BATTLE OF SPIONKOP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6626, 19 February 1900, Page 3

BATTLE OF SPIONKOP.

A TERRIFIC CONFLICT,

(By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.) Per Press Association. Received February 19, at 9.25 a.m. Sydney, February 19. The Daily Telegraph's Capetown correspondent writes that the Boers were surprised at Spionkop by a body of infantry under Major-General Woodgate, which left the British camp under cover of darkness, and noiselessly scaled the precipice en the western side.

The men reached tne base of the mountain after a long and difficult detour at about 2 o'clock in the morning. They gained the crest without being observed. The enemy's sentry then challenged and the answer was a ringing British cheer and a bayonet charge, the sentry being killed and other Boers. Our leading section occupied the trench. . ' Another trench was excavated by^he enemy before daybreak. / Our men coolly awaited /jne stern work before them. By good luck mist covered the mountain, Jsut the mist lifting for a moment, jfc!ne little battalion was assailed hy^-$ heavy fire. An hxtretchange of shots continued without causing mucbloss until the mist ''.' disappeared. While the British were awaiting the order to advance, the whole Boer position was subjected to a heavy fire of lyddite and shrapnel. This falling off somewhat about 9 o'clock, when the sun cleared away the mist, the Boers scoured the face of the tableland with a hail of bullets at long range while the Cruesiet and Hotchkiss guns commenced shelling from the ridge. Our men began to fall fast and it at one time appeared as if they would be ] obliged to retire before the overwhelming odds, but they stuck to their positions gallantly. Reinforcements arrived at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, but before the main body arriyed the Boers rushed up the trenches, pointed their"rifles aad called on. the section to surrender. Our men refused, and ere they could use their bayonets the enemy fifed and rolled a number -back into the trenches. As the reinforcements reached the crest and they rushed and crawled forward the space became congested. There was little cover and the bullets rained and the shell fire was heavy, a number being killed. ":

Unfortunately there was no water on the top of Spionkop and it was impossible to take the guns up the steep while the fire from the enemy's niaskSjt- 1 guns on our artillery made the position untenable. Only the heroic conduct of the officers and men prevented the overt whelming lumbers o* the enemy rushing the position.

Early in the day the Boers exhibited splendid courage, some actually standing in front of the firing line.

Three times one party coolly walked up to the trench occupied by the Lane ashire Fusiliers with their hands up and their rifles slung, in an endeavour to trick our men. into believing they were surrendering.. Some one fired a shot while they were parleying, and instantly there was a,mele3 w Some of the British charged with^ the. bayonet, and others ..grappled the Boers,, but not betore the latter got in a volley, tumbling many dead backwards to the trenches.

On the next occasion that the Boers tried the triok the defenders fired and drove them off.

Desperate fire from the rifles and automatic shells caused great havoc.

After five hours' desperate fighting

the battalion at Spionkop was exposed ■j^.to a crossfire from five different directions, and eventually at nine at night was ordered to retire.

Major-General Warren's force rec rossed the Tugela the same night and the following morning.

The Boers allege their loss at Spion kop was 151, including a German officer.