The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-25
BOERS FIVE THOUSAND
DRIVEN FROM HILL TO HILL BY
BRITISH RUSHES.
BoERs PURSUED BY CAVALRY FIVE MILES
The Engagement Was Really Series Of Bat
ties, the Beers Fighting Desperately to
Hold Each Position From Which
They Were Driven.

Belmont, Cape Colony, Nov. 24.-10
a. m.-The entire Western Division
moved ON the Orange River Tuesday
and bivouaced at Witteputs. Two COM
panies of mounted infantry and 4 de-
tachment of Lancers were sent to hold
Thomas Farm. Their pickets prevented
the Beers from advancing. The Beers
fred cannon, and the British artillery
arrived on the scene and silenced the
Beers fire. At o'clock in the morning
the guards brigade moved steadily for
ward to hill a few miles east Of Bel
mont Station.
The Scots and Grenadiers advanced to
within fifty yards of the base, when the
Beers poured in scathing fire, stagger-
ing the guards momentarily.
But. quickly recovering, they returned
a deadly hail into the Beers. The duel
was continued for half an hour. When
the artillery commenced the Beers
evacuated their front position and the
Scots Guards rushed the hill with the
DaNOneI anu dHllu luSlA tiletLS-
The Ninth brigade then moved for
ward in extended order, and the Beers
started terrible cross-fre from the
surrounding hills. The Cold Streams,
supported by the Scots, Grenaei US,
Northumberland and Northamptons,.
stormed the second position in the face
OF a constant and effective Boer fire.
The Ninth brigade then advanced the
artillery, in the meantime, maintaining
excellent practice. The British infantry
never wavered, and when tremendous
cheer notified them of the charge, the
Beers fled and succeeded in gaining
range of hills in the rear, in spite OF the
Lancers' fianking movement The In
fantry again gallantly faced the fire and
the naval brigade came into action Tor
the first time, at a range of l,S00 yards.
The infantry was well supported by the
artillery and the Beers, unable to with
stand the death-dealing yolleys, retired
and were again forced to abandon some
minor positions. The British cavalry
charged the Beers and pursued them
for five miles.
Possession was taken of the Boer
laager and the Boer stores were de-
stroyed.
The Daily Mail publishes the follow
ing dispatch from Belmont, describing
the battle:
..1'he Beers held a position which Brit
ish troops would hold against almost
any force. THE British victory is COM
plete. My estimate of the Boer losses
is 500 killed and 100 wounded Mr.
Knight, correspondent of the London
Morning Post was wounded. The Boer
prisoners are ignorant, dirty and
wretched They say that half their com
mando, tired of the war, will refuse
further service.
.sllhe whole force of the fearful fight
was horne by the infantry, who
were Obliged TO climb 500 feet, straight
into a terrific stream of missiles
'grhe Ninth I4ancers pursued the enc
my with great yigor; but the Beers, well
mounted and familiar with the tnlls
melted before them Possibly, however.
orr victory would have been even more
decisive had we possessed more cayal-
ry."
FEW DETAILS RECEIVED.
Cape Town, Nov 24.-From the few
details which have reached here of Gen
eral Methuens fight with the Beers yes
IeTudy, IL dpptdIS ludt DUCTS, lioih
Fincham's farm, shelled an advance
body of the British Wednesday, Novem-
Der 22nd, and the British artillery was
pushed forward and shelled a hill which
the British subsequently occupied, cap
turing two guns. The Boer casualties
were thirty men killed and wounded.
THE NUMBERS ENGAGED.
London, Nov pa special dispatch
received here from Belmont, says that
General Metheun's force numbered
seven Thousand men, and that the Beers
had five thousand men.
The engagement was really a series OF
battles, during which the Beers We're
constantly carrying off their dead and
wounded,
The War Office today issued the fol-
lowing adviccs:
Cape Town, November 24.-After-
noon--General Metheun further reports
this morning that the wounded are do
ing well. There are over fifty prisoners,
including a German commandant and SIX
field comets. Nineteen of these prison
ers are wounded. We are unable to es-
innate the Boer losses The prisoners
say that yesterdays attack was sur
prise, and that it is the only beating
they have had. large amount of cor
respondence has been secured. The Ke-
seryists are doing well. Colonel Pole