The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-10
Maxim Guns Taken Back to Camp by
the vIctors, Who Retired After Ae-
complishing Their Mission.
ANOTHER soRTIE AT DAWN
THAT RESULTED IN BRISK ARTIL-
LERY DUEL WITH THE ENEMY.
Boer Losses Reported to Have Eeen
smalI-British Troops Advancing ON
CoIesburg from NaauwpoOrt.

LONDON, Dec 10-A dispatch from the
Boer head laager at Ladysmith, dated Dec
z, says: ''The British troops made a sortie
between / and o'clock in the morning.
They crawled up a ravine and stormed and
carried Lombard's kop which was held by
the Beers and on which were placed
Creusot gun and howitzer. These guns
were destroyed with dynamite. The Brit
ish captured a Maxim gun and then re-
tired.
1.-THE Lancers, Hussars ano Guards made
a sortie west of Ladysmith at daybreak
under cover of heavy artillery fire. which
the Beers returned briskly. The British
afterwards returned to Ladysmith. The
Boer losses are reported to have been
slight.
"a strong burgher column has crossed
the Tugela river at Colenso with the OBJ
ject OF attacking the British Estcourt
column.
Major Erasmus and Lieutenant Malan
will be tried by court-martial in connection
with the loss of the guns
The War Office last night issued the fol-
lowing dispatch from General Butler. lated
Frere Camp. Dec. 9, afternoon: The fol-
lowing was received from General White
IO-Oay. Last HlSnI sent t1Qtlcf
with 500 Natal volunteers under Roynston.
and 100 of the Imperial Light Horse under
Edwards TO surprise gun on the HILL The
enterprise was admirably carried out, and
was entirely successful. the hill being cap
tured and a six-inch gun and howitzer be-
ing destroyed with gun cotton by Captain
Fowkes and Lieut.. Turner. A Maxim was
captured and brought to Ladysmith Our
loss was one killed. and Major Henderson.
of the first battalion of the Argyll High
landers. wounded. At the same time that
Colonel Knox seized the hill one squadron
Of the Nineteenth Hussars rode round Pep
worth hill. burning kraais and cutting the
telegraphic lines. They had no casual
ties.
A special dispatch from Pretoria, dated
Dec. s. says 5000 British troops. preceded
by an armored train, are advancing on
Colesburg from Naauwpoort.
The War ONCE has received the following
dispatch from General Walker-Forster, the
British commander at Cape Town: '"The
Free State government reports that there
are thirty-five prisoners at Bloemfontein.
including Lieutenant Tristram. OF the
Twelfth Lancers, who Is severely woun-
ded."
While so far as the actual British ad-
vance is CONCERNED the dispatches show lit
tie change In the situation. the authorities
here anticipate from the announcement
that howitzers and cavalry have reached
General Methuen. and that General Butler
has received the heavy artillery for which
he was waiting, that the advance will no
longer Be delayed. News of important bat
ties from both generals is expected soon
The fact that General Butler has ordered
two hundred stretcher bearers from PETER
maritzburg to assist the regular ambulance
corps indicates that he anticipates sharp
fighting.
The latest pigeon from Ladysmith fur
nished General Butler with an important
map sent by General White. presumably
showing the disposition of the Boer forces
and the vulnerable points.
The engineers at Frere camp have done
q good weeks work in completing a trestle
bridge two hundred feet long and an ar
mored train is now repairing the line In
the neighborhood of Chieveloy.
Coolies to the number OF 23i, whom Gen.
White refused to receive at Ladysmith.
have arrived at Camp Frere in a starving
condition.
The news from Cape Colony is not sat
isfactory. Some small outpost skirmishes
have occurred at various points, and at
Queenstown a quantity of rifles and am
munition. including dum-dum bullets and
Martins, belonging to disloyal Dutch, Lave
been seized. The latest advices from
Stormberg indicate that the Beers pos. ion
there is exceptionally strong.
Reports received at Cape Town from
Bloemfontein say everybody has been COM
PEELED TO do military duty. including Mr.
Fraser. the chairman of the yolksraad
The Free Staters. IL is alleged. have decided
not TO defend Bloemfontein as 1t is not for
southwest OF Bloemfontein. Special re-
ports say Steyns mind is falling
According TO dispatches from Ladysmith.
excursions are running weekly from t're-
toria bringing numbers OF gaily attired
Dutch women. who take up points of ad-
vantage on the hills and closely scan the
proceedings in the towns
Russians are sending General Gurko. of
the general staff. as an attache at the Boer
head laager.
"A siege train was shipped 10 South Africa
to-day from Southampton.
Mrs. Langtrys husband. Mr.. Hugo Ger
aid de Battle. sails for South Africa Dec
16 on special service. MRS. Langtry de-
clares that II she had not made all her
American arrangements she would go, too
In the capacity OF nurse or otherwise.
Beers Cross-Cutting Bullets.
CAPE TOWN. Del. IA hundred men of
a