with rapid volleys. At the critical moment Major Scott Turner ordered the Light Hone to fix bayonets. These weapons —ere only served out to the men the night before, and with a zinging cheer tho whole force swept forward with a rush which could hardly be beaten by* trained infantry-. They- dashed into the Beer entrenchments, and the eight of the cold steel proved too much for the burghers, who broke and fled into the valley below in tho wildest panic and confusion. A number who stood round the spot, apparently in fear of being shot if they fled, flung their rifles to the ground and hoisted the white flag in token of surrender. Our men lined up and captured the laager, and poured a deadly hail of bullets into the Boer camp in the hollow below. Unfortunately art this stage, owing to the heavy fighting which had taken place, our ammunition ran short, and the attack was not pressed further, otherwise the entire Boer laager would have fallen into our hands. W-dte the sortie waa made the defenders of Kimberley prevented flanking movements on Turner's force, the artillery fire playing hamto with the enemy. Turner returned with thirty-three prisoners. Our loss was six killed and twenty-nine wounded.