THE CENTRAL POSITION,

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11698, 13 December 1899, Page 2

THE CENTRAL POSITION,

TnE STROMBERG DISASTER.

BRITISH TROOPS BEE WsJ

SPLENDIDLY.

THE CAPTURED TROOPS.

GOOD WORK BY COLONIALS.

Received December 12, 10.30 p.m,

Capetown, December 11.— Whin Lieutenant-General Gitacre's force was surprised, the infantry behaved as it ou parade. After three hours' desperate fighting against 6090, they succeeded in c»rrjing an almost impregnable position, only to find it untenable, the location being commanded by a fort and a rifl > fire froan three directions.

During 'ho re irement, incessant shelling camed some disorder, lvi, th.j B-ittsh artillery worked splendilly, and averted a great d'saster. MoU a no was regained after thirty hours' hard work.

It is feared that the missing men are captured.

Received Decerater 13. 1.50 a.m

Durdav, December 12. — Pretor'a announces that 672 British were captured at Stromberg. Capetown. Dcceaoler 12 — 1h? New South Wales and New Zealand contingent^, forming the centre of the Dragoons' fhoks, occupied Arundel. . They were under. £-c for five hours, but came through scathless.

The New South Wales force, which reinforced the first line after two hours, only had a horse killed., A brigade of artillery and a battalion of the Foots Guards reinforced them at Steerkstrom, where 2000 Boers near Colesburg were breiking railway communication.

The Amtral'an*, who were sent out scouting, captured a t»"oop of horses The New. Zjilanders prevented the Boers seizing a kof ja, killing three of the enemy. \