THE WAR.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 22211, 10 March 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

A CAVALRY- BATTLE ADVANCE OF KELLY-KENNY’S BRIGADE. ROUT OF BOERS CAVALRY IN PURSUIT. London, March 8. Lord Roberts telegraghed from Osfont ein yesterday that the enemy occupied a position extending four miles north and eleven miles south of the Modder river. Major-General! ColviEe’s Guards division acted on the north, and Major General Kelly-Kemty’s division and Major-General Tucker’s cavalry on the south. The cavalry outflanking the enemy, opened the way for Kelly-Kenny, who advanced without firing a shot.. The enemy retreated m a north easterly direction, closely followed by the cavalry, horse artillery, and mounted rifles, while Tucker, Colville, and Pole Carew crossed the river at Poplar’s Drift, where Lord Roberts says he intends to establish his head . quarters. In the evening Lord Roberta says : “ A very suce ssful day. Completely routed the enemy. Fighting whs confined to cavalry, which did exceeding ly well.”' The British casualties number 50*. SPLENDID WORK BY HORSE ARTILLERY. The position occupied by the Boers at Osfontoin was extremely strong and was cunningly arranged with a second Hue of entrenchments. Lord Roberta stated that a direct attack would have caused heavy loss. The turning movement was necessarily wide* and the horses wore fatigued. General Freneh’s her?© artillery batteries did great execution among the Boers. Commandants De Wet and Dfe la Roy commanded the fleeing Boors..