THE BRICKFIELDS ABANDONED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11746, 30 May 1900, Page 2

THE BRICKFIELDS ABANDONED.

A WELL FOUGHT BATTLE ENDED.

Mnf eking, March 24 Via KimbeTley, April 23

(Reutei-'s Special Service.) _ Last night the enemy abandoned their for tiiiecl positions in the brickfields, \ylueh were oeciip.ied and dismantled by our men. Tlio whole of yesterday our Cuino; was heavy and continuous with the Hoteiikiss gun, under Major Panzera, w):o laid nhci fjvee? (he gun himself. It was placed within 200 j-ayds of Uie enqiny's main works, and maintained a rapid'and persistent fire. Our machine g\m ■\ya3 playing all the day, not only on the brickfields' trendies, but on the 'advanced trenchea east of the town, \vK\ch the enemy were dismantling previous to their abandonment.

The Boers replied to. our fire with grpat persistency, and the fusillade continued until 9 at night, when it hilled. At 10 o'clock an acetylene searchlight, built by the railway men, was erected on our main' work; but as this did not draw the enemy's fire. Lieutenant Murray and Troopei ]\Jal'alon, of the C'apa Police, went out to reconnoitre. On reaching the enemy's sap. crawling on their hands and knees, they discovered that it was abandoned. Continuing along' the connecting trsr.eh, they cautiously approached the renr of the main work, and found that also evacuated, apparently in a hurry, quantities of biltong, biscuits, and newspaper*) * boing discovered. The party immediately reported by telephone to headquarters, and Captain Li-own, of the C.<pie Police, was sent 'out with a working'pavly to dismantle the trench, accompanied by Sergeant I'age, of the Protectorate Regiment. Page's mission was to iiiscovor a large mine laid by himself and Kiddle, Uic electrician, In the early days before the siege commenced. On reaching the mine Page discovered that the Boers had .dm? up and. appropriated 'our dynamite. Sh3°pecting that the evacuated trench had been mined'in its'turn, he searrhed carefully, and discovered a copper wiro leading towards '.he enemy's lines. This hp. made haste •to out, .and tracing it into the trend), found 250 pounds of war gelatine and dynamite, which the enemy evidently intended to explode at sorce opportune moment, The native workins; I'iirty- revelled in Boer biscuits and biltong, and our men seized with delight the late newspapers, with the news of Lord Roberts s entry into Bloeinfo-.itein, the details of General Cronje's surrender', and the relief of Ladysmith. The whole garrison was keenly deligted and excited at the brickfields sue- ? ef ', P T!| e lo"B. well-fought battle at the brickhelds, which had lasted, with an occasional break, for three months, was nowended, to the discomfiture of the enemy. Siege stamps are now issued, and a system of despatch-running ha? been instituted. Hie stamps are surcharged to a higher value, and hear the words " Mnfekinp- Besieged." The scarcity of gold has rendered'if necessary to reproduce cne-pouiul nnlcs by photographic process. '

Letters can now be posted from the town to the outposts and any part of the defences. Hie enemy are restless to-dj)v. and appeared at one time likoly to 'attack the south-western outposts. Nothing, however came of this. For the last two days they have ceased fire with the sic»e "tins • there is :-yparenUr omething wrong with the elevating gear. •

In connection with the brickfields success, toqnel Wvan, Inspector March iCape Police) Captain Filzelarenee, Inspector browa (Cape Police), Lieutenant Currie, the Lape Boys division, two Cape Police, Majo> JpTTp^ \Sergeants Pa S° Mid Thompson iuape iohce) are mentioned in General