NEWS BY MAIL. PARTICULARS OF GRASSPAN AND

Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 153, 28 December 1899, Page 6

NEWS BY MAIL. PARTICULARS OF GRASSPAN AND

BELMQNT. BRILLIANT CHARGES OP OUR ININFANTRY. SYDNEY, This Day. A moil just received brings the loliowing particulars of the serious battles fought ah Belmont and Grasspan on 23rd and 2oth November : — The enemy has been well informed of our movements, and so carefully planned has this campaign been that kopjes on every side are studded with trencnes and the ground carefully measured to enable the artillery to find the range without difficulty. The division left Thomas's farm on Friday afternoon (24th), and passed through Belmont where the Boer prisoner and wounded were being entrained, j and we encamped seven miles distant at Swinkspan, where there was a good supply of water. At half -past am the morning we moved out of camp, and proceeded in a northerly direction through bushy country. An armoured train, followed by a material train, advanced slowly, and when the column reached Enslins kopje, it was seen that the armoured tram was in action. The cavalry went off on the flanks, and Lord Methuen lost no time in the disposition of his forces. The artillery followed the cavaJry to the right and left. The Ninth Brigade advanced in skirmishing order, *and at 6 o'clock the artillery duol began. The enemy occupied a long range of kopjes where four cannon were posted in excellent positions. The engineers of the railway irain mounted a gun and assisted the i\aval Brigade. Fire was opened o» the extreme loit of the enemy's position. It was found that cannon had been placed on the other side of the line, and a terrible battle began between the artillery.' One of the Boer shells struck the armoured train, but only damaged a chain. The Boers had the exact range, the shells bursting right over our men. One man's Lee-Metford rifle was broken right across. Shrapnel was falling incessantly, but our men gallantly stuck to their guns, and the- fire was returned with interest. After an hour's practice our guns were taken back 1000 yards to give the enemy difficulty in finding the range. After three hours' severe work the General found that thei Boers would noff vacate their stronghold until they saw the flint of cold steel. So the infantry advanced magnificent style. The Boers sent a scathing lire into thorn. Our men replied as they advanced and forced the enemy from the first position. ■ A couple of hundred Boers were seen retreating across\ the plain. The cavalry charged, and, succoeded in catching them in the rear, close to a kopje, where they wero rushing for shelter. The Lancers came up to the face of the kopje, which was found to be alive with the enemy. A heavy fire forced the Lancers to retreat. The enemy occupied almost.every kdpje on each side. The engagement now beoamo very severe. Shells were sent amongst the infantry on the plain but did no damage. Musketry fire became general along the face of the kopjes. At the last position the onemy occupied a fearful engagement took place. The marines bore the brunt of the attack, and rushed up gallantly. Officer after officer fell, but still our men clnmbered over the boulders undaunted. The sharp click of the bullets striking boulders came every second. The Boers used thoir nfles with good effect, but nothing human could stop the onward rush of the infautry detachments. All the regiments helped the marines^ and after four hours' fighting the enemy were forced from their last position. They again opened fire from a kopje to the east, but the artillery swung round and tide first shot made matters too warm. A few thousand Boers left cover and flod across the plain. The Lancers were jio'u available owing to their horses being exhausted, and the artillery sent shell after shell amongst the enemy, who fled and made good their retreat towards Honey Nest Kloof, tho next railway station. THE BATTLE OF BELMONT. j The Battle of Belmont, two days before, was characterised by a brilliant charge of the Scots Guards under Major Dalrymple, worthy of the best traditions of tlie British Army. They took the first position after an hour's combat. The Coldstreams, Northumberlands, and Northamptons wero exposed to a deathdealing fire in *.he advance. The Boers at first stood to their position, and our men went on at great sacrifice. The Boers, being outflanked, fell- back to their second position, where another desperate conflict ensued. A naval brijsw £UjP| .at ,ISOQ y^rds jgggreg shells on.

the enemy, who throw up the spongo and retreated on their laager. Thi> Lancer* subsequently destroyed the enemy's ammunition and, rendered tho guns usele^a. AN EX - WELLINGTONIAN IN THE TOILS. HIS LETTER FROM A BOER PRISON. It has already beon mentioned that exConstablo Murdoch, formerly of this city, was in Kimberley. No word has been received from him for three months, but this morning his brother, Mr. W Murdoch, received a letter bearing the stamp "Venteistud," aud written in lead pencil, of which tho following is a copy : — "Bloj^mfontein, Orange Free State, 13th November, 1899. Just a line or two to let you know what has happened. I belonged to the Kimberley Town Guard since the Avar commenced, and had to go scouting on the Orange Free State border on bicycle. I had been at this for about three weeks, and on Saturday, 4th November, I Avas about seven miles from Kimberley Avhen a body of 150 Boers got between mo and the toAvn, and I avos captured by them, and sent to Bloemfontein, a prisoner of Avar. A large number of the Cape Police also got captured, and avo are all together in the Free State Gaol. I trust and hope this note Avill reach you all' right.—^Y ours for aye, E. J. Murdoch." Evidently there is not an .absolute check on the^prisoners taken in the Avar AA'ritiug to their friends. Mr. Murdoch Avas formerly in the Rhodesian Horse in the Matabele campaign.