The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-08

That City-Our Flag Not Respected.
Ladysmith, December 2.-The hottest
bombardment of the siege took place
| last Thursday. The Beers got a new
| big gun in position on Lombard's kop,
| completely commanding the town and
| shelled our camp that day and yester-
| day, planting shells with great accu-
! racy in the camp of the Gordon High
| landers and the Manchester regiment.
| where there were many narrow es-
| capes. Today the enemy resumed the
bombardment, doing some very effec-
tive shooting. Several of our guns
have been shattered by the Boer big
| gun.
London, December GA dispatch
from Ladysmith, dated December 9th,
says: Have plenty of food water
| and ammunition
The war office has eceived the fol-
lowing from General Butler:
| 'PieternaritZburg, December Sit is
| very difficult to make any statement in
| regard to the enemy'S loss. For in
| stance, at Belmont eighty-one of their
| gave fifteen as the number of killed
| There is every reason to believe that
| the enemy's loss in the fight at Lady
smith November 4th was over 500 kill
| ed and wounded. Information of
trustworthy Boer source shows that at
| Hildyard's fight November 23rd the
enemy lost thirty killed and 100 wound
ed. 1t is impossible to say how far
these numbers are correct. but it is
| evident the enemy does not admit a
tenth of the losses suffered. intercept
ed dispatches to Joubert from a COM
mander show that even official dis
patches contain decidedly inaccurate
| information in this respect"
London, December 7.-Again there is
a complete lull in news from the seat
of war. Ladysmith has established
photographic communication with
Frere, and it Is reported that all was
we'll up to Sunday. A dispatch from
the Boer laager, by way of Lourenzo
Marques, dated Thursday November
goth, confirms the report that the COM
mandoes have been closing in upon
Ladysmith and mounting big guns in
new positions. According to the same
advices heavy cannonade has been
maintained and general assault had
been ordered for Thursday morning,
but was oountermanded at the last
moment.
Modder river dispatches say that the
Beers are encamDed amid the hills
half way to Kimberley; but it is also
asserted that a large body of the enc
my has gone in the direction Of ia
'cobsdal. It is possible, therefore, that
Lord Methuen may endeavor to clear
his right flank as far as Jacobsdal be-
fore continuing his advance He is
still waiting at Modder river for
1 stores, guns and ammunition.
| The Gnrtia fror, o-
! Vember 25th appears to have been
much more serious than had been SUD-
posed. Details are now arriving of a
reconnaissance i'm force by mounted
troops under Colonel Scott-Turner, al
dawn, in the direction of a ridge near
Carriers farm, where the Beers were
strongly entrenched Finding the Boer
! plckets asleep Colonel Scott-Turne1
| proceeded along the ridge under cover
and rushed the Boer redoubts at 5:2s
O'Clock a. m, in the face of a hail OF
bullets.
The Beers hoisted white flag and
11red at the British under it's protec-
tfon before surrendering. Owing pos
s1ble to the exhaustion of their ammu.
milton the British were unable to fol.
low UP the attack and to seize large
iaager about 300 yards ahead, especi-
ally as Boer reirfOrcements were seer
approaching, and the enemy was keep
ing up heavy fire from the shelter
of the thick bush.
During the sortie an armored trair
reconnoitered north and south, Will,
a considerable force Of British. will
field guns and Maxims advanced to-
ward Spytfontein, holding the Boer.
In check in that direction.
! Ten guns were engaged simultaneous
ly. and. viewed from the coming towe
an artillery duel seemed proceeding
4
ifWorth, the fusiliade being terrible
At O'Clock having mo force sufficien-
to hold the position he had stormed
Colonel Scott Turner began gradually
, retiring his men, He had a horse sho
|, under him, and a bullet went through
) the fleShy part of his shoulder. Severa
men had terrible wounds.
1t is alleged that the Beers use(
Martins and explosive bullets. am
they frequently fired at the British am
bulance wagons The British captured
twenty-eight OF the enemy.
1t is reported from Cape Town tha
the tranSvaal government stiE refuse.
to acknowledge the right of the Unitec
States 10 interfere regarding prisoner
in Pretoria, insisting that Great Brit
ain must inquire through commando Mt
General Joubert
Queenstown, Cape Colony, Saturday
, December 2.-The Beers have becom,
very active in the country arount
Stormberg junction, to which Genera
Gatacre viii make his next move. Tn,
telegraph lines have been cut in vari
Gus places and communication. will
5 Steynburg. Dordrecht and Maraisbur,
, has been severed. It is believed her
! that the Beers have occupied Steyn
: burg. Firing has been heard IN the di
rectfon Of Stormberg, probably betweei
: General Gatacre's vanguard and tn
| BOer command
: London, December T., 4:30 a M
r dispatch from Frere camp dated De
r cen1ber 5th, says:
r The Beers are firing into Ladysmith
/ trops have left I-adysmith, entertain
: irg the graveSt fears as to the slsot.
:. Of their own country"