TRANSVAAL WAR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 20 November 1899, Page 2

TRANSVAAL WAR.

THE -ENGAGEMENT AT ELAKDSLAAGATE. POSITION OF THE BOERS WELL : CHOSEN: THE BOKRS DISPLAY GREAT CO UK AGE. ; GALLANT ATTACK BY BRITISH TROOPS. STORMING OF DARGAI COMPARED AS iCH'jLDS PLAY. #MBS Association— Telegraph — Copyright, _ ADELAIDE;, November 18. The following 'details of the battle -of ' ■fc.nndslaagate aie norn the Cape fi.es : — The Boers' main position was admirably chosen and posted at the base of Sugar Loaf Hill, about two miles from Elandslaagatc. Tne position was covered in front of both flanks by rough, stony kopjes. The Boer artillery consisted ol three bi'* ■ guns, strongly secured and posted. A British armoured train, followed by two train-loads of infantry, was run out | car.y in the morning. This was promptly sheUed from the enemy's position. The shells sank in the soft ground, and didnot explode. The trains retired. The Natal Field Artillery and Imperial Light Horse were brought into action. Unfortunately, the guns of the Natal "Boys' " Artillery were not of sufficiently long range to be of any use during the first hal-f-hour's action, the enemy's shells falling thick around them.

At half-past two the British again moved forward towards the ridges, the infantry, Consisting of the Manchester, Devons, and Gordons, with the Lancers, Light Horse Dragoons, and the 42nd and 21st Batteries of Artillery, brought up the rear. i No sooner had the cavalry attained the summit than the enemy's artillery opened. The gunnery was veiy good, and the men retired. In face of a tremendous fire, the British artillery galloped into action, and within twenty minutes the enemy's battery was silenced. The British advanced on to the crest of the ridge, and soon a tremendous artillery duel was in progress. The enemy's guns were splendidly placed, and they stubbornly fought for two hours and a quarter, during which nothing but the deadly roar of the big guns and the Maxims could be heard. During this time our infantry, Light Horse, and Lancers were advancing from ' the front, while a couple of squadrons flanked towards Guested's Farm. . The Dragoons had to retire before a tremendous shower of shells. The Boers' courage and gallantry cannot be too highly spoken of. They stuck to their guns like, men,, and fought with indomitable energy and stubbornness. By a quarter-past six the British wera ready to storm from' the and left flank. The signal for the bayonet charge was sounded, and then was seen 'one of the most splendid pieces of storming possible to conceive. The Devons took the lead,- closely followed by the olher three regiments, in face of a tremendous tilling fire. The roar of artillery on both sides ceased in expectancy of the result. Once the British charges Were checked by the awful fusiladc of the Boer rifles, but, undaunted, they rushed to the attack, again to be warded off.

Then with a ringing cheer the whole force charged, and rushed upon the position, whereupon the enemy immediately hoisted the white flag and surrendered. Two or three hundred Boers who were retreating in disorderly array were pursued by the Lancers, who went through and through them for about seven miles beyond Elandslaagate. The Gordons state that the storming of the Dargai Heights in India was child's play compared to this piece of work.

THE TRANSPORT S.S. CORNWALL.

SYDNEY, November 18. The agents of the s.s7 Cornwall have received a telegram from the captain at Albany, stating that there is no foundation for the statements of the press witli regard to the unsatisfactory condition, of the steamer. Everybody on board is highly, satisfied, and he adds that the press re preventatives who interviewed the officers and. men were told by them that everything was most satisfactory and the sanitary arrangements. perfect. No objections were raised as to the position of the hospital. THE BOERS LOOT BELMONT. AN INHUMAN THREAT BY REITZ. CAPETOWN, November 17. The Boers have looted Belmont, south of Kimbeiley, and afterwards retired to Modder's River. Mr T. W. Reitz, Secretaiy of State in the Transvaal, has officially made a threat that six British officers held as prisoners in Pretoria, would be put to 'death if Nathan Marks, the Boer detective, arrested ass a spy at Ladysmith, was •harmed. The threat caused a feeling of horror in, Capetown, even amongst the Afrikanders. Generail Gough, with a;, strong column, was within 50 miles of Kimberley on the 10th inst. GENERAL JOUBERT NOT KILLED. HE IS PROBABLY WOUNDED. THE COLONIAL FORCES COMPLIMENTED. PRAISE FOR THE GALLANT JOURNALIST. DURBAN, November 17. Indui.ct evidence goes, to .show that doubert is alive, but possibly wounded. , Heavy rifle, fire, followed 'by an explosion, was heard in the direction of Ladysmith early on the 16th. ■•>• Sir Redv.rs Buller reports that 100 men are missing in connection, with the armoured traig disaster. DURBAN, November 17. A , fo ™c belonging to the Natal Cavalry repulsed 300 Boers, eight miles from Estcourt, killing several. General Buller complimented the coY I nial forces of Natal upon the work done I in encounters with the Boers, as also upon their gallantry and rcsoucefulness they disMr Winstone Churchill, the Mornine Post correspondent, is highly praised for his gallantry ,U Chievely. Natal Dutchmen assisted to loot the town of Pomeroy, in Zululand, and afterwards swore allegiance to the Trans-ail Tho farmers are loyal to the British, and purpose raising guerilla troops in view of retaliating.

ANOTHER TRANSPORT.

_, ... . LONDON, November 17. lhe Atlantic liner Canada has boen chartered by the Brifish as a transport. JOUBERT SUPPOSED TO BE ILL. THE NUMBER oFbRITISH PRISONERS 1338. BOER TACTICS AROUND LADYSMITg. WEENEN OCCUPIED BY THE ENEMY. Received November 19, 4.45 p.m.

i> , LONDON, November 18. Reports from Pretoria state that General Joubert has been ill. A report 'states' that the total British prisoners of all ranks at Pretoria is 1338 t fi DURBAN, November 18. ' Two thousand Boers, with six 7-pound-ew and two French guns, are at Enners- **& T^ of , Lad ysmith, and will be reinforced by a large force from the vicinity of Ladysmith. The combined forces will General Hilyard, which General Buller is rSu n n g t0 tho relief o£ Ladysmith. , lhe Uobrs have occupied Weenen, a townsW 50 Hiilcs north-northwest of Mantzburg and to the south-east of Colenso (probably with the idea of seizing the railway between Estcourt and Colenso, and thus delay the relief of Ladysmith). ALIWAL OCCUPIEJD BY THE BOERS. THEY pECLAHB THE DISTRICT ' ANNEXED. THE KIMBERLEY RELIEF COLUMNS THE I3QERS REPULSED NEAR KIMBERLEY. CAPETOWN, November 18. r m$ ewdred F?ee Statei- Jiave occupied

Aliwal, north terminus of railway from East London, and have declared the district annexed. The Boers were repiv'sed with great lo<s when attacking Otto's Kopje Mine, near ' Kimberley. The Kimberley relief column follows the railway, and the second flanking column will operate in the direction of Bloem fontem. : Later details show that Co'onel Keith ' Falconer left cover to assist a brother offi cer, and he had hardly moved a step when a shot kil.ed him. THE LONDON WAR RELIEF FUNDS. GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND LARGE DONATIONS. LONDON", November 18. The Daily Telegraph "shilling" war fund has reached £-15,000. The Daily Mail's sale of the poem by Rudyard Kipling realised £10,000. Collections in aid of the war ra'ief fundsare being made in the churches, chapels, sclioo's and banks. Theatrical performances are being held, an.d many work- '> men's organisations are contributing. THE (COLONIALS ON THE WATER, The Sydney Evening News times the various troopships to reach South Africa as fol'ows :— Waiwera, New Zealand contingent, to arrive at Port- Elizabeth 19th November ; Kent, part New South Wales contingent, to arrive at Port Elizabeth 21st November; Medic, contingents from Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and West Australia, to arrive at Capetown 21st November ; Cornwall, Queensland contingent, to arrive Port Elizabeth 30th November; Langton Grange, part New South Wales contingent, to arrive at Port Eliza.beth 4th December. THE TRANSVAAL-NATAL WAR REFUGEES' RELIEF FUND. The secretaiy, Mr J. G. Woon, requsots us to acknowledge the colloiving contribution to the above fund:— Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co. (per S. S. Griffiths) £1 ls. It is confidently hoped that the fourth £100 will be made up in, the course of'a few days, three or four subscription lifts being yet to come in. About £12 will do it ; then Wanganui will occupy the proud position of having contributed £400 towards the, fund for the relief of refugees and other sufferers through the war now being waged in the Transvaal, Natal, etc. which substantial sum has been collected in Wanganui and surrounding distiict in I le?s than one month.