NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 38, 16 February 1900, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

THE FIGHT AT TUICHARDT'S DRIFT. I (Received 15,9.5 a.m.) Melbourne, February 15. Sir Charles Warren started early in the morning to secure Trichardfc'a •* drift. There was a great deal of firing, but progress was slow. Gradually British pluck told its tale. The enemy fell back on another kopje; then the attack was recommenced with great I gallantry. Whenever the enemy was observed taking up a fresh position the field batteries poured in showers of shrapnel, and the rapid movements of the guns were followed by accurate , shooting, which must have distressed , 3 t,he enemy. Throughout the day the | Boer defence was almost entirely with , rifles, though a few shells from their piece of heavy ordnance fell harmlessly. Our casualties were 379, there being but few killed, the great preponderance being slight wounds. The Boer loss is ! unknown, but it mußt have been very high, as their killed and wounded were ' seen as they were carried away. A further message dated Sunday, at 3 p.m., says that a great battle was pro- a ceediDg along the range to the rear of „ TabamyanaHill. At 3 a.m. the Brigade j. , left its bivouao to the north of r Trichardt's drift and marched to Three Tree Hill, a kopje half-way up a high j range alongside a row leading past the >] north side of Tabamyana, meeting the j Potgieter Road to Ladysmith. Later ( on the other Brigade moved on, and in j conjunction with the first attacked the Boer lines with batteries of field artillery. In the meantime a tremendous bombardment was proceeding in the centre on the right and left. Every inch was stubbornly fought. Our troops gallantly captured a bastion and several other ridges, which were still held when darkness fell. This left our forces in t possession of a commanding kopje, and 3 they took shelter behind the boulders. v We fought the enemy with their own ft tactics. There was a good supply of J water amongst the hills, which proved a great luxury. = (Receved 16,1.10 a.m.) Melbourne, February 15, On the 10th of January General Buller's column commenced to advance, with Colonel Dundonald in charge. He reconnoitred Springfield, but finding it unoccupied pushed on to the Tugela, and occupied a position commanding the river. The move was a. daring one, the ground being on the same day infested with the enemy. Lord Dundonald's small force, however, held the position for two days pending the arrival of General Lyttelton's brigade, the enemy's sniping parties keeping up an ineffective fire. General Lyttelton's force waded the river and occupied the J kopjes on the northern bank,the howitzer j batteries shelling the enemy, the naval guns on the south bank following suit. The enemy did not reply. Six miles higher up General Warren's force got across, bub only a handful of Boers were seen. These sent a volley at the « Engineers erecting the pontoon, but i ware quickly dispersed. The advance was conducted in a masterly manner. The Engineers 6rected bridges and tele- j graphs. It was an inspiriting sight to _ t,ee the troops moving across the river. 1