The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-28
FOUR HOURS OF BATTLE
THE FIGHT AT GRAS PAN, TEN
MILES FROM BELMONT.
JoUBERT RETIRING FROM MooI RIVER
Signs Point to Strong Boer Expedition for the
Capture Of Whites Army. Telegraphic
Communication With Estcourt Restor, d.
Beers Occupy Stormberg.

Beers Occupy Stormberg.
London, Nov 27.-General Methuen
again defeated the Beers ON Saturday.
He encountered the enemy $500 strong
at Grass Pan Hills, and after stub
born battle of four hours forced him
to retire.
Gras Pan is ten miles north of Bel
mont, and 46 miles south of Kimberley
1t is on the railroad line along which
General Methuen is advancing.
General Methuen gives few details,
leaving it an open question whether the
result was on the whole favorable 10 the
British. His force was about 1000 men,
1t is known, telegraphs General Meth
uen, that the Beers lost at least thirty
one killed and forty-eight wounded
Among the killed We're Commander
Ethelston, of the Powerful, Major
Plumbe, of the Doris and Captain Guy
Senior. of the Royal Marines. The
British loss is not stated, but is pre-
sumably heavy, as the British com
mander says: THE enemy showed the
greatest stubborness.' General Meth
uen's force will halt one day at Gras
Fan TO rest and reIlenish ammunition.
General Methuen is now in hefiogra-
phic communication with Kimberley.
Ihe Beers occupied Stormberg, Cape
Colony Sunday morning thus heading
off the line of General Gatacre's adj
vsldIce.
It Is reported that General Joubert
Is retiring from Moo river, Natal to
Ladysmith, and signs point to a strong
Boer expedition for the capture OF
Whites army.
The British have restored telegraphic
communication with Estcourt.
The retirement of the Beers NAV be
sign of weakness. An Estcourt dis
patch indicates that it is because they
lack food. General Hildyard, who COM
nlarded the British troops at IIadysmith,
has advanced northward to Frere.
General Sir Redvers Butler has ar
rived at Durham from Cape Town, and
started northward.
1t is understood that the Government
will mobilize and embark another diyis-
ion of 10000 men at once
1t is feared that the Ninth Lancers.
who We're sent in pursuit of the Beers
at Gras Pan have been captured by the
enemy.
REPORTED BRITISH SUCCESS
Cape Town, Nov. 27-Aftern0oair-It
is reported That General Methuen has
captured Honey Nest Kloof, ten miles
north of Gras Pam and two million
rotpnds of ammunition
COMBINED ATTACK PLANNED.
EEtcourt, Sunday November 26.-i1ine
railroad bridge at Frere, spanning wide
stream, has been destroyed by the
Beers, who are reported TO be retiring
rapidly.
a general advance upon Colenso has
been ordered, and a flying columns has
left here to intercept the B0er rand
ing parties.
reliable messenger from IadysmloA
says he gathered from tine Loers that
they had proposed combined attacK
all over the country for today.
General Joubert is expected to sboutly
dispute the passage of the Tugela
River.
BOER DEFEAT AT BEAN HILL.
London, Nov. 27.--The War Office has
received the following dispatch from
General Butler, dated Pietermaritzburg,
Sunday November Goth:
.sHildyard, from Estcourt, made a sue
cessfIlI attack November 23rd with three
battalions. one field battery, a naval gun
and. 7G0 mounted troops, on the enemy
occupying Bean Hill, which dominates
William tirange, and had interrupted
his communication. As a result cf the
operations the enemy is retiring and the
railway and telegraph lines have been
restored between Estcourt and Weston.
Our loss was about fourteen killed
and fifty wounded.
'Hildyard has advanced to position
near Erere, as he hopes TO cut oil the
enemy, who is believed 10 be retiring on
GoleInso, via Weenon
Barton, from Weston, has advanced
to Estcourt.
Al soon as communication is restored
] will telegraph particulars. So far as
/ can make out the operation is ONE for
which Hildyard and the troops deserve
much credit. The railway is now open
to Frere."
ENGLISH SUFFER- HEAVILY.
Durham. Natal. Nov 27-The latest
reports Of General Hildyard's losses AT
the Beacon He'll engagement show taat
fifteen men were killed and seyenty-two
wounded. The West Yorkshire regi-
ment suffered heavily. Major Hobbs
was captured and several men are mis-
sing.
a pigeon message from Colonels Ham