The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-11-30
Fighting Was Desperate Until
10 a. H., When the Heights
We're Carried by British.
Gen. LORD METHUEN WAS IN COMMAND
Beers Retreated on the Line Where
the Ninth Lancers We're Placed
to Intercept Them.
In the Battle the Beers showed the CT eat
est stubborness, and Must Have sur
fered Heaviiy-In Thursdays Fight
Eighty-One Boers Were Killed.

LONDON, Nov. 26.-Thus far the spe-
cial dispatches describing the battle of
Belmont bear stercotypcd character,
proving that the hand of the censor
had been at work upon them. They
are too incoherent to enable the reader
to form n accurate idea of the event
or to place IA proper estimate upon the
value of the victory.
All the accounts agree respecting the
splendid fighting qualities exhibited
on both sides. Nothing could have
exceeded the steady courage and pluck
Of the British infantry in the face of
terrific fire, while the Beers guns
were splendidly served, the gunners
standing by them with dogged deter
min alton, exposing themselves until
the very last moment, and only becom-
ing wild and inaccurate in their aim
during the final deadly charge of the
British infantry.
All admit however, that the victory
could not be properly followed up and
utilized, owing to the want of suffi-
cient cavalry. The pursuit of the de-
feated enemy by the Fifth lancers
was evidently not very effective and
curiously enough while the cores
pondents report the capture of Boer
guns, Lord Methuen's own report
omits any mention of such achieve
ment.
LONDON, Nov. 2s.-Sunday afternoon
the war office posted the following dis
patch, dated Cape Town, 1920 p. m.
Sunday, from Cen Forester
Lord Methuen reports that he
moved yesterday Saturday at $3.50
a. m, with the 9th brigade, the mount
ed corps, the naval brigade and two
batteries, the guards following with
the baggage. Near Gras Pan (about
ten miles north of Belmont. on the
railway line to Kimberley and Q soc
Beers with six guns and two machine
guns opposed him. The action began
at 6 a. m. Our batteries fred shrapnel
very accurately till the heights seemed
clear. Then the naval brigade and in.
fantry advanced to the assault. The
fighting was desperate until 10 a. M,
when the heights were carried. The
Beers retreated on the line where the
9th lancers were placed to intercept
them. The result was not known at
the time of telegraphing. The artil
lery took immediate advantage of the
enemy's retirement.
early in the action 500 Beers at
tackled our rear guard. The brigade
met this and also protected the fanks.
The naval brigade acted with the
greatest gallantry and suffered heavi
ly, but no particulars are yet known.
"The enemy showed the greatest
stubbornness and must have suffered
greatly. Twenty were buried. 1t il
known that 81 were killed and A
wounded. More than SO horses were
found dead in one place. One batter,
fred 500 rounds.
'Our force must halt one day at Ora!
Pan to rest and replenish ammunition
The force worked splendidly and i
prepared to overcome many diff
culties.
| 1.-THE naval brigade, the royal ma
rines, the light infantry and the ars
battalion of the North Lanca shire reg
linen. especially distinguished them
selves.
Regarding Thursdays fight, 81 Boer
killed are accounted for; "a wagon
were burned; large quantity of pow
der. 81 600 rounds of ammunition ant
75o shells were bio up. Cnnu md
ant a, urecht. c:iief of the Orange Ere
State ARTILLERY, commanded the Boe
artillery. Gen. Rolewy was in chic
command"
CAPE Town, Nov. 2S.-The Beers OF
cupied Stormberg, Cape Colony, Sunda