The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-04
Of the Modder River Battle to be
Transmitted.
Whole Border District Between
Co1esburg and Burghersdorp
Has Declared for the Boers-
General Buffers Proclamation
Torn Down and Tramp1ed on
and Farmers Talk Confidently
Of a Triumphant March to Cape
Town.

Town.
LONDON, Dec. A, 4:40 a. m. = The
week opened without a word Of news
such as the British public is so anX-
1ouSly awaiting. With a larger army
in the field than the country ever be-
fore modified, it can only be said that
the loss of $500 men entailed before
the enemy'S borders have been crossed
is a serious matter, and while there is
no feeling of dependency as to the
eventual result of the war, it is re-
gretfully admitted on all sides that the
strength of the Boo resistance has
been wofully moderated.
1t is now seen that the attempt to
hold a useless position at Mafeking was
the endeavor to keep the large civil
population in Kimberley.
Perhaps the brightest spot for Eng
lish readers to-day is the announcement
that President Mckinley has designated
the son of Secretary Hay to succeed
Mr.. Macrum in Pretoria. The Daily
Telegraph says:
This appointment is a graceful con-
cession on the part of the United States
Government to British feeling. Our
countrymen's interests will be safe in
the hands of the new Consul"
South African news is now six days
in arrears. The censorship does not yet
permit details of the Modder River bat
tie to be transmitted. Some vague
statements have been published in the
Cape Town papers, and according to
these the Beers numbered 5000 men
and were intrenched on both banks OF
the stream, although mostly on the
northern bank. The British, according
to those accounts, drove the enemy
across the river, compelling them to
retreat, and established themselves on
both banks. These details, however.
are too meager to enable an accurate
idea of the engagement to be formed.
7 A dispatch has reached London an
nouncing that Lord Methuen is again
in the field, and it is also said that
Count Gleichen, who was wounded in
the fighting at Modder River, was
struck in the neck Shy bullet.
Serious news comes from the north
ern sections of Cape Coloney. The whole
border district between Colesburg and
d
Beers In venterstad alone more than
1000 have Joined the rebellion. The
farmers have formed a communicating
committee and talk confidently of 4
triumphant march on Cape Town. Cen
eral Buffers proclamation has been
torn down and trampled upon, and the
loyalists are hidden to hurry to Cape
Town to prepare coffee for the rebels.
The official list shows that a modifi-
cation has been made in the command
OF the Sixth Division. Instead of Lieu
tenant General Sir Charles Mansfield
Clarke the commander will be Major
General Thomas kelly-Kenney, Inspec-
tor General of auxiliary forces and re-
cruiting, with Major General Knox and
Major General Clements as brigade
commanders. General Kelly-Kenny has
had no South African experience.
With regard to Natal, it is still
doubtful whether the bridge over the
Tugela at Colenso has been destroyed.
There is a report that the British drove
the Beers off while attempting to de-
stroy it. but the probability is that the
structure was mined and fired after
ward.
According to dispatch from Pitter'S
kraal, dated Tuesday, November 18th.
the Beers were then attempting turn
ing movements from Steinsburg and
the district north of Storkstrom in CO.
operation with the rebels. by way of
harrisburg and Tarkastad, against
General Gatacre's column.
TRANSPORT ISMORE ASHORE
LONDON, Dec 1.-The War Office
publishes the following dispatch from
Cape Town, dated yesterday:
THE transport Ismore is ashore on
the rocks in St.. Helena Bay. The
troops have been safely landed, but the
horses are still on board. II. M. y
Doris and Niobe, with the transport
Columbian, have gone to her assist
ance.
Colonel KelSewich reports under date
of Thursday, November goth, that the
Bechuana police captured the Boer
lager west of Kimberley on Tuesday,
November 2Sth.
Communication by searchlight with
Kimberley has been established from
Modder River
BOER LAGER ATTACKED.
PRETORIA, Tuesday, Nov. THE
Boer laager at Derderpoorr was attack
ed last Saturday by a strong force of
the Natal mounted police. Mr. Barnad,
a member of the Volksraad, was killed
TROOPSHIP BAVARIAN ARRIVES.
CAPE TOWN, Tuesday Nov. 2S.-
The troopship Bavarian from Queens
town, November 10th, with Colonel
Ivor Herbert, Assistant Adjutant Cen
eral for the home district and foreign
military attaches, together with the
Connaught Rangers, the first battalion
of the Royal Dublin Fusileers and a
contingent of miscellaneous troops, in
all more than 1000 men, arrived here
to-day. Colonel Herbert and the mill
tary attaches Immediately landed and
the Bavarian proceeded with the
troops, presumably to Durham.
RECONNAISSANCE GIVES OPPOR-
TUNITY TO STUDY COUNTRY.
FRERE CAMP (NataD, Tuesday,
Nov. 2S-The reconnaissance made to-
day by General Hildyard and Lord
Dundonald in command, the fact OF
which has already been cabled, gave