ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 69

ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING.

'ACCURACY OF THE BOER ARTILLERY.

SYDNEY,- November 25.

At the battle of Ladysmith the Boer gunners sent shells flying through the air jn scores from their " Long Toms," as their 40-pounders are nicknamed ; but, although the gunners were experts in getting the range, the shots did no great damage. The greater part of the British guns were out of action, not being within range of tho .Boers' long-distance metal. The Boers had an admirable position. They formed the segment of a circle round the British. With an artillery cross fire there was no central objective, bo~ individual position to storm and take. The Boers seemed to hold every, position in the vicinity, and there

were not enough British to storm half a dozen hills at once.

The Boers did not attempt to pursue the British as they retired into Ladysmith. The brunt of the fight was on the right, where the storm of fire was simply awful. The Maxims, the Hotchkiss, the rifles, and the artillery belched forth a hail of bullets and shells. The Boers were meanwhile serving and manning their guns with indomitable pluck.

The arrival of the Naval Brigade, with two long-range 12-pounders, saved the situation. The Navals got their guns into position with the loss of one man, and with tneir eighth shot they silenced the "Long Toms" effectually. THE RETIREMENT FROM DUNDEE.

Despite the brilliant victory at the battle of Dundee on the previous Friday, it was found advisable on Sunday night to evacuate the town, in order to avoid the possibility of being cut off from our main body at Ladysmith. -That General Joubert was

close at hand, with no less than 17,000 men and three 40-pcunders, was known on Friday evening, after the battle, and the distant firing, which was plainly heard in Dundee camp that evening, seemed to indicate that he was engaged with the body of reinforcements expected from Ladysmith. Tents had been struck preparatory to shift-, ing camp, and the men, who had been fighting all the previous day, were drenched to the skin. They, were just about making an effort to get settled near the quarters when the startling boom of a big gun was heard close by. A shell fell right in the middle of the camp, followed by others at rapid intervals. It was found that the Boers had taken up a position on two points of Impati Mountain, on the northern side of the camp. No damage, however, was done by the shells. One or two shots were fired by way of return. The Boers made admirable shooting with their heavy guns. It was soon evident that the camp must be evacuated, and this was done. The men, who were wet and weary, were marched out of range of the Boer artillery, but not before one shell took effect, killing Lieutenant Hannah and a private of the Leicester Regiment, as well as-a couple of horses. One of the enemy's shells fell so close to the field telegraph that the telegraphist very properly cleared out.

The Boers alsp fired on the field hospital, and many poor fellows -who were wounded in Friday's battle had to leave the tents an! make for the town.. There was great consternation among the townspeople, including the town guard, and nearly everybody left the hotels and houses, and made for the open veldt, where they camped under the waggons during all that wet, chilly nightIt was bitterly cold— too cold for sleep. Most of the men were glad enough wh?n morning dawned. THE VICTORY AT ELANDSLAAGTE. Early on Sunday morning the welcome news arrived of the British victory at Elandslaagte. At the mouth of the tunnel a, Dutchman was caught pushing a wounded comrade along the railway on a trolly He said, the Lancers did terrible executbn among the Boers at Elandslaagte. Late on Sunday night the march was continued, and Ladysmith safely reached through Van ton Deer Pass, which could easily have been held by 50 men against an entire army. But not a sign of a Boer was observab'e there. THE BATTLE OF LADYSMITH. «■ The Argus's special, describing the battle of Ladysmith, says that the accuracy of the shrapnel fire proved that the Free State gunners are better than the Boers. At I Glencoe the British artillery swung into | action with marvellous promptitude. One > thick-set " Tommy Atkins," as he ran. past i with a couple of brass-capped shells, cried out : " This is medicine for 'cm — Beecham's | pills — a 'ole box, free and given away." And he affectionately kissed the shell, which on the next instant, was bursting over the , heads of the crouching Boers on the hilltop. A few of the earlier shots struck before exploding, and threw up columns of red dust. But once the range was picked up, our artillery did great havoc.

No conception of war is complete until one has watched its painful seguel — the bringing in of the wounded and the dead for burial. The central British field hispital is in the Town Hall at Ladysmifch, where the Red Cross emblem — all that is beautiful and beneficent in warfare — floats from the tower. AH round reeks of chloroform, and as the first of the wounded were brought in one hears the groans of a Boer, who had three shots in his thigh, as he is having the dum-dums extracted. There is no other sound as the sisters — those whiteaproned dressers — move from bed to bed. One lingers longest at the Boer hospital, where, amongst the wounded who occupy the line of tents, one gets a good idea of th; Boer soldier.

Tliree waggon-loads of the Boer wounded were coolly sent in to Ladysmith for treatment. The Boer professes contempt for the British soldier, but he has the greatest possible faith in the British surgeon. His anibulaaces, like most of his army appli-

ances, are commandeered, and two of these are the delivery vans of business firms at 'Johannesburg. Should the Australian corps come here, we shall have no need to be ashamed of. a comparison of them with the Natal forces either as to physique, set up, or drill. The colonial men are far in advance of the Natal troops, who, though somewhat slovenly in appearance, have a hard wear-and-tear look. THE ARMOURED TRAIN. A BOER ACCOUNT. " A HAIL OF BULLETS." WHAT THE BOERS EXPECTED. " GOD'S WILL DONE." (Reuter's Special Service.) DE AAR, October 18. The last train thai was despatched from Johannesburg arrived hero this morning. The passengers include a large number of British subjects, who wera granted permits .to remain on the mines, but who were forced to leave at the last moment. The position of any British subjects who may be found in the town is hopeless, as the Boer officials have not fulfilled the obligations entered into by them, to afford protection to Britishers who would receive permits to remain.' With the exception of the National Bank, the other banks have closed. I Our correspondent succeeded in obtaining a copy of the Standard and Diggers' Newsfrom a passenger. It contains what purports to bo an account of skirmishes which succeeded the Boer advance across the Bechuanaland border: — " At the break of dawn on Thursday morning 500 picked men of the 1 liuslenburg and Manco commandos, detached from. General Cronjc's main body, broke camp at the Bultfontein laager and swiftly sped away for the frontier.

"The flying vanguard crossed the border at two spots — the Marico contingent, under Genera! Snyman, near Ramathlabama, and tho Rustenburg detachment, under General De la Kay, at Rooigrond, nine miles north of Mafekmg. Our iorces, once in the enemy's country, immediately &et to work to demolish his line of communication. The railway traok and bridges at Kraaipan were completely wrecked with dynamite, and the telegraph wires cut.

"The Marico commando also met with no resistance at Ramathlabama. The station had evidently been deserted. Three men of the Bechuanaland Border Police, a contractor, and two gangers, who were surrounded by the burghers, sui rendered, and are now prisoners of war.

"Whilst General Do la Rey's command was completing the destruction or the railway line an engine- with two trucks was espied steaming Ironi Maisking with the supposed intention of anticipating our forces m devastating the permanent way. It had reached a siding seven miles norch. of the town, when the burghers charged out of cover and opened a well-directed nre at 300 yards range. The driver of the engine, perceiving his peril, uncoupled the locomotive from the trucks, and switching off on to the down line, emergod unscathed through a hail of bullets, and leturned at a furioUs rate to Mafeking.

" The deserted trucks, left at a standstill, were riddled with shot. They contained- dynamite, and a terrible explosion, took place. The waggons were blown to pieces, but, although many of tho burghers were within range of the falling debris, no casualties occurred. The railway line was also destroyed for & considerable distance.

" %Ye were unmolested until late in the evening, when shortly after 11 o'clock an armoured train, consisting of a locomotive and two waggous, containing a detachment of Colonel Powell's Mafekmg column, was seen by cur advanced line of patrok approaching the derailed spot. The troops in the train opened a desultory fire, but their 'practice, despite the clear moonlight night, was reckless and ineffective. The train was drivon over in the track, and ploughed its way into the veldt, coining to a complete standstill. The British troops maintained an irregular fusilade through the night. " The encounter recommenced at daybreak, but the British, after having nine men beriously wounded, ceased firing and surrendered, a captain and 31 men being taken prisoners. There were no casualties on our side.

"The burghers, who had been under arms and in the saddle for over 24- hours, after ,i brief respite for breakfast, resumed their advance on Mafeking, destroying the railway line on the march. Our ranks were reinforced by the Marieo contingent, which had sacked the British camp at Ramathlabama. •' After passing Oaklands siding, our scouts spurred up to the General, and reported that a second armoured train, full of troops, with heavy artillery, was approaching. The burgher.; again formed into guerilla battle array, and poured a withering volley at 1000 yards into the waggons, the thick plating of which rendered the well-directed fire ineffective. The flat nature of the veldt yielded the burghers no cover, the men being compelled to he prone on the open ground. Tho British, from their impenetrable retreat, repeatedly raked our lines. Two burghers were killed —one by themselves— and four wounded, one dangerously.

The following is a summary of Boer eucceiscss on Thursday : —Railway bridafcwero destroyed, the track was devastated for a considerable distance, and the telegraph wires out. Two trucks laden with dynamite were blown up on Friday : an armour-plated train was captured, nine British being wounded, and 31 taken prisoners. Further devastation was wrought on the railway to within five miles of Mafoking, the line from tnat &pot to Ramathlabama being torn uptwo sorties from the town to relay the line were repulsed, our casualties being two burglier.s killed and ono dangerously wounded, find about 4 Oothers disabled." A telegram from Lydenburg, in the same paper, discounts the brilliant account of the Jioer successes. It stales that the result of the first brush with the British troops had been coolly received by the burghers as God'n will, and as what they expected. FIGHTING NEAR LADYSMITH. HOT ENGAGEMENT CON SPICUOUS GALL 4.NTRY PATROLS FACE THE BOERS 4G4INST HEAVY ODDS. „. , „ October 20. lighting commenced near Ladysmith, Natal, on Wednesday, 18th inst., hostilities being opened by a Free Slate commando, who fired on small British patrols. On Wednesday night the palrols were seriously engaged fighting the enemy. The latter poured down the berg, having heavy artillery and Gatling guns', early this morning, and attacking patrols. The patrols returned their fire, and reliable reports state that a running fight is takjttg

place, the volunteers "firing and retreating, closely followed by the enemy. Hot work is going on, and our boys are doing their duty, and carrying out the wishes of General White in a most encouraging p ( nd brilliant manner. Our men are being splendidly manoeuvred, taking advantage of every inch of oover, and fighting the Boers with their own tactics in a mo3t successful manner. The enemy, from the latest reports, are some 10 miles off, and morning light should see a general engagement. Meanwhile the patrols are rapidly falling back on Ladysmith, and are expected in camp to-night. \ Later. B Squad has come into camp bringing the news that Colonel Green and his men are at Nicholson's Nek. about seven miles from Ladysmith. All the men are safe, one horse only being killed. During the fight the Boers kept at a safe dis'.&nce, but the squad's Maxim did some damage. News from Squads A and B state that the Boers funked fight all along. Twice A Squad, who numbered 60 men, were pursued by over 1000 Boers, and waited on them, but the Boers each time declined the gauntlet. Once A Squad faced round, and 500 of the enemy cleared back. Much satisfaction exists at the safety of the whole of the Carbineers. OFFICIAL STATEMENT. The following official statement has been issued: — Actual hostilities were commenced yesterday by tha Free State commando with a few guns,' moving about 10 miles on the Tinfcwa Pass, and opening with their artillery on small cavalry patrols. The range was a very distant one, and the shooting very indifferent. The object of tho advance party may bo either a f oint to draw the troops off the rsal. point of attack, or x a prelude to concentrating against Ladysmith. .In any ccaste t the Freo State has taken upon itself to commence war, and it cannot hereafter pose tvs the injured, party. The rumour that Helpmakaar was captured yesterday by tho enemy is without foundation. The f.nemy has not advanced from Ingagane. A letter was brought to Glencoe pickets by two men mounted on bicycler, who carried tho white flag. Tho letter, which was signed by tho Newcastle magistrate, had been sent in by permission of General Joubort, its purport being that tho English peoplo left in Newcastle are well. General Joubert arrived at Newcastle yesterday. BORDER RIFLES IN ACTION. On the afternoon of the 18th tho Border Mounted Rifles cama into action with tho enemy in the neighbourhood of Acton Holmes s and Bester's station. Tho firing commenced at Acton Holmes, 16 miles out. The Carbineers and B.M. Rifles, who were in action with the enemy nearly all day yesterday, returned at 3 o'clock this morning. They fell back fighting in face of some 'ZOOO of the enemy, and wore several times" nearly cut off, but the "Maxims hold the Boors in check. The enemy wa? several time 3 within 400 yds, but their shooting was bad. The Carbineers have lost all their light kit. Lieutenant Gallwny is missing, and one man is slightly wounded. Tho men speak highly of the conduct of thcu- officers in action. Numbers of mounted Ba-sutos were seen amongst the Boers. The Carbineers and Borderers have be9n three day« and two nights in the saddle. The total number of Boers, in action is estimated at about 1000. The men returned in excellent spirits, but are greatly fatigued, and have been without food for 24- hours. The Boors have a large waggon train and artillery. BOER INVASION OF NATAL. FREE STATE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. PRESIDENT DECLARES THAT GOD IS ON HIS SIDE. ALIWAL NORTH, October 18. Reutor'3 special agent telegraphs: — I have just interviewed a lady, who succeeded in getting across from the Free State to-day. She comes from Smithfield, and while there had access to the camp every clay. In coming down to Aliwal she passed through a commando, which is now located at Strangers' Rest, a short distance away from the border. She was there minutely searched, even some letters she had being opened and read, but as it appears that President Steyn had extended the time for ' Britishers to leave until to-night, she was allowed to proceed. Her horses and cart were, however, detained. Tho British guard on this side allowed her to go after a few questions. She cays that on Monday the Smithfield commando received instructions to move, and left en route for Bethulie Bridge, the force consisting of 700 mounted men, and will be accompanined by 6t carts and 57 waggons, under the command of Hans Swanepoo!. When they join their comrades at Bethulio they calculate to be 20G0 strong; 999 men were on the commando Hat for the Rouxville district alone, and of these 700 have already massed at Strangers' Rest and at various points on the Uasutoland border. The plan of campaign is as follows: — The Rouxvillo commando will cross the Orange River, not by the bridge, which they fear is mined, but by the ford higher up ; come round by Aliwal, get possession of the wires and tlio railway, and make for Albert Junction, there to be joined by the Rouxville contingent. If their plans go through, they expect to be joined by many colonial Dutch. The Rouxvillo commando has received a Krupp gun, and will be supported by a detachment of the State Artillery, which the lady saw. The Boer 3 have also a field telegraph laid to Rouxville, and are thus in communication with headquarters. Commandant Olivier is in command, and Field-cornel Chase, of Rouxville, has stated that they momentarily expect orders to proceed to Aliwal. ,

At present life in camp is very slow. The burghers sleep and 1011, and never drill or have shooting practice. Their supplies are good, however, having hundreds of cheep and cattle. Each burgher is allowed one sheep for 14- days, which they find too much.

The lady had a copy of the Bloemfontein Friend, which she gave away. "It contained a copy of an open letter to the burgher.-*, signed by the President and Mr Blighaut, the Stale Secretary. It called on all to take arms to a man and fight the unscrupulous enemy, as " they were fighting a just war and could not be defeated, as God ws»a on their side."

Great excitement prevailed in the various commandos when they heard thaj; Mafeking had fallen, and of " several British reverses. '' They want to go on, in they are confident of sweeping the country from end to end. On hearing of the death of the Bishop of Bloom fontein, Landdrost Hoffman, of Rouxville, told his men he was glad, and, he added, in future there would never be an English church in the country.

Tho women of the State, especially of Rouxville and Smilhfield. are against war, and many men on commando express the same view.t

MARITZBTJBG, October 18. A refugee, , named King, manager of • t store on the Transvaal-Swaziland border, ana Transvaal magazine master for the district of Pietermeinjes, has arrived at Maritzburg. Ha served out all the Mauser, rifles and ammuni-; don for the district, and reports' that at Paulpetersdorp he was informed by a Boer of authority that they intended sending-* 3000 Boers into Natal, via Isandhlwana, in the direction of Umvoti. Tho commandant said they would not protect Swaziland, as if they won they could easily go back. All their ineu were wanted for the Natal frontier.

A meeting will be held lo consider the question of tho formation of a special reserve mounted Volunteer Corps. The Government highly approved the proposal, and at once ranctioned it. There are large numbers of old volunteers in the city, and the scheme ia highly popular. The members will havo to provide their own equipment, and the Government will supply arms and ammunition. A lady who arrived here with her family from Barberton last night gives a piteous account of things in that neighbourhood. Shei rays that renegade Englishmen are rampaiat in the outlying districts, and are threatening and bullying all whites. A circular emanating from the office of n Dutch newspaper, printed in the taal, calia upon all Boers, as a sacred and religious duty in the event of a reverse, to use their utmoan endeavours to incite the natives to outrage and" murder-^all English women and children^ The alarm" in ' the isolated places is intense, and a repetition of the ma3sacre3 of the Indian Mutiny is feared. , FOOLISH FREE STATE. THREATENING THE BASUTOS. ' NATIVES GREATLY EXCITED. ' Maseru, October 19. Information has come from all quarters during tho last two or three weeka that the Boers intend attacking Maseru and other Government stations in Basutoland, Maseru, as the Government headquarters, being partieu : larly threatened, and but for the timely measures for defence taken by Sir Godfrey Lagden the capture of Maseru would have been easy. These threats by the Free State Boera have had the effect of producing that excitement among the natives which it wa3 the pror nounced policy of the Government to avoid, and much of the feeling now aroused must be attributed to the wild and ill-considered threats by the Boers. Jonathan Mnlapo, tha chief, lately informed by the Boers that h« must choose between the English and Dutch, replied that lie was a subject of the Queen. In consequence of further threats ho communicated with his magistrate, and has now removed to^TJilolse, where the magistrate lives. Tho Boer threats are entirely answerable fot s.ich movements a3 the3B. The Paramount Chief, alarmed about th« safety of Maseru, wants to join the Govern* ment personally in tho defence, but the Refcilent Commisrioner declines to allow it, and is doing his best to calm the excitement net up ih consequence of the ill-advised threats of the Boer 3, who would have done well to lei tho natives alone, instead of intriguing and threatening them. PROCLAMATION AGAINST TREASON 1 . The following proclamation by, his .Excellency the Governor was published jn a Gazettp Extraordinary on the 11th October: — Whereas it has been represented to me that certain persons residing within tho limits of her Majesty's Order in Council of May 9, 1891, may bo induced or incited to take up arms against her Majesty, or otherwise to aid or assist her Majesty's enemies : Now, therefore, under and by virtue of the powers, jurisdiction, and authorities fn me vested, I do hereby proclaim, declare, and make known as follows: — (1) All persons residing within the saict limits who in the event of war between her Majesty's Government and any other State shall aid or abet the enemies of her Majesty, or in any manner directly or indirectly assist the same, shall be guilty of high treason, and shall be liable upon conviction to the punishment provided by law for euch offence. (2) All persons who have taken the oath of allegiance to her Majesty prescribed by section 3 of tho High Commissioner's Proclamation No. 17, of 1898, and contained in schedule A thereto, and who may thereafter beat arms against her Majesty', whether within or without the said limits, and (or) abed her Majesty's enemies, shall be guilty of high treason, and shall be liable, upon conviction, to the punishment provided by law for such offence. (3) This proclamation shall take effect from, the date of its publication in the Gazette. ' MR SCHREINER'S CIRCULAR. Mr Schreiner, the Premier, addressed a circular telegram lo all magistrates and fleldccrnets asking them to use their iVifluenda with inhabitants, to impress upon them not "to be led into rash action by strengtli -of feeling, and to give proof of their loyalty to the Queen -by- so restraining -themselves that the whole of the available troops in the Cape district may' be despatched north. > THE CAPTURED BATTALION. The Natal Mercury, in chronicling the ar» rival of the Avoca, states that she had on board 1100 troops, made up of '672 rank and file of the Royal Irish Fusiliers from Egypt, and drafts of various other regiments, including Gordon Highlanders and Gloucester Regiment. The Fusilier officers were: — Lieutenantcolonel F. R. C. Carleton, Majors F. H. Munn and W. P. Davison, Captains G. B. H. Rico, W. J. W. Pike, D. W. Ohurchcr, and A. R. Burrowe?, Lieutenants A. E. S. Hoard, P. Gould, 0. E. Southey. W. G. B. Phibbs, H. B. , Holmes, A. H. C. MacGregor, W. D. Dooner, and A. L. S. M. Kelly. Second-Liou-tenants R. J. Kentish, W. B.C. Carbery, O. E. Kenahan, A. N. H. Hill, R. W. A. Jendwini, and H. C. TV. H. Worthorn, Captain and Adjutant F. H. B. Connor, and Lieulenant and Quarter-master R. Johnston. Tho other officers are: — Captain S. Willcocks (Gloucestors), Captain W. K. Peekill (King's Royal Rifles), Second-lieutenant J. G. D. Murray and Second-lieutenant A. A. D. Best (Gordon Highlanders), Second-lieutenant A. A. D. Grun (Ist Devonshire), Majors F. A. D. Daly and A. T. Reilly, R.A.M.C., Captains H. C. B. Payne and H. C. B. Hulton. . Tho Avoca left London on September 13, with drafts of tho Gordon Highlanders to the number of about 100, who enlisted soon after tin news of Dargai reached Home. The Fusiliers had been stationed some two yearn in Egypt, previous to which they were in Burmah. The men are of a splendid stamp, and, indeed, many of the spectators were of tho opinion that they are the finest lot that havo yet landed.

Private Husband, of the 13th Hussars, met with a remarkable accident whilst playing football. Just as^ he was f reed from a scrummage ho kicked his right leg with his left foot bo severely that it broke below the knee.. He was removed to Cambridge Hospital, coolly Bmokinct a pip 3.