Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-07
B0erSC Continue CannOnadinq
of Lad ySmith.
THE NEED OF SUPPLIES
Causing General Methuen to Not
Hurry His Forward MOvemcnt--The
Sortie From Kimberley Was More
Serious Than at First Reported.

London, Dec. 7.-4:3O a. m.-Again
there is a complete lull in the war news.
Ladysmith has established photographic
communication with Frere, and it is re-
ported hat all was we'll up to Sunday.
A dispatch from the Boer laager. by way
of Lorenzo Marques, dated Thursday,
November so, confirms the report that
the commands have been closing in
upon Iadysmith and mounting big guns
in new positions. According to the same
advices a heavy %cannonade has been
maintained and a general assault had
been ordered 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 a large body of the enemy has
gone in the direction of Jacobsdahl. 1t is
possible. therefore. that Lord Methuen
may endeaEor to clear his right flank
as far as Jacobsdahl before continuing
his advance. He is still awaiting at
MOdder river for stores, guns and am
munition.
The sortie from Kimberley on Noem-
Der % appears to ave been much more
serious than had been supposed. 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 We're
strongly entrenched. Finding the Boer
picketS asleep. Major Scott-Turner pro-
ceeded along the ridge under cover and
rushed the Boer redoubts at 5:25 a. 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 ~surrenderins. Owing possibly to
the exhaustion of their ammunition, the
British were unable to follow up the at
tack and to seize q large Boer laager
about 800 yards ahead, especially as Boer
reinforcementS We're seen approaching,
and the enemy was keeping UP q heavy
fire from the shelter of the thick brush,
During the sortie an arlnored train re-
cOnnoitered north and south, while a
considerable force of British, With field
guns and MaNirnst, advanced toward
Spytfontein, holding the Beers in check
in that direction. Ten uns We're en-
gagged simultaneously, and viewed from
the coming tower, an artillery duel
seemed to be proceeding in every direc-
ton, except toward k~enilworth, the
fusilade being terrific.
At s o'clock, having no force sufficient
to hold the position he had stormed,
Major scott-Turner began gradually re-
firing his men. He had a horse shot
from under him, and a bullet went
through the f'eshy part of his shoulder.
Several men had terrible wounds
IT is alleged that the Beers used Mar
TINS and explosive bullets and that they
frequently fired at the British ambulance
wagons. The British captured % of the
enemy.
There appears to be some doubt as to
whether this was the reconnaissance in
which Major Scott-Turner was reported
to have been killed. Some of the special
dispatches repot that he was killed
while leading an attack On the Boer posi-
ton on November %.
The Times prints an article from an
American citizen, Who left Johannesburg
because he was liable to be impressed,
and who had learned that the United
States consul was unable to protect him.
He complained bitterly that the Aineri-
can flag was not respected in Pretoria;
that his passport was not recognized.
and that his position was practically
unbearable.
1t is reported from CapetoNn that the
TransNaal government still refuses to
acknowledge the right of the United
States to interfere regarding prisoners
in Pretoria, insisting that Great Britain
must inquire through CoInmandant lou
bert.
A dispatch from Frere camp, dated De-
ceInber 5. says: "The Beers are firing
into Ladysmith. 1t is runaored that 5000
Free State troops have left Ladysmith,
entertaining the gravest fears as to the
safety OF their own country