THE LATEST.

Waikato Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 546, 12 January 1900, Page 2

THE LATEST.

THE COLESBERG ENGAGEMENT. BRITISH ENCOUNTER DEADLY FIRE AT THIRTY YARDS. TEN OUT OP ELEVEN OFFICERS KILLED. BOERS BURY DEAD AND SING A PSALM OVER THE GRAVE. THE STORMBERG FORTIFICATIONS. (Received January 12, 8.55 a.m.) Capetown, January 11. The details of the night attack on the hill, near Colesburg, when 70 of the Suffolk Regiment were captured, show that the attacking force marched to the hill in close column. The Boers were pre-advised of their advance and reserved their fire till they were within thirty yards. Watson (adjutant) and two captains fell at the first volley. Somebody then shouted to retire, and the rear companies ran down the hill. Of eleven officers accompanying the force, only one escaped. The Boers helped to bury the dead and sang a psalm over the grave. Lord Methuen is making a railway along his front. General French found that the Boers occupied a strongly fortified position at Stormberg, the lines extending two miles. LADYSMITH SWARMS WITH SPIES. DYSENTRY AND ENTEEJIC FEVER AMONGST THE BRITISH, 21 DEATHS IN FIVE DAYS. (Received January 12, 9.30 a.m.), Durban, January 11. Correspondents heliographed from Ladysmith a few details of Saturday. The place swarms with spies, the goal is full, hut none of them have been shot. Twenty-one died in Ladysmith in five days from dysentry and enteric fever. . RBCONNOISSANCE AT COLESBERG. CAPTAIN OF LIFE GUARDS AND FOUR TROOPERS TAKEN PRISONERS. (Received January 12, 10.5 a.m.). Capetown, January 11. During the first recouuoissance by the Household Cavaliy in the vicinity of Colesberg, on the 7th insf., Captain W. F. Ricardo, of the Royal Horse Guards, and four troopers were captured, ACCOUTREMENTS CONDEMNED. (Received January 12, 9.25 a.m. Sydney, January 12. It is practically certain that the contingent will get away on the 17th, Melbourne, January 12. In the Assembly Mr Madden said that the saddlery accoutrements of.the second contingent were a disgrace to civilisation. The Minister for Education replied that the matter was already under the consideration of the Cabinet, and a most searching investigation was being made by saddlery experts appointed to report. No man would be allowed to depart unless adequately equipped. SCOUTING NEAR ARUNDEL. NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION. TWO HORSES SHOT. (Received January 12,9.45 a.m). Sydney, January 12. The Herald’s special correspondent, writing from Naauvvpoort on December 13th, described the scouting near Arundel in which the New Zealanders took part. He says the New Zealanders pushed across the plain and pulled up under a big bill, a body of carbineers flanking them on one side and the mounted infantry the other. They advanced up the hill, and ini few minutes there was a roar from a hi; hill about a mile and a-half off, and a shell fell between the New Zealanders and the mounted infantry. Search g’asscs showed that many of the enemy were visible on the big hill. We climbed the nearest kopje and fouud it alive with New Zealand men, crouched among the stones, the kharki uniforms blending perfectly with their cover. The position was held for a considerable time, and though within range of the Boer guns, only an occassional shell was sent towards us by accident. Even these did little harm, failing to explode. The Boers had a splendid position commanding all the lower kopjes, and the affair ended without getting to close quarters. Tee British made no advance and the Boers appeared to be content to stay where they were. In conjunction with the New South Wales Lancers, the New Zealanders were subsequently told off to capture a farm house. When they reached the scene of action they found that the Boers, with a big gun, occupied it in force. The enemy immediately opened fire on the*, wounding Captain’s Cox’s horse in the shoulder, and shooting one of the New Zealander’s horses through the leg. They were then ordered to draw off and observe the movements of the enemy. Meanwhile, a body a Carbineers at the next farm bouse, drew the fire of the ■ Boers, which killed a sergeant andi-" wounded a private.