Welsh Newspapers
Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles
13 articles on this Page
BRILLIANT SORTIE FROM ! LADYSMITH.
BRILLIANT SORTIE FROM LADYSMITH. BOER GUNS DESTROYED. The most brilliant piece of work that has been done during the siege was accomplished at an early hour on Friday morning. A column composed of Light Horse and Natal Volunteers and supported by British regular cavalry went on Thursday night under the command of General Sir Archibald Hunter. Before dawn broke they attacked the Gun Hill near Lombard's Kop, carried the position, and blew np three guns, including a 6in. Creusot piece and a howitzer, and captured a Maxim-Norfendelt quick. firOur gallant little force left the town before ten o'clock on Thursday night and took up a position near the foot of Lombard's Kop. About two o'clock the advance began. The troops got past the picket in the darkness, and were charging several hundred yards up the hill when the picket awoke. A sentry hailed Wie gaat daar P" (Who goes there ?), and getting no reply he fired is rifle, then ran off 'shouting, Willem, Hans, Marteens, fly! The Rooineks are upon you!" The Boers round the guns fired several volleys at the advancing troops, and then fled dismayed down the opposite side of the hill. Our men seized the guns without opposition. Our engineers and men of No 10 Mountain Battery blew up the heavy guns with gun cotton and carried off the Maxim-Nor. denfelt. The Brers had built a splendid emplacement on the top of the hill, but they bolted before our men like rabbits, leaving everything, even their private letters, behind them. One of these epistles said they bad bombarded Ladysmith for a month ani nine days, but the Rooineks were going about unconcernedly, and if the town was to be taken the Boers must do it at a terrible loss of life. Our troops brought away the breech-block of Long Tom," together with the rammer, sponges, sights, friction tubes, and other fittings of the weapons. All the guns on the hill were quite destroyed, and are now utterly useless for offensive or de- fensive purposes. The whole operation, counting from the moment the order to charge was given, was carried out in three quarters of an hour, with the loss on our side of seven men wounded- This magniiceiit piece of work has evidently filled the Boers with dismay, as their guns on Mount Bulwan have practically been silent, and the success of the attack cannot fail to have an immense effect upon the moral of the Beers. At daybreak a smart skirmish took place between the 19th Hussars and the 5th Lancers and the enemy to the north-west of Ladysmith near Pep- worth Hill. Our cavalry had been covering the attack on the guns during the night. The Boers thought that all our troops were engaged at Lombard's Kop and tried to get near the town, but the movement was checked in capital style by the cavalry and our our infantry on Long Hill. The fighting was over at about six o'clock.
GENERAL GATACRE IN AMBUSH.
GENERAL GATACRE IN AMBUSH. OVER 600 BRITISH PRISONERS. General Gatacre left Putter's Kraal, his head- quarters, after mid-day on Saturday with a fighting force of slightly over 4,000 strong, including a bat- talion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, the Royal I-ish Rifles, details of Mounted Infantry, and the 77th and 74th Field Batteries. Train was taken as far as Molteno, and thence the force proceeded on foot. The movement may be termed a reconnaiss- ance in force to exactly ascertain the strength and position of the enemy, who were strongly entrenched in the Stormberg range of mountains. Leaving Molteno at 9 p.m., the force quietly stepped forward, with no sound save the tramp of the men, and no distinguishing lights whatever were given. The night was a memorable one. The moon shone brightly till half-past eleven and then went down. On and on went Gatacre's men, tramping over a rock-surface road, kicking against stones, and occasionally pulled up by large boulders which had fallen in the way, and ever and anon striking off into the veldt, where the footing was softer and the ceaseless tramping was silenced. Sometimes a dark figure would come suddenly, swiftly, and almost noiselessly up, and in a hoarse whisper an officer would ejaculate an order to halt, as the enemy was believed to be near. Thus for seven hours the little force slipped and tumbled onwards until a natural basin was entered, at the end of which the llooi Kop, the enemy's main position, stood out in strong silhouette against the morning sky. Morning was just breaking, and it was com- paratively bright. Just as the Irish Rifles, with General Gatacre and his staff at the head of the column, were entering the depression a hot and unexpected fire was opened by the enemy on the right. Following the Rifles were 106 of the Northumberland Fusiliers, and the rear was brought up by the artillery. The column was marching four abreast, but not- withstanding the suddenness and fierceness of the attack there was not the slightest confusion or consternation. General Gatacre and his officers, with the utmost coolness and promptitude, brought the column into line of action, and in a short time the battle was raging at its hottest. Our artillery climbed up and got into position to the left, on the side of a small kopje, while the Rifles and Northumberland Fusiliers clambered up the hill held by the enemy in skirmishing order. They were met by a galling fire, but bravely pressed forward, and, notwithstanding the ex- tremely difficult nature of the ground, succeeded in reaching the top. When they arrived there, however, they found they were the centre of a tremendously hot rifle fire, which was poured in upon them from three different directions in flank and rear, and our men were forced to retire. Meanwhile the artillery had got into action and drew the fire of the enemy's guns. A protracted artillery duel ensued, in which our guns belched forth a terrific fire, demoralising the Boer gunners in the fort which they had constructed at the corner of the kopje. The position being unassailable, and the enemy in overwhelming numbers, our infantry, with Maxim detachments, were ordered to retire towards Mol- teno. The artillery remained to cover the retreat. Their fire was terrific, but the Boers brought their guns along the tops of the kopjes and followed the troops on the road below for miles, sending shell after shell down into the valley. The enemy's practice was good, their shells dropping and burst- ing on the roadway close to our men, but so skil- fully were the troops handled that not a man was bit during this stage of the retirement. Finally the Boers gained a kopje commanding the road at closer range, and from this position opened with rifle fire, The bullets, however, fell short, and the troops arrived at Molteno about 11 a.m., after some thirty hours' hard work, including a desperate engagement lasting three hours. The enemy's numbers are estimated at 6,000. They are occupying a practically impregnable posi- tion, and one which it is hopeless for a small at. tacking force to carry.
fGENERAL GATACRE'S EXPLANA,=TION…
fGENERAL GATACRE'S EXPLANA- ,= TION OF THE DISASTER. General Gatacre has sent a despatch explaining the cause of the failure of his attack on the Boer position at Stormberg. He states that the idea of the attack seemed to promise certain success, but both he and the local guides underestimated the distance. A policeman took the force round some miles, and the men were consequently marching from half-past nine at night until four o'clock in the morning, and were landed in an impossible position. General Gatacre adds that he does not think the error was intentional. The Boers commenced firing from the top of an unscaleable hill. The 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers tried to turn them out, but tailed. The 2nd Bat- talion Irish Rifles seized a kopje near and held on, supported by the Mounted Infantry and the Cape Police. The guns could not have been better handled, but he regrets to say that one was over- turned in a deep nullah, while another sank in a quicksand. Both had to be abandoned. Seeing tne position, he collected and withdrew the force from ridge to ridge for about nine miles. He is now holding Bushman's Hoek and Cyphergat. The remnants of the 2nd Battalion Irish Rifles and the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers have been sent to Sterkstroom to recuperate.
ANOTHER BOER POSITION TAKEN.
ANOTHER BOER POSITION TAKEN. HOWITZER DESTROYED. General Sir George White has again surprised one of the Boer positions outside Ladysmith, and another of the big guns has been destroyed. He informed Sir Redvers Bulleron Monday that on the preceding night Li' ut-Col Metcalfe, of the 2nd Rifle Brigade, with 500 men of his battalion, made a sortie with the object of capturing Surprise Hill and destroying the 4.7 howitzer mounted there. The men reached the crest of the hill undiscovered and drove off the Boers. The gun was then des- troyed with gun cotton by Lieutenant Digby Jones, R.E. When the force was returning they found their retirement barred by the Boers, but forced their way through, using the bayonet freely. The Boer losses were considerable. Our losses were one oflicer and 11 men killed and three officers and 41 men wounded. Six men of the 2nd Rifle Brigade who remained behind in charge of the wounded were taken prisoners.
HOW TRAITORS ARE MADE.
HOW TRAITORS ARE MADE. FANTASTIC FABRICATIONS BY THE BOERS TO DISCREDIT BRITONS. Amongst the means by which the Boers are in- ducing the wavering Afrikanders to turn traitors is the dissemination of the most unscrupulous and often fantastic lies. It is declared for instance, that twenty thousand British truops have been killed in Natal since the war commenced that Durban has been captured by the ever-victorious invaders; that the landing of troops there has been prevented that British blood fills the ditches of Ladysmith two feet deep; that Pretoria is choked with British prisoners that Mafeking has been burned to the ground; that Kimberley has been taken, and that the Imperial Government is at this moment humbly suing PresicTent Kruger for peace at any price. These yarns are implicitly believed in by the rural Afrikanders, who are good enough to express pity for the Tommies who are fighting for a hope- less cause for a shilling a day." It is not surprising, therefore, that there have been numerous defections to the enemy.
BOERS SMELLED A RAT.
BOERS SMELLED A RAT. An attempt was made on Monday by a party of MeLhune's Horse to draw a commando of Boers in the vicinity of Colenso into a trap, but catching sight of Dragoons and Lancers awaiting them the Boers scuttled off.
. IN DARKEST CORRIS (AND NO…
IN DARKEST CORRIS (AND NO WAY OUT,) In last week's issue of the COUNTY TIMES I read that Wrexham Church is always considered to be one of the "Seven Wonders of Wales." Until then I was under the impression that all the said seven wonders were located in Corris. However, we will generously concede that particular one and claim all the other six, which we can safely do without fear of contradiction. Foremost among those six wonders by which we are specially favoured, is the marvellous darkness that surrounds us on all sides, and it is to this particular phenomenon that I wish to draw attention. This intense darkness is a peculiar and pleasing feature of our quiet little village, and is one of which we are particularly proud. No other spot in the United Kingdom can boast of such an inky blackness as that which adorns our beautiful streets at night time. The gloom of a coal mine or a quarry bargain pales into insignificance when compared with our Stygian darkness. Strangers are struck dumb with envy and amazement when they behold it, and they greatly marvel that such a thing can really exist. Woe to the belated pilgrim that finds himself stranded in our midst during the night season. Without a guide he will be as surely and irretriev- ably lost as if he wandered into Hades. He may grope and stumble about to his heart's content, but no ray of light or guidance will reach him in his hopeless condition. Once, and only onee during the week is there any attempt to dispel the gloom, and that happens late on a Saturday night when a goodly row of tallow candles-stuck perpendicularly on each doorstep, regardless of expense-cast a weird and shadowy light on all surrounding objects. Certainly the round searchlight of the stern guardian of the law sometimes penetrates into obscure corners and alarms plant bach" in the midst of their mischievous pranks, but of street lamps we are blissfully ignorant. The powers that be, in their wisdom and might, have ordained it so. Many are the joys we experience by such a condition of things. It is rare fun to be wandering about when the natives are returning from their respective places of worship on a Sunday evening. Stumbling along, you are presently aware that some heavy craft is about to cross your bows, and in a moment the collision takes place with all the force of a battering ram, and you are extremely fortunate if ycu are not at once placed hors de combat" in the mud. Moreover, also, you may be tenderly embraced by members of the fair sex while you are vainly endeavouring to calculate the latitude and longitude of your position, as has been my happy experience on more than one occasion. Suppose also that some reckless Absent-minded Beggar," is trying to find his way up the road that leads to the reservoir. Suddenly he finds himself landed head-first into a slimy ditch which crosses his path in a slanting direction. No, the local Volunteers, have not been throwing up earthworks to protect us from an imaginary invasion. It is only a gutter, and is one of the benefits we derive from living in such a select community. Staggered and bewildered the luckless mortal shakes the mud from his gar- ments and again begins the advance. He is soon again out of action." Down he plunges into a second gully, and as he regains his equilibrium, delightfully ejaculates "Verily this is a more excel- lent ditch than the first." Such are our nightly experiences, and we do even dream of exchanging the old order for the new. The other five wonders will be fully dealt with in future articles. Mean- while floreatCorrisonia."
o CRAIG FACH (MACHYNLLETH)…
o CRAIG FACH (MACHYNLLETH) ECHOES. The echoes of Graig Fach are often the bearers of some curious gossip from the town. The town nestles at the foot of the rocks, and all that is said by the people below, even the faintest whisper, is carried by unseen agencies to the top where it gains in strength and finds its way out of ithe town accross the hills around until it is lost in the vaster echoes of the outside world. This week one of the topics has been the extraordinary activity of the Council. As is known the members of the Council meet on the first Tuesday of each month, and following that for some days the town is the scene of much life and activity. This week it has been raining heavily, the streets are flooded in mud, the pavements or pathways are traps for the unwary pedestrian, and on Wednesday morning the faithful servants of the Councill were busily occupied in flushing the drains with volumes of water from the standpipes. The water in its passage scoured all the loose gravel along its route, and swept it in a graceful fashion into the mouths of the street drains. Perhaps it never occurred to the Council that the rain would accomplish this part of the sanitary work, but if it did not occur to the Council it was strongly commented on in the town. After this the Council will go to sleep for a month, until the ringing in of the next century by the parish bells will remind them that they are nearly a century behind. But there was, alas! a tone of sadness about the place during the past week. Men were disagreeable-only the men, not the women—there were mournful looks as if they carried on their backs a load of care, to which the troubles of Oom Paul were a trifle. Their stubby unshaven chins gave them the appearance of an escaped contingent of the Dundee Tommies. Some of them wore unmistakeably rather longish locks of hair and they gave one the idea that all the married men at any rate had thrown in their lot with the poet. Why was all this ? The gossip from the town clock floated away from the town, and this is what it contained-" S- bach is laid up," Hard lines can't get a shave." "I knew a chap who came five miles to get his hair cut, and he went home without having it done. He can't come agHin until January, and he is getting married on Christmas Day." At this there was a laugh and the speaker in an in- jured tone continued It's a fact; so he's decided to get married in curls and will wear his hair in paper the night before." All this hubbub arose owing to the fact that Mr S-, the town's ton- sorial artist, was laid up with illness, and the town was without its barber and the men were without their shaves. A greater calamity could not have happened, and let us hope Mr S-- will soon be up again. Rain poured down on Monday and the unlucky beggars who were doing the customary tramp from town to town got a regular soaking before they reached their night's quarters. Two of these tramps, weary, footsore, probably hungry and thoroughly wet, sought the shelter of the Workhouse. The Workhouse lies at the foot of the Craig Fach rocks, and all that goes on in this big house- is known to the occupants cf the Graig rocks. The men were mated with two other woe-begone objects of charity and the four men crouched round a small stove containing a fistful of coal and tried to keep themselves warm and dry their clothes. Workhouse regulations provide early hours of retirement and the tramps were early cleared off and their clothes left to dry. Morning arrived but the stove fire apparently was also an early seeker after rest, and must have gone to bed about the same time as the owners of the clothes, for when the men put them on they found that they were as wet ns when they took them off, and so after partaking of a breakfast never remarkable for delicacies or over plenty, they were turned out to dig or fork the field. They were in charge of a pauper inmate, aud so soon as the inmate was out of sight two of the tramps followed his example Well, they were captured and brought back, and on Wednesday they were brought before the Bench. The master of the House was subjected to some questioning as to the provisions made at the House for tramps, and the members of the Bench were evidently surprised to learn that better arrange- ments were not made. They therefore let the men go, and probably the master will take the hint and provide a decent fire in the tramp ward for even tramps, bad as some of them are, require dry gar- ments and they will put more heart into their work if they are treated like human beings
THE WAR.
THE WAR. LORD METHUEN'S ADVANCE: ANOTHER BATTLE. CENTRAL NEWS TELEGRAM, Wednesday. General Lord Methuen shelled Boer positions on Sunday and Monday. The Boers held their trenches and met Infantry advance with a deadly fire. Our losses are heavy.
FIGHT BEYOND THE MODDER.
FIGHT BEYOND THE MODDER. ATTEMPT TO DISLODGE THE BOERS FAILS. HEAVY LOSSES OF INFANTRY. A later wire states that the Highland Brigade attacked the Boers at daybreak on Monday. The attack failed, but troops remained in front of the Boers till evening. Our losses are great. The force is now entrenching itself. MaDDER RIVER CAMP, Tuesday Morning. On Saturday night Lord Methuen ordered the artillery to move out towards the Boer position to the north on the Nigersfontein Hills, which had been strongly entrenched. The shelling of the position commenced on Sunday morning, and a heavy fire was kept up all day. The enemy's guns appeared to be silenced. The shell fire was re- sumed on Monday morning, and at the same time our force left the camp. The artillery kept up a terrific fire upon the Boer entrenchments while the infantry advanced to carry the position. The enemy, notwithstanding thp heavy fire from our guns, kept their trenches, and the infantry advanc- ing to close quarters, were met with deadly rifle fire. Our losses are heavy, the Highland Brigade being the chief sufferers.
IMPENDING CAPE CABINET CRISIS.
IMPENDING CAPE CABINET CRISIS. SIR A. MILNER TAKES ACTION. It is stated that in consequence of the Cape Government granting passes to students and the Stellenbosch Volunteers to join the Boer forces and the Free State Artillery, Sir A. Milner will take action, and that a Cabinet crisis is impending.
A NIGHT OUT
A NIGHT OUT AND THE COST OF IT. Keen interest was centred in a case which came before the Welshpool county magistrates on Monday. Three young fellows, Ed Hawkins, Gaer Mill, Forden, labourer; Charles Powell, farm bai:iff; and William Lloyd, cowman, of Dudston Farm, Chirhury and Henry Richards, waggoner's boy, of the same farm, were charged wit:1 breaking into the Hem, Forden, doing wilful damage to the fixtures and stealing a quantify of cider. The Court was crowded. No evidence was given against Richards, who was called by the police as a witness. The Hem Farm is in the occupation of Mr Jones, who resides at the Cwni, and it appears that on Friday night the three young fellows and the boy broke into the Hem, made a fire of some shelves, and proceeded to enjoy themselves. Finding a barrel of cider they removed the cork, drank as much as they could, and spilled a quantity over the floor. They were overcome with sleep bit early on Saturday morn- ing the three from Chirbury took their departure. They left Hawkins in the building, though they had previously awakened him, and he was found there by Ed Higgins, farm bailiff, who at once gave information to his master. P.C. Owen subsequently apprehended Hawkins, and later in company with P.S. Pryce and P.C. Ellis apprehended the other three. The damage to the premises was estimated at ten shillings, but the owner declined to charge for the cider.—Captain Mytton said the offence was a serious one and one which practically amounted to burglary. In order to enable the magistrates to deal with the case, the charge bad been reduced to one of malicious damage.—Hawkins, who was the ringleader, was fined X2 and costs with 3s 4d damage, and Lloyd and Powell £1 and costs each. He hoped it would be a warning to them.
[No title]
♦ The half-yearly meeting of the Royal Agricul. tural Society was held in London on Thursday. Th report referred to the serious loss of over zE6,000 which had attended the Maidstone show. It was obvious, the Council said, that Maidstone was hardly the place at which the Society, had it been actuated only by monetary considerations, would have pitched its showyard this year. But it was in accordance with the piesent scheme of rotation of districts that there should be a show in the South in 1899, and as Kent had not been visited for 39 years that county had a special claim. Printed and Published by Samuel Salter and David Rowlands, at their Offices, 21, Berriew Street, Welshpool, in the County of Montgomery, and Rock View, Towyu, in the County of Merioneth. —Thursday, Decembei 14, 1899.