28 OCTOBER 1899, Page 1

As soon as there was sufficient light our artillery, which

has been handled magnificently throughout, opened fire and soon silenced the Boer batteries. The Dublin Fusiliers and the 60th Rifles were then ordered to assault the bill, and this they did in the most gallant style, our guns covering their advance. Suddenly our artillery ceased firing, and this was the signal for the final rush, which carried the Boers' entrenched position. When our men reached the flat top of the hill they found the enemy flying before them. Here our cavalry came into action. They had been sent round the base of the hill to cut off the retreat of the Boers, and splendidly they did their work, charging through and through the fugitives. This was the main course of events, but it should be said that a portion of the Boers northern column came up during the close of the action. If we had been getting the worst of it they might, like Bl iicher at Waterloo, have converted an unsuccessful attack into a defeat. As it was, they could do little or nothing to help their comrades. It has been noted that Talana was Majuba over again, only with the parts reveesed. We do not attempt, either here or in the case of the other actions, to give details of the killed and wounded, as they are still too uncertain. It must be mentioned, however, that a squadron of our Hussars in pursuing the Boe:s got cut off and surrounded, were made prisoners, and are now in Pretoria. Gaol.