GENERAL WARREN'S COLUMN. February 10.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 23

GENERAL WARREN'S COLUMN. February 10.

Sir Charles Warren started early in the morning to secme Trichart's Drift. There was a great deal of firing, and progress, though slow, was sure, and gradually British pluck told the tale. The enemy fell back on another kopje, then the attack recommenced gallantly, and whenever the enemy were observed taking up a fresh position the field batteries poured in showers of shrapnel. The rapid movement of the guns was followed by most accurate shooting, that must have distressed the enemy. Throughout the day the Boer defence was almost entirely with rifles, a few shells from their piece of heavy ordnance falliug harmlessly. Our casualties were 379, but few of these were killed, ihe great preponderance being slight wounds. The Boer lo.«s is unknown, but it must have been very high, as their killed and wounded were seen as they were carried away. On Sunday, at 3 p.m., a gieat battle was proceeding along the lange to the rear of Tab?myana Hill. At 3 a.m. the brigade left their bivouac to the north of Trichart's Drift and marched to Three Tree Hill, a kopje half-way up a high range alongside the road leading past the north side of Tabamyana, meeting the Potgieter road to Ladysmith. Later another brigade moved on, and. in conjunction with the half-brigade, attacked the Boer lines with batteries of field artillery. In the meantime a tremendous bombardment was proceeding in tlie centre and on the right and left. Every inch was stubbornly fought, and our troops gallantly captured the bastion and several other ridges, which they still held when darkness fell. This left our forces in po=sesMon of a commanding kopje. They took shelter behind the boulders, from where they fought the enemy with their own tactics. There is a good supply of water amongst the hills, which proved a great luxury. THE CROSSING OF THE TUGELA. A MASTERLY ADVANCE. On the -10th January General Bullet's column commenced to advance, with Colonel Loid Dundonald in charge. He reconnoitred Springfield, and, finding it unoccupied, pushed on to the Tugela River, and occupied a position commanding the river. The move was a daring one, the ground being on the same day infected with the enemy. Colonel Dundonald's small force, however, held the position for two days, pending the arrival .-of General Lyttel'ton's brigade, the enemy's sniping parties keeping up an ineffective fire. General Lyttelton's force waded the river, and occupied the kopjes on the northern bank, the howitzer batteries shelling the enemy, and the naval guns on the south bank following suit. The enemy did not reply. Six miles, higher up Oeneral Warren's force got across, but only a h.iudful of Boers were seen. These sent a voUey at the engineers erecting a pontoon bridge, but were quickly dispersed. The advance Avas conducted in a masterly manner. The engineers erected bridges and telegraphs. It was an inspiriting sight to see the troops moving across the river. OUR BOYS IN ACTION. HOW SERGEANT GOURLEY AND TROOPER CONXELL FELL. SYDNEY, February 16. Referring to the fighting at Rendsburg, the Cape 'limes publishes a telegram stating that the distinguishing feature of the skirmish on Monday (January 15) wa& the pluck and indomitable courage 'of Captain Mcdock and the New Zealanders. On Monday morning tLe enemy commenced to open a desultory fire on the Yoikshires and New Zealanders, who had a picket on the hills to the north of Sliugersfontein. The fire increased in vehemence until it was one continuous roar, preventing our men from even looking out from under cover at their fire. The number of Boers was about 200, and they were creeping up the hill and taking advantage of every piece of cover. Captain Orr, of the Yorkshires, fell, badly wounded, and a few of his men also fell. Captain Madock, hearing the heavy fire on the Yorkshire side, rushed up and found the man wavering. He immediately gave the order to fix bayonets and charge. The effect was magical. Tlie Yorkshires' rushed forward, but the Boers did not wait for the cold steel — they simply fled in wild disorder, falling as they ran to the splendid shooting of our men. Captain Madock then rushed across to his own men, and calling on them to follow they charged down hill, shooting as they ran. It was then an- 1 there that Trooper Connell and Sergeant Gourley fell. The Boer loss is estimated at forty killed. Twenty -five bodies were counted, ns the enemy made no pretence to bury their dead. THE HORRORS OF WAR. The Sydney Morning Hprald's special,

describing the recovery of the wounded and killed after the New South Wales Lancers' patrol mishap, says that the relief party saw a man making efforts to lift his leg, in order to attract attention., ,It turned out to be Kilpatrick. He was a terrible sight. The lower part of his 1 face had been shattered as if by an exploI sive bullet. He could not speak, and had lain on the ground all night. He had also ( tiaced with his finger on the ground the I word " cold." His wounds had been dressed up roughly, evidently by the Boers. Giiffin's body had been buried. It was evident that his death was instantaneous.