THE ASSAULT ON LIDYSMITH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIV, Issue 37, 14 February 1900, Page 3

THE ASSAULT ON LIDYSMITH.

HOW IT WAS REPULSED. THE BOERS IN A DEATH-TRAP. MELBOURNE, This Day. Particulars of the assault on Ladysmith on the 6th January are to hand. The acennt saya : — " The lith January saw the first important break in the monotony of the siege. During the night a party of abont 4500 Boers made an attack on a picket at Caesar's Camp Hill, just over the river at the bottom of the town. Our men were driven back by superior numbers, contesting every inch ot the ground. '._, rioer front extended from Waggon Hffl around the fiats on the near side of Caesar's camp. Their advance was supported by then big guns on Umbnlwana. yortunteiy a squadron of the Imperial Light Horse waa bandy and relieved the picket by a dashing charge. Onr naval gnns and artillery sheUed the enemy beautifully all along the ridge of Caesar's camp, and drove them back slowly but surely to where the Gordons ware lying in wait. The Highlanders got among them with the byonet, doing some splendid execution. The Maxim and >ordenfe dt gnns speedily added to the terrible din. Our artillery, whieh had been bronght into action at a distance of about COO yards from tbo town, had a very hot time from the Umbnlwana guns, although fortunately the casaulties ware extremely few. " GraduaUy the Boers were driven into ; a somewhat limited space at the end of Caesar's Camp HiU, and the fighting grew hotter than ever, our artillery being advanced as the enemy retired and doing good work. Contrary to expectation, the enemy contested the ground with the utmost dtermination and dogged obstinacy and courage not usuaUy associated with the Boer nature. But despite tneir most stnbbore efforts they had. to give ground, although thoy made a capital light. '•Towards midday firing slackened all along the line, and for a time things were quieter. Our men were so manoeuvred that early in tho afternoon the Boers were driven into a piece of donga-torn country, whence they could not retire without exposing themselves tremendously. The Gordons, the Manchester regiment, aud the Rifle Brigade, which by this time had come into action, were waiting at a distance of about SO yards to receive the enemy witb shot or bayonet as circumstances might dictate, while the Dragoons and Hussars were thrown further into the field among thorn country ready to swoop down should any attempt at retreat be made. " While the Boers were in this predicament the most terrific rain and hall storm we have had this season broke over the scene of strife, and the position in the dongas mnst have been anything but enviable. To add to the discomfort one of J onr batteries of artiUery had been moved into position commanding tho dongas. Shell after sheU was dropped with admirable precision right among the enemy. In addition the rain was so heavy that the actual and moral support of the Umbulwana guns could no longer be given, and the enemy's plight became pitiable. Having in this way cornered the enemy, our men kept potting away as fast as opportunity offered, tho artillery pounding the Boers with shells. " At abont 3 o'clock the rain descended so fast that very little fighting was possible, although a scattered irregular fire was kept up all through the night. " At a quarter to six the rain cleared, and the fight was renewed with great vigonr all through tho evening until darkness rendered further fighting a matter of random chance. The firing was continued, and our men were stiß awaiting the issue of the enemy from their unhappy position. Unfortunately our own casualties were heavy, although wc had comparatively few killed."