Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-11-28

strangely quiet yesterday. The cannon
ade today hardly evoked a response. The
balloon no longer scars. The third big
cannon, which the Beers have baptized
Suzerainty, was placed in position to-
day.
The Boer generals think they will en-
compass the fall Of Ladysmith at the
end OF this week"
Moci River, Natal. Friday, Nov. PA
reconnaissance i'll force in the direction OF
Highlands station has discovered a big
force of Beers, with guns. The Beers
shelled and the British guns replied.
The scouts also reported another strong
Roer force to the northwest of the camp.
The British guns have returned to
camp and the infantry has fallen back.
The mounted infantry is still out.
London, Nov. 25.-The news of the
death of the Ahalifa and the final de-
feat of the Dervishes has been received
here with great JOY, as welcome set-off
to the serious situation in South Africa
The gravest news from Cape Town to-
day comes from the northern part OF the
colony, where, it is now evident, numbers
OF Dutch farmers have risen and joined
the invading Free State forces in the
Herschen and Barkley-East districts.
A dispatch from Queenstown. Cape
SOIOuy. 1tu - ltiS,
nOunceS that -Four hundred colonial reb-
els, including an eX-Eagistrate of Bark
Iey-East, have Joined the enemy at the
latter place, and that the whole force is
reported to be marching on Dordrecht,
whence 1t can operate and possibly inter
cept Gen. Gatacre's advance to reoccupy
StOrmberg junction, a strategic point
from which Gen. Gatacre can get III d.
rect touch, through the railroad, with
Gen. French at Maauwpoort and thus
with the British base at De Aar.
Another dispatch says that refugees ar
irving from Queenstown assert that Lady
Grey has been occupied by the colonial
farmers and that it is feared there that
there is a general movement III favor of
the Beers.
Misuse of Geneva Flag.
Further dispatches from Belmont. con-
firming the treacherous use of the white
flag by the Beers, are arousing indigna-
ton. The troops engaged are bitterly
complaining and it is feared the result
will be a refusal to give the Beers quar-
ter.
An incident similar to the one which
occurred at the battle of Glencoe, is re-
ported by the London Times correspond
ent at Belmont, who says that Lieut.
Blundell. of the Grenadier guards, was
shot by wounded Boer whom he was
tending. Such statements appear in
credible, but they are now confirmed Of
icially by the protest of Gen. Methuen
who has sent a message to the Boer COM
mander saying:
Il must ask you to warn your wounded
not to shoot our officers. | must warn
you not to use dum-dum bullets, or use
the flag of truce treacherously. Such ac-
ton is cowardly in the extreme, and
cannot cOuntenance 1t.
All accounts confirm the splendid charg-
ing of the British infantry, the Scots
guards entering the fight with drums
beating and flies playing.
The second ridge was the strongest po-
Sition The Beers there were sheltered
behind ramparts of boulders. Neverthe-
less the guards advanced steadily, many
of them coolly smoking.
E. T. knight, well-known war CORE
spondent who went to Havana during the
Spanish-American war, was wounded in
the arm by dum-dum bullet.
Gen. Methuen's Plans.
There is much discussion now as to
whether Gen Methuen intends to march
direct to Kimberley or double round and
cut off the Free Staters who have invad-
ed the Colesburg and Burghersdorp dis
tricts and, driving them on Gen. Gatacre
and French, infiict a crushing defeat on
them. The general opinion, however, is
that he will proceed north and attack the
Beers at Modder river, thus relieving
Kimberley.
There is much anxiety now as to the
fate of Mafeking, in view of the latest
and somewhat Respondent advices. 1t
was rumored in the Glasgow stock eX-
change today that Mafeking has surren-
dered but the war office officials declare
they have nothing confirmatory or other
wise In the meanwhile, the news from
Natal is not encouraging. Estcourt and
the Mooi river camp are both hard
pressed and it seems almost joke to
regard the garrisons as forming part of
the relief force for Ladysmith.
A dispatch from Pretoria, dated Thurs
day, gives advices from south of Lady
smith, to the effect that Gen ;loubert,
the same morning, shelled Estcourt
camp, but without response. The inhab-
itants of the town were reported to be
leaving.
The dispatch from Pretoria indicates
that news of the battle of Belmont had
reached Pretoria, as it says heavy fight
ing is reported south of Kimberley today
between the Free Staters and supposed
British relief force from the Orange
river.
Attack a Surprise.
The foregoing dispatch does not refer
to the British attack on the Boer posi-
ton at Willow Grange, outside of Est
court, the previous day, which was re-
ported by the English newspaper CORE
Lie dlldck is SdlO TO nave
been surprise and although the British
retired on Estcourt, they did not do so
until they had bayoneted eighty Beers
and captured all their equipment and a
number of horses. A big gun posted in
position, the capture of which appears to
have been the British object, was found
to have been removed.
An official statement was issued at
Durham, yesterday, that there were no
Beers south of the MOOi river. The
Beers, however as shown in recent dis
patches, are rapidly closing round the
MOoi river camp. An armored train and
mounted patrols which reconnoitered the
country around on Wednesday reported
seeing but few of the enemy. Yet the
following day the Beers were found in
strong force in two directions nearby.
This shows the extreme mobility of the
BOer forces.
WOUNDED AT BELMONT.