NEWS BY MAIL STEAMER

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

NEWS BY MAIL STEAMER

THE OPERATIONS IN NATAL.

Received December 13, 1.50 a.m. HoiunT, December 12.— The Delphic brings the following news, dated 25th November :— At the battle of Lidy smith on the 9.h, the Boer <lo3ses were veryb/avy. 1 hey brought a mortar into action, but the accurate firing of the British quickly silenced it. At noon the enemy returned in force, and put the mortar into action again, but a couple of shells thrown into the miJst of the advancing Boers scattered them right and left. The next mi Dortanl movement occurred on the 14th, when a reconnoitring party mot the enemy on (h 1 .Co'enso Road and inflicted a heavy loss with shells Trooper SchrouD, of the Natal Mounted Rifles, was killed by a shell while as'eep in his tent. The bombardment of Ladysomh continues daily. Two native runners who left late on the 15 th report tint the Boar shollsare still ineffective Early on the morning of tho 18th tho Boera were rfeen advancing on Estcourt The British troops quietly moved out to meet them, aud a shell was sentamougst tho Boers, killing reveral. The remainder galloped off without fi.ing a shot. An armoured train left Estcourt ah 5 o'clock on tho 15th Novomb3r, and went as far as Chiev!ey, only seeing between 200 nnd 300 Briers. Oa ro'.urning, a porfeet shower of shot and shell burst over tho train, with an necuracy that showed that the range had been marked off in advance. AU the British stood to their armi, but 500 yards further on a truuk toppled ever, knocking a naval gun out of action. The enemy concentrated their big gun fire on the ill-fated train, shells smashing into the trucks, and the engine wbb struck twicp, bub not disab'ed. The driver stuck to his post, tlnugh wounded. Tre men worked over an hour undor a hot fire rotnoving a derailed truck. Tim done, the engine and tender steamed backward. The Dublm Fusiliers and the. volunteer?, fighting an unequal battle, tbrice drove the enemy back, but tho fierrenena of the Beer rifle and big gun fire told against the brave little party. Ai men were woundei thoir comrades pu;

them on tha tender.. F.urten ware a ] ired, sd they were broujhsin by train. Tho Bosr artillery fi-e wa, so severe that the telegraph wires and poles were torn down and the trucks hit again and a<>ain