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The Transvaal.

The Boer accounts of events at th© Tugela mention the capture of only two guns. The reported capture by the enemy of the British guns abandoned by Lieut. -Colonel Long's artillery batteries during the engagement is now confirmed. Further details which have come to hand concerning General Buller's repulse reveal the conspicuous gallantry of all arms under the withering fire of the concealed sharpshooters along the river bank. The Boer riflemen wounded and killed many of the British artillerymen and horses, yet the guns were effec ively fought for an hour and a half. The gunners served their guns until their ammunition was exhausted and were then obliged to seek shelter in a neighbouring donga, or dry water course, in order to await a further supply. Prior to the abandonment of the guns three infantry companies made heroic efforts to support the artillery, but were surrounded and captured, though they fought like lions. In all 21 officers and 311 men surrendered to the enemy, the companies being from the following regiments :— The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), the Scots Fusiliers (21st Foot) and the Devonshire Regiment (nth Foot). The use of smokeless powder by the enemy largely contributed to Sir Redvers Buller's reverse, as it was impossible to locate the Boer big guns. The Transvaal sharpshooters allowed the British scouts to pass close to their trenches untouched, reserving their fire until the advancing infantry columns were within close range. The Standard's war correspondent estimates that the Boers lost two thousand of their number at Tugela. The trenches are, he states, full of dead — killed by the explosion of lyddite shells. A Reuter's despatch says the Boers admit that if the shelling of their entrenchments at Tugela had been continued they would have been compelled to retreat. After the the Boers allowed the wounded British soldiers to return to their own lines. Lieut.-Colonel Long, who was in command of the batteries of artillery whose guns were abandoned, has made an explanation with regard to his unauthorised advance towards the river bank during the battle. . He states that he expected turther supplies of ammunition would be sent forward to him and also that there would be a continuance of the general advance. LORD METHUEN'S ARMY. Lord Methuen is keeping up regular communication from the Modder river with Kiraberley by the interchange of signals every night. BOERS ENTRENCHING THEMSELVES. There are now 20,000 Boers at Magersfontein under General Cronje. The enemy are at work doubling their entrenchments in front, their position extending over twenty miles of country. Lord Methuen has also strengthened his lines near the Modder river, and is now impregnably posted. LADYSMITH. The latest reports from Ladysmith state that the garrison still has food supplies sufficient for three months. During a recent sortie from the town six British soldiers were killed and fifteen wounded. LORD ROBERTS. , Field- Marshal Lord Roberts, who gdes to the Cape as Gommander-in-Chief, was accorded a great public ovation on leaving Waterloo station and also at Southampton. The Princess of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Connaught were present at Waterloo station to bid the Field- Marshal farewell. Lord Roberts on leaving remarked that the great outburst of patriotism from all parts of the Empire was a good omen of success. COLONIALS UNDER FIRE, News from Northern Cape Colony shows that General French shelled the enemy near Naauwport on the 19th inst. He compliments the New Zealanders and the New South Wales men on their behaviour in the field. Two of the latter performed a deed of considerable bravery, carrying a wounded officer, under a heavy fire, to a place of safety. The settlers around Colesburg are, generally speaking, loyal to the British. THE TUGELA RIVER BATTLE. Later reports of the repulse of General Buller's army at the Tugela river show that an average of sixty empty cartridges were found beside each British soldier during the engagement. Instances are reported in which the men wept with rage at the sight of Colonel Long's abandoned artillery surrounded by heaps of wounded gunners and dead horses. The guns sure, however, useless to the enemy.

Commandant Schalk Burgher, the Boer leader, in his report on the fight states that the Boer casualties lii-nhered only thirty. The Mauser fire of the burghers was, he says, so deadly that the 3ritish troops who attacked to the southward rolled back before the hail if bullets like a spent wave, leaving idges of dead, and, advancing again ;eft further ridges of slain. The Tugela road bridge near^ Colenso has been destroyed by jeneral Buller. It is stated that the reason for taking this step is in order j prevent the Boers who are at >resent on the south side of the •tream retreating northwards. Sir Redvers Buller has withdrawn ais column a mile nearer to Chieveley ■'<*even miles south of ColensoJ in ; >rder to get beyond range of the inemy's shell fire. He had a|LrfO F ransferred portion of his forces! to i Frere, six miles further southward;! DETERMINATION TO FIGHT ! TQj| THE LAST. i < m4\ i ■ : 1 1 1 ;;' Commandant Schalk Burgher, ,v!io | commanded the Boer army at the <| Tugela river engagement — when ji General Buller's attempt to cross the ;i. stream was repulsed — is reported to have told a British officer that though the Boers would fight to the last, he knew the Imperial forces would win, in the end. PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. "The Times," in commenting on the military situation in south South Africa, urges that no important movement should be made until the reinforcements now under transport ; have arrived at their destination, •vhen the several Divisional Comnanders, having received an accession of strength, will be able to move freely from the railways. . Military critics at Home consider that a forward movement from the centre is the only true line of advance although it is admitted that such a movement is at present impracticable. RAPID RECOVERY OF THE WOUNDED. •■■ As an instance of the rapid recovery that is often made from gunshot wounds, and of the admirable manner in which the ambulance and* field hospital branches of the service are organised, it is mentioned that onethird of the British troops wounded at the Magersfontein engagement have got over the effects of their injuries, and will rejoin the regiments to which ' they belong. A ROYAL SOLDIER. The Duke of Connaught, Com-mander-ln-Chief at Aldershot (the third living son of the Queen) asked to be attached to the staff of FieldMarshal Lord Roberts in any capacity. Lord Roberts expressed his '■■ willingness to accept the Duke's services, but the Government refused to allow the Royal Commanders to serve in the war. REINFORCEMENTS. > Lieut.-General Sir Charles Warren's ; Fifth Division of the Army, which is due to arrive at Capetown in a few days, will be sent on to Durban to re« inforce Sir Redvers Buller's command.The Second Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Lieut.-Colonel C. *P. Egerton), has arrived at Durban. i A cavalry regiment is being sent from India to the Cape; also, two thousand native cavalry horses. The Spectator advocates the mobilisation of the navy and the formation of a territorial army of 100,060 men who have seen service. The journal jin question also favours large purchases of artillery being made with the object of deterring any foreign'interference in the Transvaal. The War Office has completed the , preparations for mobilising the English Division of .the army. The despatch of the English Division for Capetown will begin oil January 4th. The First Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment {40th Foot, lieutenant-Colonel W. McCarthyO'Leary), has arrived at Durban. The Government has decided that it is not desirable to draw further reinforcements from India except In case of unforeseen emergencies.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH18991228.2.10

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Manawatu Herald, 28 December 1899, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,288

The Transvaal. Manawatu Herald, 28 December 1899, Page 2

The Transvaal. Manawatu Herald, 28 December 1899, Page 2

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