Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-27
WAR OFFICE POSTS DISPATCH
Usuai British Victory Recorded,
Though IL is Admitted the StruG-
gle Was Desperate.

LONDON, Nov 2s.--This afternoon the
war office posted the following dispatch,
dated Capetown, 1920 p. NJ today, from
General Forester Walker:
Lord Methuen reports THAI he moved yes
terday Saturday at $3.50 a. M, with tho
Ninth brigade the mounted corps, the naval
brigade and two batteries, the guards follow
ing with the baggage. Near Gras Pan (about
ten miles north of Belmont on the railway
line TO Kimberley $500 Beers with six guns
and two machine gune opp5sed him The
action began at 6 a. m. Our batteries fired
shrapnel very accurately till the heights
seemed clear. Then the naval brigade and
infantry advanced to the assault. The fight
ing was desperate until 10 a. m, when. the
heights were carried. The Beers retreated
on the line, where the Ninth Lancers were
placed to intercept them. The result was
not known at the time of telegraphng. The
artillery took immediate advantage OF the
enemy's retirement.
Early in the action 500 Beers attacked
our rear guard The brigade met this and
also protected the flanks. The naval brigade
acted with the greatest gallantry and suf-
fered heavily, but no particulars are yet
known.
The enemy showed the greatest stubborn
ness and must have suffered greatly. Twenty
killed and forty-eght wounded. More than
fifty horses were found dead in one place.
One battery fired 500 rounds.
"Our force must halt one day at Gras Pan
to rest and replensh ammunition. The force
worked splendidly and is prepared to over
come many difficulties. The naval brigade
the royal marines, the light infantry and
the First battalion of the North Lancashire
regiment especially distinguished them
selves.
Regarding Thursdays fight: Eighty-one
Beers killed are accounted for. Sixty four
wagons were burned. A large quantity Of
powder, $4,000 rounds OF ammunition and
$50 shells were blown up. Commandant Al
brecht chief of the Orange Free State ar
tillery, commanded the Boer artillery. GEN
eral Rolewy was in chief command"
No Further News of Losses.
LONDON, Nov. 27-5 a. m.--No further
news respecting Lord Methuens advance
has been received and the absence of official
details regarding his losses creates the
greatest suspense and especially since the
publication Of the heavy sacrifices endured
by the naval brigade. No alarm Is felt,
however, as TO his position, despite the evi-
dence that the Beers have decided to contest
every foot OF the way. It was thought that
III lHe dDetHCt VI sullCltul cavalry ne NOulu
be compelled to advance slowly and he has
a preference ior night or early dawn at
tacks which events seem to have justified,
the Beers being decidedly adverse TO dark
ness for their operations. The fact that In
the Gras Pan action one British battery
fired 500 rounds proves the desperate ma
ture Of the fight and there is little doubt
that the casualties were heavy. 1t is now
known thgt no guns were captured in the
Belmont engagement. Meanwhile the news
from Natal is distinctly more hopeful from
the British point Of View. The details are
rather vague, but it seems certain that the
Beers are retiring, that railway communl-
cation is being reOpened and that the Brit
ish relief forces are joining hands.
This taken with General Buffers arrival
at Pietermaritzburg. is expected to make
matters move briskly very soon General
billiards reconnaissance is praised as a
work of very great difficulty, admirably ex-
ecuted.