Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-11-30

News From Natal More hopeioi'
London. Nov. 2S. - Yesterday after
rooE the war office posted the follow
ing dispatch. dated Cape Town, l2"2o
d. m, from Gen. Forester Walker:
Lord Mtehuen reports II ne
moved yesterday Saturday at $50 H.
m. with the Ninth brigade, the mount
ed corps, the naval brigade ana TWO
batteries, the guards following WIN
the baggage. Near Gras a taDoul
ten miles north of Belmont, ON the
railway line to Kimberley 100 Boers
| with six guns and two machine guns,
opposed him. The action began at D
a. III. Our battery fired shrlpnel yer!
accurately till the heights seemed
clear. Then the naval brigade II the
infantry advanced TO the assault. Inc
lighting was desperate until I'D a. H.,
when the heights were carried. Inc
| Beers retreated on the line where the
Ninth IancerS were placed TO intercept
them. The result vas not known at
the time OF telegraphing. The artillery
took immediate advantage of the enc
my'S retirement. Early in the acton
500 Beers attacked our rear guard. The
brigade met this and also protected
the tanks. The naval brigade acted
with the greatest ~gallantry and suf-
fered heavily, but no particulars are
| yet known. TT enemy showed the
greatest sUubbornnesS and must have
suffered greatly. Twenty We're burned.
Ii is known that 81 were killed II 4S
wounded. More than so horses were
found dead i'm IN place. One battery
fired 500 rounds. Our force must halt
one day at Gras Pan TO rest and re-
plenish ammunition. The force worked
splendidly and is prepared TO overcome
many difficulties. The naval brigade,
the ROYAL marines. the light infantry
and the First battalion of the North
Lancashire regiment especially dis
tinguished themselves.
Regarding Tuesdays fight, 81 Boer
killed are accounted for; GA wagons
were Jurred. a large quantity of pow
der, $4,000 rounds Of ammunition and
$50 shells were blown up. Command
ant Albrecht (chief Of the Orange Free
State artillery commanded the Boer
artillery. Gen. ROlewy was in chief
command"
Creates Great Suspense.
London, Nov. 2S.-No further news
respe citing Lord Metheun's advance
mas been received and the absence CT
official details regarding his losses
creates the greatest suspense especial
~ since the publication of the heavy
sacrifices endured by the naval brig.
ade. No alarm. however, is felt as to
Il his nnGirinn InGnitn tho nViInnHn fhnf
the Beers intend to contest every foot
Of the way. 1t 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 been justified. the Beers being de-
cidedly averse TO darkness for their OPP
erations. The fact that in the Gras
Pan action one British battery fired
500 rounds proves the desperate nature
Of the fight, and there is no doubt the
casualties were great. 1t now develops
that no guns were captured in the Bel
mont engagement. Meanwhile the
news from Natal is distinctly more
hopeful from the British point of view.
The details are rather vague, but 1t
seems certain that the Beers are re-
firing. that railway communication Is
being reopened and that British relief
forces are joining hands.
Butler Mt Pietermaritxburg.
London, Nov. ESPECIAL dispatches
from PietermaritZburg announce the
arrival of Gen. Butler there. He met
with a splendid reception. Railway
communication between Estcourt and
Moot River has been restored by Lord
Dundonald's force, and the Mooi Riv-
er column entered Estcourt yesterday
Sunday, the Estcourt column imme.
diately starting the advance toward
irts.
st. Petersburg, Nov. 2S. - The Rus
sian newspapers announce that the
British charge d'affaires has informed
the Russian government that Great
Britain has been in a state of war
with the Dutch republics since Oct. II.
The Svedt, commenting upon this.
says: England, in giving this notice,
withdraws her declaration that she il
not carrying on war, but is merely
s~ubjugating rebels"
The Novoe Vremya, which attributes
"far-reaching importance to the British
notification, says: The powers are
now in a position to send not only Red
Cross agents, but military agents as
well, and they may judge this a fitting
time to irtervent, especially as the AZ
rikanders are going more and more to
the Boer side"
%
Durham, Nov. 2S.-Telegraphic COM
munication with Estcourt has been re-
stored.
E%stcourt, Nov. %. - Commandant
Gen. Joubert is retiring from Moot
River IN Ladysmith.
Coal Duty Free.
st. Petersburg, Nov. 2S.-It Is stated
that Finance Minister DeWitte has
sanctioned the importation free OF