The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-07
IHE KIMBERLY SORTIE
More Serious Than Has Been
.....- Heretofore Supposed.
BoERs HoIsTED A WHITE FLAG

And Then Fired at the British Be-
fore. Observation-Disclosures SCOTT
Turner Killed, Presumably In =
Subsequent Sortie.
London, Dec. 1.-THE sortie from
Kimberley on Nov. rs appears to have
been much more serious than had been
supposed. Details are now arriving
Of reconnaissance in force by mount
ed troops under Major Scott-Turner.
at dawn, in the direction of a ridge
near Carter's Farm, where the Beers
were strongly entrenched. Finding the
Boer pickets asleep, Major Scott
Turner proceeded along the ridge
under cover and rushed the Boer re-
doubts at 5:25 a. m. in the face of
hail of bullets.
The Beers hoisted a white flag and
fired at the British under its protec-
ton before surrendering. Owing pos
sibly to the exhaustion of their am
munition the British were unable to
follow UP the attack and to seize q
large Boer lager about 800 yards
ahead. especially as Boer reinforce
ments were seen approaching and the
enemy was keeping up a heavy IRE
from the shelter of the thick bush.
During the sortie an armored train
reconnoitered north and south, while
considerable force Of British, with
field guns and Maxims, advanced to-
ward Spytfontein, holding the Beers
in check in that direction.
nt,, 1kun
ously, and. viewed from the coming
tower, an artillery duel seemed pro-
ceeding in every direction, except to-
ward Kenilworth. the fusillade being
terrible. At 8 o'clock, having no
force sufficient to hold the position he
had stormed, Major Scott-Nrner be
gan gradually retiring his men. He
had horse shot under him, and
bullet went through the fleshy part of
his shoulder. Several mer had ter
rible wounds.
1t is alleged that the Beers used
Martins and explosive bullets, and
that they frequently fired at the Brit
ish ambulance wagons, tsThe British
captured % of the enemy. ,F,rai
There appears to be some doubt as
to whether this was the reconnaissance
In which, according to the announce
ment of the war office. Major Scott
Turner was killed, or whether that
officer met his fate in subsequent
sortie. Some of the special dispatches
represent that he was killed while
leading the final attack on the Boer
position on Nov. 20. II this be cor
rect, 1t looks like sortie concerted
with Lord Methuen.
1t is reported from Cape Town that
the Transvaal government still re-
fuses to acknowledge the right of the
United States to interfere regarding
prisoners in Pretoria, insisting that
Great Britain must inquire through
Commandant General Joubert. ,1
The Times prints letter from a p
American citizen who left Johannes
burg because he was liable to be i'm
pressed, and who had learned that the
United States consul was unable to
protect him. He complains bitterly
that the American flag was not respect
ed in Pretoria. that his passport was
not recognized, and that his position
was practically unbearable.
The hottest bombardment of the
Ladysmith seige took place last Thurs
day. The Beers got new big gun in
position on Lombard's Kop. COM
pletely commanding the town, and
shelled our camp that day and the
next, planting shells with great ac-
curacy in the camp of the Gordon
Highlanders and the Manchester regi-
ment. where there were many narrow
escapes. Saturday the bombardment
was resumed. doing some very effect
i've shooting. Several Of our guns have
been shattered by the Boer big guns.