Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-05
THEBOERS RETREAT
Rumored Going Toward Free
State Capital. -
SIEGE OF MAFEKING RAISED.
General Cronje and Force Had Gone
Southward-PrctoriaS Said to Be Pro-
visioned For Six Months Siege-Some


LONDON, Dec. 5.-A correspondent
with General Methuen' S force sent the
following:
81 hear that the Beers are in full re.
treat to Bloemfontein.
CAPE Town, Thursday, Nov. 3d.
The Cape Times has the following dis
patch from Mafeking:
General Cronje with 100 wagons and
a large body of Beers has left his laager,
practically raising the siege, although
desultory firing can b heard"
LONDON, Dec. 5.-Mafeking is safe or
was so on Nov. "a. The British had
captured % burghers of Commandant
Dutoit's force.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Durham says that persons arriving there
from Petroria that Beers are full conf
dence and are well prepared for six
months siege OF Pretoria.
The Times had the following from
Frere camp, dated Wednesday. Nov. 80:
1.-The Boer camp at Colenso is visible
from point near Chieveley. 1t is a
strong position and difficult for direct
front attack
A revised list Of the casualties sus-
tanned by General Hilyard's forces at
the battle of Beacon Hill showed:
Killed, 13; wounded, g.; missing, l.;
prisoners, s.
A revised list of the British casualties
at Belmont showed: Officers killed. 4;
wounded, %; non-commissioned Off
GERS and prlvates killed, 46; wounded,
225, of which number the Guards had
So killed and 159 wounded.
The Cape Town correspondent of The
Standard says: "The government in
tends at an early date to send one Of the
ministers to England to urge upon the
authorities the acceptance of the Cape
cabinets views regarding the final set
tlement after the war;
LONDON, Dec. 5.-The Daily Chronicle
published a dispatch dated Wednesday.
Nov. 30, from correspondent, describ-
ing the battle of the Modder River,
which said in part: "The battle was
waged fercely for nearly IA hours. The
enemy occupied strongly entrenched
position, their front extending five
miles along the bank of the stream.
They were well supplied with artillery
and fought desperately.
'sThe battle started about daybreak,
our guns Smelling the Beers left. The
enemy replied with artillery, Hotch-
kiss and Maxims, and the artillery duel
lasted some hours. Then there was a
brief lull in the enemy's operations, Of
which the general Immediately took ad-
the plain toward the river in two bri-
gades. The guards, on the right, were
met by an awful hail OF bullets from the
enemy's sharpshooters, posted close to
the river on the opposite bank. Ours
had no cover whatever and were simply
moved down. 1t seemed impossible to
live through the terrible fire, but the
brave fellows did not retreat. The Boer
fire was horribly accurate, and they
must have numbered at least 10000.
i''The Scots guards advanced about
600 yards before they were fired on.
Then they had to lie down to escape the
deadly fusillade, which lasted with out
intermission throughout the day. The
Highlanders made several attempts to
force a passage of the river, but they
were exposed to such murderous en-
flading fire that they had to retire after
they had suffered terribly. Subse-
quently party of the guards got over
and held their own for hours against a
vastly superior force.
"Our men fell in dozens while trying
rush the Boer position.
Among the heroic deeds one of the
most conspicuous was that of Lieuten-
ant Colonel Codrington of the Cold.
stream Guards, Captain Sellepin of the
Queensland contingent, and dozen
members of the Coldstream Guards,
who jumped into the river and swan
nearly to the other side in the face of a
steady fire. but who were forced to re-
tire, and, joining hands, swan back,
two of their number being nearly
drowned in the retreat.
1.-The British guns kept up heavy
fire all day, and fearful havoc was
wrought on the Boer positions, the en-
emy being forced to fly from their en-
trenchments. Night put an end to the
terrible bloodshed. The infantry bri-
gade was dreadfully cut up. The Beers
retreated at night, taking their guns
with them, and we are now occupying
their positions. The enemy's loss was
tremendous.
The correspondent of The Associated
Press, in his report. said in part:
"Owing to the terrific fire nobody on
the plain was out of range. Stretcher
bearers found it impossible to go for
ward, and the wounded were compelled,
if possible, to crawl out of the lines.
'sNO quarter seems to have been given
on either side. The British assert that,
amid the bullets, the ambulance
wagons displayed their flags promiscu-
ously to no advantage. These were re-
peatedly driven back aud compelled to
take refuge out of sight.
sit is alleged that the Beers used
dunn -dum's and made special targets of
the horses on the plain in the hope of
hitting the riders. While the Argyll
were pushing across the
river they were fired upon from house
and several fell. Thereupon the High
landers stormed the house and although
the Beers hoisted a white flag no atten-
ton was paid to it and all the Beers
wer shot.
sit is reported that General Cronje.
with his contingent, retreated toward
at 1 O'Clock in the afternoon.
Others followed in direction of Jacobs
dal, and the main body of the Beers re-
tired with the guns about s in the even.
ing.
"On the following morning at day
break the British fired few shells into
the village. Getting no response, a
patrol of cavalry crossed the river and
found the enemy's camp deserted. Dead
Beers and many who were dying were