THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11230, 27 November 1899, Page 4

THE WAR.

The brilliant and succesful engagement at Belmont which we chronicled on Saturday, and some fuller details of which we publish to-day, auspiciously inaugurates the commencement of offensive operations against the Boers, and justifies the expectations of those who believed that when once the forward movement of the British troops began the enemy would be driven backward like chaff before the wind. The Boers, whose operations are evidently conducted by military experts oi foreign extraction, had occupied » position which, according to the statements of the prisoners captured by our forces, was regarded by them as impregnable. But notwithstanding this enormous advantage they wore driven at the point of the bayonet from the steep ridges on which they were strongly entrenched, and compelled to retreat with heavy loss. Their numbers are estimated at between six and eight thousand, and they fought stubbornly and well their guns being quickly served in spite of the raking fire of our artillery but they were unequal to facing the splendid charge of our troops, who stormed ridge after ndgp with grim determination and an impetuosity that nothing could withstand. To the stirring strains of martial music, and with ringing ur e S!'\° m u Sallnnt Soldiers "'shed up the heights exposed to withering and deadly volleys from the enemy, nor stayed their courageous advance until victory crowned their efforts and the Boers fled before the conquering column. Unfortunately the ;; ck °. C!wall Prevented the enemy from being pursued, but our victor? Jill not only have a demoralising effect , upon the Boer forces on the western fi-ontxer, but will no doubt give the Dutch rising in the Northern districts of the Cape Colony a salutary check. The enemy aga in resorted to their usual treachery! 1 showing /- 6 white flag and ie krff H finnS Upon the British > misled by their supposed surrender, and this has occurred so often that it be comes a matter for our generals to seriously consider whether the white Jg when displayed by the Boers should be recognised without exceptional safeguards. The Boers aie now entrenched on the Modder Ewer, and during .the next day or ™ wo may expect to hear of them Jong as successfully driven from mont P °The 0n " tUCy W6re at Bel " mont , ihe garrison at Ladysmith is buUhe t0 be f all Well and cheerful, out the news from Mafeking is „ 0 so satisfactory, the health of our troops beginning to suffer, while the

— ~ 1 Y&j 'j Boers keep up an incessant bombard- •; | ment. There is no news from Kim. V £ berley or Estcourt, There should, ;§| however, be news within the nest | day or two of important movementsl of the column for the relief of Lady, j smith. While General Buller is ac- f ' tively engaged in South Africa in a?, j? serting British supremacy, Lord Kit-#, | chener is successfully completingl§| f his subjugation and pacific ifcon of the Soudan. The latest intelligence 1 from that quarter is that the der- Vo ■ vishes have suffered another crush, : ing defeat, and that the Khalna hf(j >" t ' i been killed. |