The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-01
BOERS AS BELLIGERENTS.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AvERSE TO
ACCORDING THIS.
THE NOTICE To OTHER NATIONS
or the Existence OF War Delayed Re-
cause England Expected Its speedy
Termination to Make IL Unnecessary.
More British officcrs Reported Killed
at Gras Pan-A Dearly Bought Vic
tory for Engiand-.Nnothcr Account
OF the Rattle.

OF the Battle.
London. November GA dispatch
has been received here from General
bualer, giving list of the cast a'tfcs
among the troops engaged In what was
hitherto known here as the battle Il
Gras Pan, but which is now officia!. "
designated as the battle OF EnS.ln. In
proves, as anticipated. that the British
success was heavily bought. TIE
losses announced today. added 10 the
naval brigade casualties. PREVIOUSLY
notified. make a grand total OF iss as
the cost Of General Methuens second
battle. The YorSshsres. apparently,
bore. with the naval brigade. the brunt
OF the fighting, as there were, in asidl-
ton to three officers. forty eight Of the
rank and file killed. wounded and miss
ing. The fact that the list contains
the casualties Of the Ninth lancers
Seems TO dispose Of the fear uhat the
cavalry was surrounded and captured,
especially as none OF the lancess are
reported missing.
General Buffers list OF the casualties
shows among the wounded of the Sec
ond Yorkshire light infantry Captain
G. A. Yates, Lieutenant II. G. FernyA
hough and Lieutenant c. III. Ackroyd.
The casualties among the non-commts-
stoned officers and men OF the various
regiments engaged were Killed. 10;
wounded, Il; missing 8.
A message dated November 18th, Just
arrived, begins: "Joubert has ex-
planned firing on one (Red CROSSE flag.
previously reported. Have accepted
explanation as satisfactory. Lleuten-
ant rifle brigade, died or wounds. 9th
ers wounded generally doing well.
Health OF troops good. Six wounded
Durham fusileers captured on armored
train south Of Colenso sent here today"
A corrected list OF the British casu-
alties at Gras Pan shows that Flag
Captain Reginald G. Prothero, OF the
Doris, and Lieutenant Of Marines Wal
ter c. Jones, also OF the Doris, prevf-
ously reported wounded, were killed.
The additional casualties teicgraphed
by General Butler appear to be the first
intimation of the actions of General
Methuen's forces which have not yet
been reported.
The Associated Press learns that ac-
tion of Lord Pauncefote and other Brit
ish ambassadors in notifying the pow
ers that state Of war has existed
since October 11th between Great Brit
ain and the South African republics
has prompted inquiries by the various
London embassies regarding the ma
ture OF the hostilities. The Associa red
Press is officially informed that the no.
tification has in no wise changed the
British views as to the Beers status.
but in spite CT the ambiguous refer
ences in the queens speech and other
official documents at the commencr-
ment of the war regarding military
operations" and other evasive use OF
the term war III appears that the
United States has consistently recog-
nized the Beers as forming practical
ly, an independent state. considering
the claim of British suzeraanty too
slight thread to put them in the light
Of rebels. IT Is tacitly admitted by the
British officials that the usual COM
munications relative to state OF war;
were not made earlier because II was
not thought that victory would be de-
ferred long enough to make such O
diplomatic step necessary The gov
ernment maintains THAT giving the
Beers belligerent rights does not con-
sutute an acknowledgment OF their
claim to Independence, evidencing a4
proof OF this contention that both for
eign governments and the government
of the United States treated the con-
federates as belfigerents.
Orange River, Monday. November "a.
The British arms have achieved a
brilliant victory. The enemy strongly
tHlrtHCntu, Htiu a range OF nnliS COfn-
manding both sides OF the railway at
ROOF Laagte near Gras Pan. The Lam
cashires, under Lewis. reconnoitered IN
an armored train on Friday. The Bocr~
shelled the train. killing Lewis and q
private.
General Methuen then advanced. His
column made a detour and bvouacted
for the night at Swfnk's Pan. three
miles from the Boer position. 80 dawn
the advance begun. the guards form
ing the reserve. The column deboucih-
ed on the plain eastward OF the Boer
coup de tes. The Boer guns opened
fire. Two batteries Of British artillery.
posted on each side. selled the Beers.
practice being good on both sides.
The Beers stuck tenaciousiy 10 their
positions, firing steadily and accurately.
The duel, which constantly became hot
ter, lasted three hours. The Boer shells
wounded men OF the naval brigade.
Finding 1t impossible To dfspiace the
Beers by artillery. General Methuen
resolved upon an infantry attack. A
brigade of infantry, including the
Yorkshiree the Northamptons the
and the Lancashires.
with the naval brigade on tine right.
gallantiy stormed the Boer Positions.
in the face OF a whitening fire, and
carried hill after hin. the brigade under
Colonel Money capturing the main po-
sition against . terrific fire and suffer-
ing severely.
Berlin, November 2S.-The Deutsche
Zeitung publishes the following dis
patch dated Pretoria, November 9th.
receiving 1t through Boer diplomatic
channels:
President Kruger and President
Eteyn have instructed General Joubert
and General Cronje not to split their
forces into small deta0hments. but to
strike vigorous blows. General Jouberr
has three corps. one holding Lady,
smith. the second commanding the
Tugela. and the third east OF Estcourt.
in order to cut on the British retreat.
General Cronje's forces are divided into
three contingenfs. one at Kimberley
another at Modd1r ,irro.. ara 80. ~ - Z.