Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-12-01
Severe Fighting at Gras Pa

NOSC hIOOl, Ten LullcS HOrLn Oh OrdS
Pan. and 1000, OOO rounds of ammuni-
ton.
Severe Fighting at Gras Pan.
London, Nov. 2S.-The war Office
posted the following dispatch, dated
Cape Town:
Lord Methuen reports that he
moved Saturday with the Ninth bril-
gade, the mounted 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 Kim
berley), $500 Beers, with six guns and
two machine guns, opposed him.
1.-The action began at six a. N. Our
batteries fired shrapnel very accurately
till the heights seemed clear. Then
the naval brigade and infantry adj
vanced to the assault. The fighting
was desperate until ten 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 advan tage of the enemy's
retirement.
1.-The enemy showed the greatest
stubbOrnness and must have suffered
greatly. Twenty were buried. 1t is
known that 81 were killed and As
wounded. More than so horses were
found dead in one place. One battery
fired 500 rounds
The outlook in Cape Colony is dark
for the British. That Gen. Catacre has
no easy task is shown by the latest
dispatches from Queenstown and else
where showing that the majority of
the population on the frontier have
openly declared themselves on the side
of the Beers. Bands OF Beers are do
ing immense damage over wide area,
and they have now appeared south of
Storm berg. Gen. Catacre, however,
moves to the front to-day, so, it is
hoped by the British, the invasion will
soon be Stemmed.
Dispatches from Kruger.
Durham, Natal, Nov. 2S.-The latest
reports of Gen. Hildyard's 10 sses at the
Beacon Hill engagement show that Is
men were killed and ~ wounded. Maj.
Hobbs was captured and several men
are missing. Dispatches from Presi-
dent Kruger and Gen. Joubert, found on
a Boer prisoner, said the Boer losses at
Belmont were 10 men killed and 40
wounded. It added, in order to reas-
sure the burghers, that it had been
deemed necessary to fall back on War
renton.
General Advance on Colenso.
EastcOurt, Natal, Nov. 2S.-The rail-
road bridge at Frere, spanning a wide
stream, has been destroyed by the
Beers, who are reported to be retiring
rapidly. A general advance upon Co
lenso has been ordered and a flying
column has left here to intercept the
Boer raiding parties. A reliable mes
senger from Ladysmith says he gath
cred from the Beers that they had pro-
posed a com bined attack all over the
country for to-day. Gen. Joubert is
expected to stoutly dispute the passage
of the Tugela river.
Beers Retiring Toward Ladysmith.
London, Nov. 2S.-The colonial office
has received the following dispatch
from the governor of Natal, dated
Pietermaritzburg, November &c: 1.-THE
Beers are retiring on Weenan. Our
troops are occupying a ridge three
miles northward of the MOOT river. 1t
appears that the Beers have found our
position too strong and are retiring
towards Ladysmith with the loot they
have collected. The river is in flood. 4
Butler has arrived"