The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-27
METHUEN IN ANOTHER FIGHT.
DISPATCH SAYS BOERS SHOWED
GREAT STUBRORNNESg

We're Carried, and the Beers Re-
treated-Fightfng Was Near Grns
Pan-BritIsh Had TO stop for
Rest-There Is Some Uneasiness in
LOndOn-TrOOps for the Front-At-
tack on Kuruman.
London, Nov. 26.-This afternoon the
war office posted the following dispatch
dated Cape Town, Nov. 26, y 20 p. m. from
Cen Forester Walker
Lord Metheun reports that he moved
yesterday Saturday at $3.50 a. m. with
the Ninth brigade, the mounted corps, the
naval brigade and two batteries, the guards
following with the baggage. Near Gras
Pan about ten miles north of Belmont on
the railroad line from Kimberley $500
Beers with six guns and two machine guns,
opposed him. The action began at a. m
Our batteries fired shrapnel very accurate
ly until the nights seemed clear. Then the
naval brigade and infantry advanced to
the assault. The fighting was desperate
until 10 a. M, when the nights were car
ried. The Beers relreated on the line,
where the Ninth Lancers were placed TO
intercept them. The result was not known
at the time of telegraphing. The artillery
took immediate advantage of the enemy's
retirement.
early in the action SEQ Beers attacked
our rear guard. The brigade met this and
also protected the tanks. The naval bri-
gade acted with the greatest gallautry
and suffered heavily, but no particulars are
yet known.
Enemy Suffered Greatly.
"The enemy showed the greatest stub
bornness and must have suffered greatly.
Twenty are buried. 1t is known that 81
were killed and As wounded. More than 50
horses were found dead in one place. One
battery fired 500 rounds.
"Our force must halt one day at Gras
Pan to rest and replenish ammunition. The
force worked splendidly, and is prepared
to overcome any difficulty. The naval bri-
gade, the royal marines. the light infan-
try and the First Battalion of the North
Lancashire Regiment especially dlstin-
guished themselves.
Regarding Thursdays fight: Eighty
one Boer killed are accounted for. Sixty
four wagons were burned. A large guam
tity of powder, $4,000 rounds of ammuni-
tion and $50 shells were blown up. Com
mandant ATbrecht Chief of the orange
Free State Artillery commanded the Boer
artillery. Gen. Dolewy was in chief COM
mand."
The admiralty is in receipt of the fol-
lowing dispatch from Rear Admiral Har-
ris, dated Cape Town, Nov. 26:
Il deeply regret to report the following
casualties in the action at Gras Pan yes
| terday:
Killed-Commande Ethelstop of the
| Powerful.
Maj. Plumbe of the Doris.
Capt. Guy Senior of the Royal Marines,
| of the Monarch.
Capt. - of the Monarch,
'Wounded:
Flag Captain Prothero of the Doris,
| severely; Lieut. Jones of the Doris.
THE other casualties are not yet known.
Commander DeHorsey, Capt Morgan and
Lieut.. Wilson, all of the Monarch, have
proceeded to join the naval brigade with
Lord Methuen."
Causes Some Suspense.
London, Nov. 81, 5 a. m.-No further
news respecting Lord Methuen's advance
has been received, and the absence of Off
cial details regarding his forces, creates
the greatest suspense, especially since
the publication of the heavy sacrifices
endured by the naval brigade. No alarm,
however, is felt as to his position despite
the evidence that the Beers intend to con-
test every foot of the way. Ii was known
that, in the absence of sufficient cavalry
he would be compelled TO advance slowly
and he has a preference for night or
early dawn attacks which events seem
to have justified the Boers being de-
cided averse to darkness for their opera
tions.
The fact that in the Gras Pan action one
British battery fired 500 round proves the
desperate nature of the fight, ard there
is little doubt that the casualties were
heavy. It is now known that no guns
were captured in the Belmont engage
ment
Meanwhile the news from Natal is dis
tinctly more hopeful from the British
point Of view. The details are rather
vague, but it seems certain that the Beers
are retiring, that railway communication
is being reopened, and that the British re-
lief forces are joining hands An this. taxi
en- with Gen. Buffers arrival at PETER
maritzburg is expected to make matters
move briskly very soon,
Gen. Hildyard's reconnaissance is praised
as a work of very great difficulty admit
| rably executed.
The tfo1rship Medic arrived at Cape
Town yesterday with the Australian con-
| tingents. The Pindari and the Idaho ar
rived there Saturday, bringing three bat
| teries of artillery. The Serva with troops
has left Cape Town for Durham and the
transports Mohawk and Manchesterport
have arrived at Durham.
Great Activity Prevails.
The utmost activity prevails In getting
war necessaries ready for the front Five
thousand men worked ali day yesterday
| (Sunday) at Woolwich arsenal preparing
stores. The arsenal employees, now num-
| hering 19,000 have been warned that they
need not expect holidays at Christmas tide
Among minor Items of news is a rumor
that President Kruger is suffering with
-Brights disease, and that his condition IS
| giving rise TO anxiety.
Five hundred Beers attacked Kuruman,
! in Bechuanaland ON Nov. 10. The fight
| ing lasted almost continually for six days
and nights; but the Beers were finally
! beaten off, with loss of thirty in killed
and twenty-eght In wounded. The Brit
ish lost one killed and one wounded. The
Beers suddenly disappeared, for some rea-
| son unknown 20 the British.
/ DESPITE the brighter outlook to-day the