The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-12-01
Beers In FORCE
OVERRUN NATAL
British Claim Great Vic
tory In Belmont Battle.
THE LOSSES WERE HEAVY
Advancing Britons Find Beers II Wait.
ing On All Sides..-Real Situation
Still Obscure.

Adyices from London under date Of
November "a, are as follows: Before
anxiety as to the situation in Natal
has been relieved, there comes news
Of great battle at Belmont. This
happened sooner than was expected.
Only the official account is yet to hand,
but so far as can be gathered, the
fighting appears to have been almost
a repition Of the battle Of Elangs-
laagte. A dispatch of the previous
day estimated that the Beers in that
vicinity numbered 2, 900 and that they
had FIVE guns, and Judging from the
absence Of any statement to the con-
trary in the official report, it is be-
lieved that the British were slightly
superior in numbers to the enemy
The Beers had chosen a position
with their customary skill and were
strongly enhenched The British had
to carry three ridges in succession.
apparently the guards bore the brunt
in carrying the last ridge by a bayo-
net charge, after its defenders had
been shaken with skrapnel.
Nothing is said as to whether the
positions so gained were held.
Complete British victory.
The secretary Of war has received
the following dispatch through Cen
eral Forester Walker from General
Methuen, dated Belmont, November
23d:
Attacked the enemy at daybreak
this morning. He was in q strong po-
sition. Three ridges were carried in
succession, the last attack being pre-
, pared by shrapnel. Infantry behaved
splendidly and received support from
! the naval brigade and artillery
"The enemy fought with courage and
skill. Had I attacked later I should
have bad far heavier losses. Our vic
J tory was complete. Have taken forty
J prisoners. Am burying a good num-
J Der of the Beers, but the greater part
of the enemy's killed and wounded
were removed by their comrades
Have captured a large number Of
. horses and COWS and destroyed a large
! quantity of ammunition"
> The report concludes with lon(
Q list Of casualties.
Situation Still Obscure.
!, The situation in Natal remains oh
70 scure. Fighting is reported at boil
l. Estcourt and Ladysmith, It was a
40 - first reported that heavy firing ha,
az been heard in the direction Of Willoy
- Grange, leading to belief that Gen
y eral Hildyard had made sortie
!. Later dispatches announce that Gen
y eral White SORTED from Ladysmit
= and inflicted demoralizing defea
= upon the Beers.
- It would be premature to give fu
- credence to either report, What
= quite certain is that Ladysmith, Els
- court and Mool River station are a
isolated, and the Beers seem abl'
after detaching enough troops to hol
nd three British forces, aggregatlng II
900 men, to push on toward Pete
maritzburg with some 1000 men.
ar A disquieting feature Of the who
.@V campaign is the fact that all the az
ne vancing generals report meeting Il
lc- Beers in force. In review Of the bri
ng liant success Of General Joubert
ry' partially paralyzing the relieving &C
lsh umns, the question is being aske
what would have happened had he
ATE the outset of the war, instead Of 81
OH ting down before Ladysmith, push,
ay to Pietermaritzburg?
re- General Galacres report that t
Dutch are rising increases public an
are iety, as Intends to confirm rumors th
az have long been current. A special d
patch from Durham announces tn
sry more big naval guns were land
De, Wednesday and hurried to the frol
al Prince Christian Victor left Nix
Of River camp before it was inyestt
'ars bearing dispatches to Pietermari
burg.
IN. HORRIBLE CRIME REVEALED