The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-11-15
BQERS HALT BEFORE KIMBERLY.
THEIR SHOOTING BAD.
The Enemy Mas the Range Of The Dynamite
Huis and Thousands Of Pounds Have
Been Blown Up.

Town, November IL:
Colonel Kekewch British COM
mander at Kimberley reports that the
enemy were active on November 4,
principally with the object of driving
off cattle. The Orange Free State
troops retired rapidly before Colonel
Turner, without firing. At 1890 p. IN.
the Transvaal troops advanced on
Kenilworth. Major Peakman. with a
squadron OF the Kimberley Light
Horse was hiding in the bush and gave
the enemy a warm reception. The
Beers retired. firing. Colonel Turner
reinforced Major Peal<man and at 12;40
p. M, the enemy opened fire with one
piece of artillery at nearly 1000 yards
range
Two guns Of the Diamond Field Ar
tillery were then sent in support of
Colonel Turner, but the enemy's guns
had ceased firing after the firth round.
Consequently our guns did not come in
to action. The enemys artillery fire
was not damaging, and shooting was
bad
Despite the Boer Gordon. news con-
tinues to come through from Kimbcr-
ley, but IL Is necessarily bclatcd, and
some of the reports are obviously ex-
aggerated. II is certain, however,
that the besieging force has been con-
siderably reinforced. The enemy are
daily booming more active and enter
prising. but they are still reluctant to
come to close quarters, and only once
have attempted to assault the town,
and that effort was only half-hearted.
1.-THE losses on both sides in the num-
erous sorties have been trining. The
Beers have received additional artil-
lery. and are using their guns daily
with the object, II is said. to destroy
the property Of the De Beers Company
with which they personally associate
their arch enemy. Cecil Rhodes. They
have succeeded in getting the exact
range of the mines and are constantly
throwing shells at the dynamite huts.
Several OF these have been blown up,
and already the damage to the mines
amounts TO thousands Of pounds.
THE Beers have also raided the coun-
try for miles around and have carried
off all the cattle in sight. The towns
people OF Kimberley are cheerful. and
the women and children are kept in
safe quarters TO escape the artillery
fire. Cecil Rhodes Is n marvel Of cool
ness. and is playing the part Of Baron
Haussman Of Kimberley. He has
planted many avenue trees, and Is now
engaged in generally beautifying the
town.
All is quiet in the De Aar district, but
the evident unrest of the Afrikander
farmers is causing concern. Several
have already been arrested on n
charge of reasonable communication
with the enemy. The situation is one
of uneasiness.
The newspaper correspondents and
other civilian strangers here are feel
ing the pinch of war. At the present
time the purchasing power of the SOW
ereign is only eight shillings worth.
One man paid $500 for two ponies and
a cart. The seller was a Dutch farmer
and he considered that he was almost
giving his goods away. The buyer also
thinks he made a good bargain,
Fodder is selling at $75 a month in
advance. The bank charges 10 shillings
commission for cashing small checks.
The discount on a &5 note is two shill-
ings. Bread Is four pence pound, and
meat is 200 per cent higher than usual.
There is much speculation in London
regarding the next Boer move. 1t
seems clear that Ii will be impossible
for them to closely invest Ladysmith
owing TO the arrival of the long-range
naval guns which keep the Beers at
least four miles off, making the circle
of investment about % miles in circum-
ference, which, 1t is claimed, 1t will be
impossible for the Boer force to fully
occupy
1t is beyond belief, however. that
General Joubert will remain long mac
tive, and IL is conjectured that his pres
ent quiescence is due to the fact that he
Is awaiting the arrival of heavy guns
from Pretoria and johannesburg to
effectually lombard and render un-
tenable the British position.
At Estcourt and Pietermaritzburg
the defensive works have been great
ly strengthened within the last few
days, and they are now believed cap
able of holding their own against any
Boer force which General Joubert
would at the present juncture risk
sending against either town.
As many as six transports with $500
troops were expected to be in Cape
Town harbor Thursday, but the Lon
don War Office has issued statement
to the effect that the only arrivals at
Cape Town were the Sumatra, from
Durham, with wounded, the Southern
Cross, from Gibraltar, with mules, and
the collier Wenvoe.
A rumor emanatlng from Amster-
dam sources says that "a British regi-
ment was decrimated Friday by Free
Staters" 1t is added that 600 of the
British soldiers were killed or wounded
and that 300 horses We're captured.
The British War Office has received
from General Butler the following dis
patch:
"Cape Town. Thursday evening,
Nov. S.-Have received by pigeon post
from General White to-day the fol-
The bombardment at long range
by heavy guns continues daily. A few
casualties are occurring, but no serious
harm is being done.
The Beers sent In to-day a num-
Der of refugees from the Traasvaal un-
der flag of truce. A flag of truce
from Ladysmith met them outside
the pickets. When the party separated
the Boer guns fired on 1t before 1t
reached our pickets.
Major Gale, of the Royal Engi-
neers, was wounded to-day while send
ing a message.
The entertainments are daily grow
ing stronger and the supply of provis-
ions is ample"
1t is announced In a special dispatch
from Cape Town dated Sunday, No
vember 8. morning. that the British
have been victorious IN an engagement
at Ladysmith and that the Boer loss
was very heavy. including 1000 pris-
Oners.
The Boer efforts to incite the Basuto
chiefs to fight against the British have
SO far proved failure. and. In fact
the British officials have much difficulty
in restraining the blacks from attack
ing the Free State.