NEWS FROM GENERALS BULLER AND WARREN

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11275, 19 January 1900, Page 5

NEWS FROM GENERALS BULLER AND WARREN

SUCCESSFUL CROSSING OF THE TUGELA. HOWITZER FIRE ON THE BOER TRENCHES, THE LADYSMITH ENGAGEMENT. GRAPHIC DETAILS, THE CHARGE AT RENDSBURG. PROMPT ACTION BY CAPTAIN HADDOCKS, THE NEW ZEALANDERS COMPLIMENTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association.-Copyright. B

London, January 17. The Times correspondent wires that very heavy artillery firing was heard on Monday in the direction of Springfield, to which place General Buller recently advanced. The censorship of messages will be of an extreme character until General Buller notifies the result of his movements. General Buller, in reporting the casualties, incidentally mentions having made a reconnaissance of the Tugela from Springfield on Monday. London, January 18. The Times' correspondent with General Buller's army describes a dashing movement by the force under Lord Dundonald on the 10th inst. The force occupied the hills above Potgieter's Drift, completely surprising the Boers. The infantry immediately moved to Sherman's, beyond Springfield. General Hilton's Brigade crossed the river on the 16th inst, and yesterday opened fire on the Boer trenches with Howitzers. General Warren's force yesterday crossed Trichart's Drift, five miles higher up the river, without opposition, though the Boers held a position. The Standard's Ladysmith correspondent cables that the Heidelberg commando, early on the 6th, succeeded in evading the British pickets and captured the outlying sangaro of Caesar's- Camp. Owing to the darkness and Boers , trick of replying to the shouts of the British officers some confusion occurred. When daylight broke the British shrapnel fire prevented the reinforcements coming up. Ultimately the Gordon Highlanders and the Chesters drove the enemy out in utter disorder. Many wero drowned in crossing streams, which have become suddenly swollen by a heavy thunderstorm. The Harrismith commando simultaneously with the attack on Caesar's Camp, surprised Waggon Hill, seized the crest, and captured 30 Gordons, after they had all been wounded. The artillery and cavalry checked the reinforcements at this point also. Stubborn fighting lasted all day. At a critical period in the afternoon the Gordons rendered splendid service by holding the Boers in check until thre.e companies of Devons, charging brilliantly across open ground under a terrific fire, hurled the enemy down the hill at the bayo- i net's point. j The Boers admit they received the severest blow of the campaign. Durban, January 17. As proving the severity of the! losses sustained by the Boers on the 6th, when they unsuccessfully attempted from all sides to oapture Ladysmith by storm, it is now reported that the British assisted to carry 90 Boers off Waggon Hill alone. Thirty-three of the Natal troops were wounded in this engagement.