Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-11-30
AT DAWN OF DAY.
Gen. Methuen Attacked the Doors
at Belmont.
English Won Victory-Both sides
Lost Heavily Reports from the
Eesieged Towns in South
Africa Indicate but Little
Change I'm the Situation.

London, Nov. 23.-Although the situ-
alton in Natal is again becoming suf-
ficiently alarming, nothing can be Of
ficially ascertalneu to allay public
anxiety regarding the disposition of
the reinforcements recently landed at
Durham.
London, Nov. 24.-The secretary of
war has received the following dis
patch through Gen. Walker from Gen.
Methuen, dated Belmont, November
%: Attacked the enemy at daybreak.
Was in strong position. Three ridges
were carried in succession, the last at
tack being prepared by shrapnel. In
fantry behaved splendidly and re-
ceived support from the naval brigade
and artillery. The exemy fought with
courage and skill. Had | attacked
later ] should have had far heavier
loss. Our victory was complete. Have
taken 40 prisoners. Am burylng
good number of the Beers, but the
greater part of the enemy's killed and
wounded were removed by their COM
rades. Have captured a large num-
Der of horses and COWS and destroyed
large quantity of ammunition.
Brig. Gen. Fetherstonhaugh was
severely wounded in the shoulder and
Lieut.. Col Crabbe, of the grenadier
guards, is reported wounded. Our
other casualties are the following:
Grenadier guards: Killed, Lieut.
Frye; wounded, one; Second battalion
wounded, 4: reported wounded, two;
rank and file, killed 2G, wounded, 36;
missing 13. Coldstream guards: FIRST
battalion, wounded /; Second battai-
ion. wounded ?; rank and file killed g,
wounded 30, missing ;.
"Scots guards: First battalion,
wounded 3; rank and file, killed 8,
wounded "a. northumberland fusi-
leers: First battalion, killed 2, wound
ed 4: rank and file, killed 12, wounded
80. Northamptonshire regiment: Sec
ond battalion. wounded 2. South York
shire regiment: Second battalion,
rank and file. wounded g.
An official dispatch from Sir Alfred
Milner to Mr.. Chamberlain reports
that thus far the efforts of the Beers
to provoke an uprising among the Ba-
sutos or to start a civil war have been
unsuccessful
The situation in Natal remains OBJ
scure. Fighting is reported at both
80
first reported that heavy firing had
been heard in the direction of Willow
Grange. leading to a belief that Gen.
Hildyard had made a sortie. Later
dispatches announce that Gen. White
SORTED from Ladysmith and inflicted
demoralizing defeat upon the Beers.
1t would be premature to give full
crcdence to either report. WHAT is
4 I. -.
court and Mooi river station are all
isolated and the Beers seem able after
detaching enough troops to hold three
British forces aggre@ating 1I,OoO mon,
to push on toward Pietermaritzburg
with 1000 men.
The Chronicle says eve learn
that the cabinet has decided that the
basis Of settlement in South Africa
will be a united South Africa. modelled
upon the Canadian plan. The details
have not vet been settled, but it is
practically certain that no terms of
peace will be accepted by the British
government short of British occupa-
ton of Pretoria and Bloemfontein."
London, Nov. 25.-Thus far the spc-
cial dispatches describing the battle of
belmont bear a stcreotyped character,
proving that the hand of the censor
has been at work upon them. They
are too incoherent to enable the reader
to form an accurate idea of the event,
or to place proper estimate upon the
value of the victory.
All the accounts agree respecting
the splendid fighting qualities eXhib-
tied on both Sides. Nothing coul1
have exceeded the steady courage of
the British infantry in the face of ter
rife fire: while the Bocr guns were
splendidly served, the gunners stand
ing to them with dOgged determine
ton. exposing themselves until the
very last moment. and only becoming
wild ana inaccurate in their aim dur
ing the final. deadly charge of the
British infantry.
All admit, however. that the victory
could not be properly followed up,
owing to the want of sufficient cavalry.
While all the correspondents report
the capture Of Boer guns, Lord Methu-
ems own report omits any mention of
such an achievement.
As all the evidence tends 10 show
that the enemy's retirement was or
derlv he will doubtless soon be heard
of elsewhere.