Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-09
BRITISH SURROUNDED
According to Reports Boer Armies
Are All Around Meth.
uen's Force.
he HAS ONLY 1000 SOLDIERS,
While His Willy Enemy Has 5.ooo-Kim-
berly. However. Expected to Help Him
in Case o. Need-Boer Report That the
British Are Advancing on Colenso and
That The Naval GUNS as Lsdysmith Are
Booming vigorously.

London, Dec. 8. "A Pretoria
special dated Friday says: Three
thousand British troops, preceded by
an armored train. are advancing en-
Colesburg from Naauwport.
Ladysmith, Friday.-The British
stormed and carried the hill at Lom-
bardskop, putting big creosote gun
and one howiZter out of action and
capturing a small maxim.
Frere Camp Dec. S.-The tresU:e
bridge is finished and tine trasEs are
now traversing II.
London. Dec. 9.-The Times has the
following from Modder river. dated
Tuesday, Dec B: The river is low
and the railway bridge is rapidly ap-
preaching completion. The first train
will cross tonight. After extraordinary
exertions the pontoon bridge has been
completed
London. Dec. 9.-Some interesting
light is thrown on the position of af-
fairs along the western frontier by i
dispatch issued by Boer agency last
evening in Berlin. The dispatch says:
'Commandant Prins Loos' force is nea-
Jacobsdal, between Modder river and
Riet river. General Cronje is still on
the north bank of Modder river, his
rear being protected by fortified posi-
tiOns at SpytfOntein. The hills be-
tween Modder river and Spytfontein
and those between Jacobsdal and Rfet
river are occupied by Beers. Com
mandant Delarey's force is stationed
between Gras Pan and Honey Nest
Kloof." If this Berlin dispatch be cor
rect-and it is especially significant
when judged in connection with Gen
eral Forester Walkers advices to the
war office-there must be some 10000
Beers around Lord Methuen. who is
believed to have IL 900 men. Kimber-
ley. however. possessing an armOred
train. can materially assist Methuen
by harassing the Beers from the rear.
what tFore.tier-waIkerT TeIegraphed.
General .FOrestier-Walk sent the
following dispatch, dated at 8 O'Clock
last evening. to the war Office from
Cape Town: Telegraph and railway
communication to Modder river has
been reopened. 4 battery of field artil-
lery and n battalion of infantry were
dispatched from Modder river against
Commandant PrinS LooS' force of L.,
600 Beers. with one gun, who had de-
stroyed the railway. Our losses were
fourteen in wounded. Belmont has
been strengthened by infantry and
two guns, and a cavalry regiment and
troops from NaauwpOort occupied
Arundel Thursday. The enemy's forces
near General Gatacre are reported as
follows: At Dordrecht, 500; marching
from jamestown to Dordrecht 200.
with six guns; at Stormberg, 1,J0O; at
Waterfall large force, strength un-
known. at MoltenO about 400. Lord
Methuen reports casualties Dec. 6. on
patrol duty, as follows: Missing.
Lieutenant TristI,.m and four men of
the Twelfth lancers; wounded, four
men"
Some News from Ladysmith.
Pretoria. Thursday. Dec. THE fol-
lowing dispatch dated today has been
received from the head laager near
Ladysmith: The British are advanc-
ing on COIenSo. but last night passed
without an attack. There was a de-
sultory cannonade this morning. the
naval guns in Ladysmith replying
vigorously to our fire.
Ladysmith. Thursday. Dec. Z, via
Weenen.-The total British casualties
here since Nov. are five officers and
twenty-six men killed and fifteen Off
GERS and $50 men wounded, with three
,,iSSinU Tho ROar fOrcp iS still arannh