The record-union., 1899-11-29
six wounded Dublin Fusileers. can

of the armored train Friday, November
9th, were: Killed, Lieutenant F.
Owen Lewis, Bombay Infantry, and one
private. Wounded, one.
In the reconnaissance of Sunday, No
vember 26th, Ninth Lancers, wounded,
Lieutenant j. G. Sterling, and one
trooper.
A corrected list of the British casual
ties at Gras Pan shows that Flag Cap
tain Reginald G. Prothero of the Doris
and Lieutenant of Marines Walter T.
c. Jones, also of the Doris, previously
reported wounded, were killed.
The additional casualties telegraphed
by General Butler appear to be the
first intimation of the actions of Gen
eral Methuen's forces which have not
yet been reported. AS the Ninth Lam
GERS proceeded in a reconnaissance on
Sunday they must have safely returned
from the pursuit of the Beers after the
battle of Gras Pan.
Apparently the Government is monop-
Olizing the single cable working to
South Africa, as up to o'clock this
afternoon no news from the seat of war
has been made public, with the excep-
L
is particularly tantalizing at the pres
ent crucial moment. While the lat
est news is of fairly reassuring char
acter from the British point of view
much of it is assumed to be true on in
sufficient evidence For instance, the
reported capture of Honey Nest Kloof,
of which there is no confirmation, while
the stories of the rapid retirement of
the Beers in Natal, must be received
with caution. The fact appears to be
that the British scouts have lost touch
of the Burghers, portions of whose
force, after withdrawing out of reach
of observers, may, it is claimed, make
a detour with the object of interrupt
ing the British line of communication.
Sharp fighting may be expected at
any time on the southern frontier. Pos
sibly General Gatacre's first battle will
be in the rough passes of the Strom-
berg Mountains The particular SER
vice squadron of the British fleet has
been ordered to proceed to Gibraltar
December 9TH. 1t will probably replace
the Channel squardon, which is coming
home for Christmas leave.
It is said that the French Cabinet has
instructed the Minister of War to re-
fuse all officers leave to go abroad, and
that officers absenting themselves in
order to go to the Transvaal will do so
at the risk Of dismissal.
The Associated Press learns that the
action of Lord Pauncefote and other
British ambassadors in notifying the
Powers that a state of war has existed
since October 18th between Great Brit
ain and the South african Republics
has promoted inquiries by the various
London Embassies regarding the nature
of the hostilities.
The Associated Press is officially in
formed that the notification has in
nowise changed the British views as
to the Beers status.
In spite of the ambiguous references
in the Queens speech and other official
documents a the Commencement of the
war regarding military operations"
and other evasions of the usual tenn
war" it appears that the United
States has consistently recognized the
Beers as forming practically ar inde-
pendent State, considering the claim of
British suzerainty too slight a thread
to put them in the light of rebels.
1t is tacitly admitted by the British
officials that the usual communications
relative to "a state of war" were not
made earlier, because it was not
thought that victory would be deferred
long enough to make such a diplomatic
step necessary. The Government MAIN
tains that giving the Beers belligerent
rights does not constitute an acknowl-
edgment of their claim to independ-
ence, evideneing as proof of this con-
tention that both foreign Governments
and the Government of the United
States treated the Confederates as bel
Hgerents-
The War Office has decided to test
the Mills web cartridge belt, in use in
the United States army, and has given
an initial order to Boston 1irm, which,
at the outbreak of the Transvaal war
transported factory to England i'm
mediately, receiving a recompense for
this enterprise by the aforementioned
order. The British army is now using
leather cartridge belts, which have
been found to become stiff and covered
with verdigris.
BRITISH OCCUPY BUSHMAN' 3
LONDON, Nov. 2S.-General For
stier-Walker has sent the following
dispatch, dated Cape Town, to-day, to
the War Office:
"Kekewich reports from Kimberley.
from November 18th to 23d, some un-
important skirmishes with the Beers
Wounded: Captain Bodle, Lieutenant
Hawker and three troopers: all doing
wells The health of the garrison is
good and the water supply plentiful.
Native reports to kellewich state
that the enemy's camps to the south
of Kimberley have been attacked, and
that Cronje with 1900 Beers is march
ing to the south. The Beers are dis
appearing from the vicinity of Kim
berley. The enemy seems restless.
1.-The railway line was repaired to a
point six miles north of Gras Pan Sum
day, and the telegraph was reopened
to within eight miles of Modder River,
or thirty three miles from Kimberley.
Monday night.
''Later-Gatacre occupied Bushman's
Hook yesterday with a battalion of in
fantry His main body is at Put
terskraal The enemy retired toward
Moltino.''
Fire in Placerville.
PLACERvILLE, Nov. 2S. A fire
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