THE BATTLE OF ELANDS LAAGTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11230, 27 November 1899, Page 5

THE BATTLE OF ELANDS LAAGTE.

A BRILLIANT ENCOUNTER, TREMENDOUS ARTILLERY DUEL. THE ENEMY'S GUNS STUBBORNLY SERVED. THE GORDONS' GALLANT CHARGE. Files received from the Cape gives a full and interesting account of the exciting battle at Elands Laagte (a summaly of which was cabled to us from Adelaide), which was fought on October 22. It is spoken of as being a particularly brilliant encounter, and lasted three hours without cessation. The Boer forces maintained their position with great gallantly and determination for some time. The special correspondent of the Cape Times says: — The main position of the Boers could not have been more admirably chosen. They were posted at the base of Sugarloaf Hill, just behind M. Krogmann's house, about two miles to the south-east of Elands Laagte, their position being covered in front and on both flanks by very rough, stony kopjes, The Boor artillery consisted of three big guns, strongly and securely posted at three different points on the kopje on their left, whence it commanded a wide expanse of country on all sides, and whence they had an opening for retreat over the hills in the direction i f Wessel's Nek. The British armoured train, followed by two train loads of infantry, was rim out early in the morning to Elands Laagte, and was promptly shelled from the enemy's position. The shells fell within a short distance of the train, but sank into the soft ground, and did not explode. Tho trains were retired, and tho Natal Field Artillery and the Imperial Light Horse were brought into action. Unfortunately the [ guns of the Natal boys' artillery were not of sufficiently long range to be of any use, and during a half-hour's action the enemy's shells were failing thick around them. One fell right among the horses' feet, but (lid not explode. The whole force then fell back and took up a position towards Quested's farm, but at half-past- two the British force was again moved forward towards the ridges in the direction of Krogmann's farm, and the Imperial Light Horse and the sth Lancers did some splendid scouting. The enemy's outposts exchanged a few ineffective shots, and retired before the advance. At about three o'clock firing was heard on the left flank. Firing again broke out on the ridges in front of the enemy's position, and the infantry composed of the Manchester, Devons, and Gordons, along with the Lancers, Light Horse and Dragoons, proceeded to march up the rise. The 42nd and 21st batteries of artillery brought up the rear. No sooner had the cavalry attained the summit of the rise than the enemy's artillery opened fire upon them. The range and the gunnery were very good, and the men retired in the face of a tremendous fire. The British artillery then galloped into action, and within five minutes the second battery opened fire, being quickly followed by the 21st battery. Within 20 minutes the enemy's battery was silenced, and our force proceeded through the next dip to lake up a position on the crest of the ridge immediately facing the enemy. Once again the Boers fought their big guns pluckily, and opened with shrapnel and a Maxim upon our advancing squadrons. The fire was true and effective, and once again our artillery galloped forward to take up a fresh position, the 42nd battery occupying a position on the enemy's left flank. Speedily the guns were brought into play, and this was the hottest part- of the action. So far a tremendous artillery duel was in progress, the enemy's guns being splendidly placed and pluckily and stubbornly fought. For two solid hours and a-quarter there was nothing but a deadly, hoarse rattle and the roar of big guns and Maxims, during which our infantry and Light Horse and Lancers were advancing speedily from the front of the enemy's left flank upon the position, while a couple of squadrons flanked towards Quested's farm. The Dragoons had to retire before the tremendous shower of shell that began to drop about them. The Boers' courage and . gallantry cannot be too highly spoken of..

! They stuck to their guns like men, and fought their position with indomitable energy and stubbornness. By a-quarter past six the Devons, Gordons, Manchester, and Light Horse were ready to storm the position from the front and left Hank, and the signal for the bayonet charge was sounded. Then was seen one of the most splendid pieces of storming possible to conceive. The Devons took the lead, closely followed by the other three regiments, all in the face of a tremendous and killing fire. The roar and thunder of artillery on both sides of the valley ceased as if in hushed expectancy of the result of the splendid feat of arms which our gallant men were on their road to carry through. Once they charged and were checked by an awful fusillade from the Boer rifles, but undaunted they rushed to the attack, once again to be warded off ; and then, with a wild and ringing cheer, such as only British throats and lungs can give utterance to, the whole force charged, and with an exultant shout, rushed upon the position, whereupon the enemy immediately hoisted the white flag and surrendered. Two or three hundred of the Boers, who were retreating m disorderly array, were pursued by our Lancers, who went through and through them for about seven miles beyond Elands Laagte. The Gordons state that the storming of Dargai Heights was child's play in comparison to this piece of work. General French was % command, and Sit George White viewed the progress of the fight. T>vo of his escort had their horses shot under them during tho hottest part of the fire. The Boer loss must have been very severe indeed, although it was too dark to ascertain with certainty anything like correct figures. One of their wounded told me that if ho had known that the English soldiers could shoot like that he would never have come. Another told me that he knew he was fighting a lost cause, and a third expressed his surprise at having to shoot at khaki, when he expected and had been told he was to shoot at red coats and white collars. The scene on the battlefield was awful. The groans of the badly-wounded, mingled with the cries for help of those of their comrades who were less severely injured, created a babel which has to be heard before its full intensity can be realised. The hospital train was drawn up near the Elands Laagte station, and it was pitiful in the extreme to see the poor wounded soldiers tumbling down the slippery, stony slopes, in their weary endeavour to find their way through unknown country to the ambulance train. While the Gordons were bringing in their wounded a dropping oiwas opened on them by the Boers. The Lancers were guided by Captain Carbutt and Trooper Newton, of the Ladysmith troop of tho Natal Carbineers. The list of killed and wounded has not yet been published. Our losses, in view of tho difficulty of the position, must have been severe. The first train containing the wounded arrived at Ladysmith station at half-past eight. It consisted of eight carriages, with an escort in an open truck of the Devons, waving three Boers' flags, which they captured in taking tho laager. Amongst the wounded was Major Wools Sampson, who, despite a severe wound in the thigh, received as he charged at the head of his men, looked calm and unconcerned. Such, indeed, may be said of nearly all the wounded men, who, like Major Sampson, had to be carried away to tho Town Hall hospital, and especially those who had been shot ill the ami or leg. Soma smiled all the time, while the crowd on the platform cheered. On the arrival of the train, one man said in broad Scotch, "We'll be a' richt sune, an be at it agen afore it's concluded." A train containing prisoners is expected soon. When the Devons left the field of battle, after daybreak to-day, the Boers had not made good their boast of coming back with a larger force and 11 guns to avenge their defeat. General Ivoek was then dying, having been shot in the groin and shoulder, while a splinter had cut open his back. Colonel Schiel was a prisoner, and General Joubert's son was killed. All ranks bear testimony to the fighting quality of the Boers, and the splendid defence they made. Just before the actual engagement began in the afternoon, Mr. Melton Prior took a sketch of Colonel Scott Chisholme, who, unfortunately, is among the dead. One of the Gordons was decapitated by a shell. Another poor fellow, one of tho Devons, who was wounded badly in the shoulder, was regretting, as he was carried off the field, that lie could not be in at the death. The Indian Pieid Hospital Corps was very active in the field, and worked splendidly, carrying off tho wounded. (Strange to say, although the shells from the enemy's guns were bursting thick and fast around and among our artillery, the only casualties were three horses killed and seven men slightly wounded. Our shells must have been fearfully effective. • The first firing was at a range of about 5000 yds from the first ridge, and about 3000 yds from the second ridge. The rapid artillery movement was excellent. The scouting by the Lancers and the Imperial 'Light Horse was excellent, every advantage of cover being well taken. The Devons had quite a good time after the position was taken, finding food and coffee in plenty, and settling down to a good meal of tinned meats, and giving the prisoners of war a share of the repast. As the prisoners were brought into the town the natives cheered, and asked them where their passes were. The long line of wounded is still being carWed to tho hospital. Amongst them is Blignawt, the well-known cyclist, who was taken prisoner; a few prisoners only arrived by train; the remainder are being marched in by road. One estimate of the Boer losses is 400, which is probably well within the mark. A bugler boy of the Lancers distinguished himself by shooting three Boers with his revolver, and he was carried round the camp this morning. He is only 14 years of age. at the Johannesburg hospital, A BOER PRISONER'S STORY. CONDEMNS THE COMMANDANT'S TACTICS. Telegraphing on October 22, the special corresponilent of the Cape Times, at Ladysmith, "Amongst tho prisoners brought in wounded b Field-comet Carl Preterms, of Johannesburg, badly shot above and below the knee. I saw him this afternoon, and got from him some details of the Boer force. He says that his company consisted of about 500 men. Many of them I fell back as soon as they came under fire, and were a source of weakness. In his opinion they should not have been sent with the commando, as they joined the forces under the impression that there would be no fighting, and only for the advantages to be had. The commando came through Botha's Pass, and passed the Glencoe camp about 25 miles on the left, Pretorius did not agree with their commandant, holding up the train at Elands Laagte, and thought that was the reason they had been attacked in such force from Ladysmith. Their artillery had proved their ruin, and it would have been better had they fought in their old methods. He did not know what was the object of their commander in leaving the main column, but said he had acted very foolishly. Preforms also saw a man named Herz, a gentlemanly fellow who belonged to Colonel Schicl's German Mounted Infantry, 400 strong. He is badly wounded." FIGHTING AT MAFEKING. LORD BENTINCK WOUNDED. Reuters Agency at Capetown received th» following official telegram, dated Mafeking, October 15" All well. In a fight on tho 15th inst.. four miles out, the armoured train, with the B.S.A. Police detachment and two squadrons of the Border Regiment, knocked out the enemy, losing two killed and 15 wounded, including Lord Bentinck. The enemy's loss is stated by spies to be 53 killed and large numbers wounded." A PROTEST AGAINST DISLOYALTY. The Sydney News says thai a requisition calling on Mr. Holman, M.L.A., to resign his position as member of the Assembly ior his electorate, gives the following reason: 1 "As you have wantonly abused the confidence we reposed in you at the last election, you no longer retain oui authority to give expression to your views in Parliament antagonistic to our cherished principles of loyalty to the British Empire, of which it is our proud privilege to be members." The requisition is headed by the Mayor, and copies of the same for signature are being distributed throughout tho electorate. Mr. Holman recently caused some excitement in the Assembly by ! expressing 'the hope that England would bo defeated in the encounter,.