Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-12-30
KAFFIRS FIGHT DOERS. |
Natives Occupied Strongly For
tilted Ridge.
BUTCHERS CARRIED POSITION
Lost Three Killed and Five Wounded.
Beers Reported Attack by British on
Fort Near Mafeking, With SIS English
Loss--Other War News.


Loss--Other War News.
PRETORIA, Tuesday, Dec. 26. by way
of Lourenzo Marques. Thursday, Doe.
| 2S.-Commandant Swart reports from
the laager at Alowyns kop, near Ze-
crust. that he had an engagement on
Friday, Dec. ~, with Kaffirs in the
| neighborhood of Derdorpoort. The KAT
frs occupied strongly fortified ridge
and were well prepared for emergen-
cies.
After heavy fighting the Burghers
captured the kaffir position, losing three
killed and FIVE wounded
PRETORIA, Tuesday, Dec &c, ty way
of Lourenzo Marques, Thursday, Dec.
28.-Commandant Snyman reports as
follows from Molopo:
''On Mcaday morning the enemy
from Mafeking attacked one of our
forts in force. with cannon, Maxims
an armored train, and SO persistently
that there was lighting right on the
walls of the fort. But we have re-
tanned our fort The British loss is re
ported as 55.
! The other commanders report ''all
| quiet with the exception of the usual
bombardment of Ladysmith.
| General Lucas Meyer has recovered
and returned TO the front.
LONDON, Dec. 3o.-The MarseilIes cor
respondent of the Daily Mail telegraphed
the substance of an interview with the
Russian General Gourko, eldest son of
the famous Gourko, who was about to
| s,f.. "a
Il have been offered the command of
Boer army corps. In my own mind
am absolutely confident of the success
OF the Beers, You may take my word
for it that thousands of Russians are
now fighting under General Joubert."
The text of Colonel Baden Powell g
proclamation to the Burghers besleging
Mafek1ng, the glst of which has already
been cabled, came from Lourenzo Mar
| ques. After asserting that the republics
| cannot hope for foreign intervention,
and pretending to relate the exact atti
Jude of all the European powers, inelud-
ing Emperor William who, tine colonel
SAID, fully sympathizes with Eng
land, Baden Powell made the extraor-
binary statement that 1.-THE American
| government has warned the others OF
her intention to side with England
should any of them interfere.
Advices from Cape Town, dated Dec
"a, said an investigation showed that
the reported disauection among the
Dutch in the Victoria West district had
been overdrawn. The farmers, it was
pointed out, were mostly landowners
and would not risk the loss OF their
farms by rising.
A dispatch from Lourenzo Marques,
10 Tlcf.
current, emanatlng from Boer sources,
that Matt Steyn, brother of the presi-
dent of the Orange Free State, and 800
Free Skaters had definitely refused to
continue the war. Matt Steyn, acting
as spokesman of the party, was reported
to have told the president that he was
only authorized TO intervene in the in
terest OF peace, and that the Burghers
did not feel they were bound by his
"unwarrantable conduct" especially as
they ran the risk OF the contiscation of
their property, and they simply desired
to be permitted to farm in peace and
proposed to Immediately return to their
farms.
PIETERMARITZBURG, Wednesday, Dec.
27.-A dispatch from Ladysmith, dated
Dec. %, said:
''The Beers have mounted another
howitzer on Surprise hill, replacing the
gun captured III the sortie Of the rifle
brigade. While they watch us nightly
with searcnlight and lombard the
place daily tney show no signs of as
saulting the town. They probably think
they can starve us out. but we have
plenty OF provisions.
THE total casualties since the siege
began are 70 men killed and 1916 wound
ed.''
PRETORIA, Dec. 25-Monday Cen
eral SchalK Burgher reported, under
date of Dec. %, that trains were run
Mug to Colenso, indicating that the
Beers had built a connection around
Ladysmith
General CronJe reported from the
Modder river. Dec. "a, that the Beers
captured two British forts at Thurman,
Dec. II.
1t was rumored that General Meth
uen's big naval gun had exploded.
LONDON. Dec. 30.-A war office dis
patch from Colonel Baden Powell. dated
Dec. IL. after announcing that Lady
Sarah Wilson had arrived safe and well
at Mafeking, added that the bompard-
ment ana musketry fire continued daily
on all sides and tset the health and
spirits of the garrison Were very salts
factory.
KIMBERLEY. Friday, Dec. %, via Mod
der river, Wednesday, Dec. 27.-Before
noon today detachment of the mounted
forces. with artillery and light infantry,
moved out in a westerly direction.
Boer artillery from Kamperdam opened
fire at Ottos kopje, Kimberley fort re-
plying with twenty shells.
The British force reconnoitered out
posts along Lazaretto ridge, the Boer
patrols retreatlng.
Having accomplished this and having
discovered Boer reinforcements APP
preaching from Wimbledon ridge, Colo
mel Ghamier. with the Royal artillery,
exchanged dozen shells as soon as the
guns could be hmbered up. Some 800
Beers poured in a heavy fire from heir
earthworks, tile British finally retiring
with the loss Of ono horse