Show WAS A GALLANT CHARGE How the British Troops Routed and Demoralized the Boers London Oct 2L The earliest dispatches dis-patches regarding yesterdays battle conveyed the impression that the whole affair was over in a couplfc of hours the British artillery silencing the Boer guns and infantry and the simpjy charging right over the hill According to latest advices however the battle lasted eight hours and nearly seven hours elapsed before the lat Boer gun was put out of action The Irish fusileers and the Kings Rifles meanwhile had advanced t the assault and were shooting their assaul were shootng way up the hill driving the Boers back from shelter to shelter until the final rush of the British carried them to the summit I was n bright clear morning which I I enabled the operations to bC followed I without difficulty A curious fact was that several times I a lull cured in the fighting on both I sides the British infantry apparently I taking breathing space in the stiff climb and the Boers also holding back their fire The magnificent practice of the British guns was a Immense help I and the success of the assault was greatly due thereto Once the British bayonets showed on top of the Kopje the Boers retreated and when on descending tho other side they found aBritish battery and British Brit-ish cavalry outflanking them the retreat re-treat became a rout The British guns followed and unlimbering from time to time threw shells into t e flying foe The latter did not try conclusions with the Hussars and mounted infantry was apparently seldom gotten near enough to deliver effective volleys This policy was continued until dusk when the Boers were completely demoralized A heavy rain began to fall during the afternoon which naturally impeded artillery ar-tillery operations It was a coincidence that yesterday was the anniversary of a similar feat Briiish armsjn India when the GordQ Highlanders stprmed I the heights f S The war office has issued the following follow-ing announcement The ijuecn has been pleased to approve 06 the promotion pro-motion of Lieutenant General Symons S commanding the Fourth division of the Natal field forces to be a major general supernumerary to the establishment for distinguished service in the field General Sym ps was one of the few who escaped on that memorably January Janu-ary morning at Isandula when nearly the whdle l of his regiment the gallant Twentyfourth perished Thus there Is a tragic completeness in his victory near the scene of thatfmassacre I The operations thus far seem to I show that the Orange Free State Boer have a strong disinclination to fight at I close quarters This was anticipated The Transvaal Boer is a rough farmer accustomed to live in the open air ando and-o bivouac The Free State burgher lives in a comfortable brick house and is much more civilized I would also appear as was predicted that only the younger burghers of the Free State have responded to the call to arms There was a pleasing incident today 1 as the American line steamer St Louis passed the British transport Casgon I about to sail with the Coldstream I guards for South Africa The passe gers of the liner cheered lustily saving sav-ing their hats and handkerchiefs and the soldiers responded with three cheers for the Americans S William Waldorf Astor has donated JoOOO to the British Red Cross funt1 for the South African war |