BRITISH PROPERTY COMMANERED.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9496, 27 November 1899, Page 4

BRITISH PROPERTY COMMANERED.

MELBOURNE, Nov. 2i. . News by the Ninevali states that .thousands of pounds' worth of British property at Johannesburg is commandered. Other nationalities have had similar treatment, but nothing like tho extent of the British.

THE BRITISH REVERSE,

The battle at Ladysmith, where the British lost .the Tenth Mountain Battery and a portion of- the Gloucestershire Regiment and- Royal Irish Fusiliers, was an. exciting one; It is estimated that 20,000 Boers took part. ,

General* Joubert effected a junction with the Free State commando, and some 10,000 men had been disposed. This combined force made a half circle, embracing Ladysmith, and occupied a radius of at least 15 miles. The right flank, within 2| miles of Ladysmith, and the left flank resting on and being protected by a very strong position some seven miles from the town.

Had it been nossible for Goneral White to have disposed of the foroes so that he could outflank the enemy and driven him on his centre, he would have had a different story to relate. Once driven in upon his position, the' enemy would have had to stand to a bayonet ' charge, as at Elandslaagte, with * the 1 cavalry in readiness to cut off his retreat.

The Boer position, however, was too extended to: be ramified through physical advantage, and our forces were too few to bring about a decisive engagement.

General White effected all that could possibly be dono with the means at his disposal against the strength and accuracy of the enemy's shell fire and overwhelming numbers. It would possibly have meant the decimation of our infantry if we had charged the main position. There was nothing left but to fall back on Ladysmith— ft'movement which was carried out with perfect coolness, notwithstanding the-galling fire from the enemy's guns.

Had the quality of their, shells been the same as ours our;-loss would have been much greater than it was. As a matter of fact, however, few of their

sheik burst properly, and beyond a few casualties caused during the retreat, the most trying march back to camp was mtyde wholly successfully.

The battle opened at daybreak and raged till three in the afternoon.

Three columns were engaged, one working in driving the enemy on the left one operating on (lie right, while the third under General White was opposed to the Boer centre, The Itovnl Irish Fusiliers, Gloucester and JOth Battery were detailed on Sunday

evening to clear the left, so tlwt the Boers should not slip past and get on to Ladysmith.

Shortly before three in the morning stragglers from the Gloucoslers 10th battery coming in while mules with the remains of the battery were moving past some in charge of Cape boys and others loaderless.

What had happened to something like this: Shortly after midnight the leading mules of the battery became suddenly!, frightened by some-shots, swerved round and bolted, stampeding. The entire battery and mules broke through the Gloucesters and created confusion.

The two battalions, however, must have remained intact, as they afterwards gave a good accoiint of. themselves, as from the central' position incessant firing could bo hoard all tho morning on tho left, slio\v : ng' that the Gloucesters and Fusiliers • were heavily engaged with the enemy. ,

At this point tho message breaks off. several hundred words descriptive of 4 the reverse having apparently been cut out by. the press censor, us it was possibly in conflict with the official statement afterwards made.

" Until well on in the forenoon the Boer main body was inactive, waiting the result of the artillery duel. 'The; guns kept up an incessant fire. Although our guns must have done considerable execution the superior range of the enemy's ordnance and their accurate practice enabled them to hold their own. Meanwhile, our force on the Boer right flank became hotly engaged and the Maxim lire was continually heard.

Some of the enemy's sharp shooter were also threatening us.

The Devons were sent to protect the line there and the Light Horse moved to protect the rear directly over Ladysmith on the right of our position. <'/ /

By noon General White brought up the Gordons and Manchester tf support the Devons.

The infantry advanced and it was hoped possible to charge the Boers, but the latter, who evidently held some of their big guns in reserve, kept up a terrific fire and as our right was overwhelmingly opposed it was determined to retire on Ladysmith.

With this object a strong body of Hussars and Lancers were directed to ride round the rear side of Lombard's Kop. They..advanced up the valley on to the plain at the head of.which a strong.Boer stronghold was situated and there protect the retreating- infantry.

The cavalry were speedily in action, but so hot was the fire to which they were exposed that they had to change their position!

Their retreat, however, was coolly carried out, the cavalry doing the work nimbly, taking the hottest part of a very hot afternoon's work.

The Boers followed up the retreat with a hail of shell, the "missiles bursting repeatedly amongst our men, but happily for the most part ineffectively.

The accuracy of the fire may be j gauged by the fact that the Manchester, when they had gained the. plateau opposite Ladysmith abattoir, had shells sent repeatedly into their midst, while nearer the road into the town the enemy's long Tom landed shell after shell on to Ihe .strings of retreating waggons as they came into view. • • General White remained in the field to the last, conducting the retiring movements, and the whole force ar-i rived safely at' Ladysmith.