The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-07
Hottest Bomhardment Of the Siege
Began Last Thursday.
The Enemy Mounts a Big Gun on a Hill
Completely Commanding the Town.
Shell the Place for Two Days,
Planting Projecti1es With Great
Accuracy in the Camps Of the
Gordon Highlanders and the
Also Very Active in the Coun-
try Around Stormberg juno
ton.

Try AROUND StoTmDerS juno.
ton.
bombardment of the siege took place
last Thursday. The Beers got new
big gun in position on Lombard's kop,
completely commanding the town, and
shelled our camp that day and yester-
day, planting shells with great accu-
racy in the camp of the Gordon High
landers and the Manchester Regiment,
where there were many narrow escapes.
To-day the enemy resumed the bonn
bardment, doing some very effective
shooting. Several of our guns have
been shattered by the Boer big guns.
QUEENSTOWN (Cape Colony, Sat
urday, Dec. 1.-THE Beers have become
very active in the country around
Stormberg Junction, to which place
General Getacre was to make his next
move. The telegraph lines have been
cut in various places, and communica-
ton with Steynsburg, Dordrecht and
harrisburg has been severed. It is
believed here that the Beers have occu-
pied Steynsburg. Firing has been heard
in the direction of Stormsberg, probab-
ly between General Gatacre'S vanguard
and the Boer commando
LONDON, Dec. IA dispatch from
X,
1.-The Beers are firing into Ladysmith.
1t is rumored that six thousand Free
State troops have left Ladysmith, en-
tcrtaining the gravest fears as % the
safety CT iLrir own country
LONDON, Dec. 7.-(4:3O a. ND
Again there is a complete lull in the
war news. Ladysmith has established
photographic communication with Frere,
and it is reported that all was well up
to Sunday. A dispatch from the Boer
laager by way of Lourenzo Marques,
dated Thursday, November Both, con-
firms the report that the commandos
have been closing in upon Ladysmith
and mounting big guns in new posi-
tions. According to the same advices,
q heavy cannonade has been maintain
ed and a general assault had been or
dered for Thursday morning, but was
countermanded at the last moment.
Modder River dispatches say that the
Beers are encamped amid the hills half
way to Kimberley but it is also assert
ed that large body of the enemy have
gone in the direction of Jacobsdanl. 1t
is possible, therefore, that Lord Me-
thuen may endeavor to clear his right
tanks as far as JacobSdahl before con-
tinuing his advance. He is still wait
ing at Modder River for stores, guns
and ammunition.
The sortie from Kimberley on No
vember 18th appears to have been
much more serious than had been sun
posed. Details are now arriving of a
reconnaissance in force by mounted
troops under Major Scott Turner at
dawn on a ridge near Carriers farm,
where the Beers were strongly en-
trenched. Finding the Boer pickets
asleep. Major Scott-Turner proceeded
along the ridge under cover. and rush
ed the Boer redoubts at 5:25 u. m, in
the face of a hail of bullets. The Beers
hoisted a white flag, and fired at the
British under it's protection before sur
rendering. Owing, possibly, to the ex-
haustion of their ammunition, the Prit-
ish were unable to follow up the attack,
and to seize a large Boer la:lger about
300 yards ahead, especially as Boer re-
Inducements were seen approaching,
and the enemy was keeping up a heavy
fire from the shelter of the thick brush.
During the sortie an armored train
reconnoitered north and SOUTH while a
considerable force of British with field
guns and Maxims, advanced toward
Spytfonlein, holding the Beers in check
in that direction.
Ten guns were engaged simultan-
eously, and viewed from the coming
tower, an artillery duel seemed to be
proceeding in every direction, except
toward Kenilworth. the fusillade being
terrific At o'clock, having no force
sufficient to hold the position he had
stormed. Major Scott-Turner began
gradually retiring his men. He had a
horse shot from under him, and bull
LET went through the f1eshy part of his
shoulder. Several men had terrible
wounds.
It is alleged that the Beers used Mar
tini's and explosive bullets, and that
they frequently fired at the British
amhulance wagons. The British cap
tured twenty-eight of the enemy.
The ..Times" prints a letter from an
American citizen who left Johannes
burg because he was liable to be I'M
pressed. and who had learned that the
limited States Consul was unable to
nrotect him. He complains bitterly
that the American flag was not re-
spected at Pretoria; that his passport
was not recognized, and that his POSI-
tion was practically unbearable.
It is reported from Cape Town that
the Transvaal Government still refuses
to acknowledge the right of the United
states to interfere regarding prisoners
at Pretoria, insisting that Great Bri-
tain must inquire through Commandment
General Joubert.
WHITE FORCES IN PERIL.
LONDON, Dec. "a budget of news
from Ladysmith which arrived to-day
brings the history of the beleaguered
her Doth In