Sir G. P. Colley's dangerous, though chivalric, attempt to relieve
Pretoria has failed. His force, barely a thousand strong, reached. Laing's Nek, the dangerous point of the pass over the Drakensberg, on the 28th ult. Here the Boers were found entrenched in the ravines, and after a sharp artillery fire, her Majesty's 58th Regiment, about 400 strong, were ordered to dislodge them. They advanced gallantly, but the Boers, as they passed, besides facing them in front, poured in a flanking fire, which proved too heavy to bear. The officers were especially picked out, six being killed almost at once, including Colonel. Deane, who was in command ; and after 100 men were killed and wounded, the 58th retreated, with the rest of the force, to Newcastle, where they remain, awaiting the reinforcements moving forward from Durban to their aid. The soldiers engaged. behaved most admirably, and the attack, though rash, was fairly planned ; but all accounts ex- press surprise at the failure of her Majesty's 60th to support the 1.-)8th. There appears to have been some failure of orders.. By the 10th inst., 4,000 men will be with Sir G. Colley, and a new attack will be commenced. ; but the position is formidable,. the Boers are encouraged. by victory, and it may be necessary to invade the Transvaal with a much larger force. There is no end to South-African trouble.
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