The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-07

LONDON Nov 26.-This afternoon
the War Office posted the following
dispatch, dated Cape Town, 1925 p. III.
today, from General Forester Walkers
Lord Methuen reports that he
moved yesterday Saturday at $3.50 a.
M, with the Ninth brigade, the mount
ed corps, the naval brigade and two
batteries, the Guards following 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 guns,
opposed him. The action began at 6
a. m. Our batteries fired shrapnel very
accurately until the heights seemed
clear. Then the naval brigade and in
fantry advanced to the assault. The
firing 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 telegraphing. The artillery
took immediate advantage of the. enc
my'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 great gallantry and suffered heav-
ily but no particulars are yet known.
The enemy showed the greatest
stubbornness and must have suffered
greatly Twenty were buried 1t is
known that thirty-one were killed and
forty-eight wounded More than fifty
horses were found dead in one place.
One battery fired 500 rounds. We must
halt one day at Gras Pan to rest and
replenish ammunition. The force
worked splendidly and is prepared to
overcome many difficulties. The naval
brigade, the royal marines, the light
infantry and the first battalion of the
North Lancashire Regiment especially
distinguished themselves.
Regarding Thursdays fight: Eighty
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 Albrecht, chief of
the Orange Free State artillery, COM
manded the Boer artillery. General
Roadway was in chief command
THE NAVAL LOSSES.
LONDON, Nov. 26.-The Admiralty
is in receipt of the following dispatch
from Rear Admiral Harris, dated Cape
Town, November Goth:
Il deeply regret to report the follow
ing casualties in the action at Gras
Pan yesterday:
"The killed are:
COMMANDER ALFRED P. ETHEL
STON of the Powerful.
MAJOR JOHN H. PLUMBE. Royal
Marines of the Doris.
CAPTAIN GUY SENIOR, Royal Ma
rine Artillery of the Monarch.
Wounded:
FLAG CAPTAIN REGINALD c.
of the Doris, severely.
LIEUTENANT WALTER T. c.
JONES of the Doris.
THE other casualties are not yet
known. Commander de Horsey, Cap
tain Morgan and Lieutenant Wilson, all
of the Monarch, have proceeded to join
the naval brigade with Lord Methuen."
METHUEN'S REPORT.
LONDON, Nov. 29.-The War Office |
has received the following dispatch |
from General Butler:
CAPE TOWN, Tuesday, Nov. Is
General Methuen reports:
'MODDER RIVER, Tuesday, Nov.
S.-Reconnoitered at 5 a. m. the enc
ny's position on the River Modder and
found him strongly entrenched and
There were no means Of
the river being full. The
action commenced at $50 with artil-
cry, mounted infantry, cavalry and
Guards on the right. The Ninth Bri-
yade on the left attacked the position
n widely extended formation at $50
md, supported by the artillery, found
tself in front of the whole Boer force,
1000 strong, with two large guns, four
<rupps, etc.
1.-The naval brigade rendered great
assistance from the railway.
After desperate, hard fighting,
which lasted ten hours, our men, with