At The
Same Time Pole-Carew With The Central Column Of Lord Roberts's
Force Had Advanced Along The Railway Line, And On August 24th He
Occupied Belfast With Little Resistance.
He found, however, that
the enemy were holding the formidable ridges which lie between that
place and Dalmanutha, and that they showed every sign of giving
battle, presenting a firm front to Buller on the south as well as
to Roberts's army on the west.
On the 23rd some successes attended their efforts to check the
advance from the south. During the day Buller had advanced
steadily, though under incessant fire. The evening found him only
six miles to the south of Dalmanutha, the centre of the Boer
position. By some misfortune, however, after dark two companies of
the Liverpool Regiment found themselves isolated from their
comrades and exposed to a very heavy fire. They had pushed forward
too far, and were very near to being surrounded and destroyed.
There were fifty-six casualties in their ranks, and thirty-two,
including their wounded captain, were taken. The total losses in
the day were 121.
On August 25th it was evident that important events were at hand,
for on that date Lord Roberts arrived at Belfast and held a
conference with Buller, French, and Pole-Carew. The general
communicated his plans to his three lieutenants, and on the 26th
and following days the fruits of the interview were seen in a
succession of rapid manoeuvres which drove the Boers out of this,
the strongest position which they had held since they left the
banks of the Tugela.
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