The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-19

Beers RepulSed.
Modder River, Cape Colony, Tuesday,
December 12.-Details gathered here by
a representative of the Associated
Press among the wounded British
Beers give some idea Of the desperate
nature Of the fight at Magersfontein.
The Highlanders did all that the most
gallant troops in the world could do,
but it was impossible to face the ter
rible fire of the Beers. The British ar
tillery again saved the situation and
divided the hOnors of the day with the
Scots. The batteries worked for hours
under a CALLING rifle fire.
According to the Boer stories, it was
impossible for the burghers to have
escaped fearful loss. One Boer prison.
er said a single Lyddite shell killed or
wounded over seventy and hat two
other shells burst over two bodies of
Beers ensconced behind the range,
doing fearful damage. All agree that
the Beers fought throughout with the
utmost gallantry. Their sharpshooters
seldom missed the mark.
A Seaforth Highlander says while he
was lying wounded OF the field, ne saw
a Boer of typical German appearance,
faultlessly dressed, with polished top
boots, a shirt with silk ruffles and a
cigar in his mouth, walking among the
anthilis, picking off the British. He
was quite alone and it was apparent
from the frequent use he made of field
glasses that he was singing out Off
GERS.
Another wounded Boer says that a
Lyddite shell, fired on Sunday, fell
in the middle Of ar open air prayer
meeting held to offer supplications for
the success of the Boer arms.
While the guards were advancing on
the plain which the Beers were she'll
ing from the adjoining ridges, they en-
cOuntered and cut up a strong Boer
picket posted on a hill, for purpose of
observation. All of the members of
the picket were either killed, wounded
or taken prisoners.
BOERS REFUSED.
London, December 14.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from General Forester Walker, at
Cape Town:
General French wires under date
of December 18th, reporting a skirmish
at 4 o'clock in the morning with 1900
Beers who were advancing southwark
toward Naauwpoort. The skirmishing
continued all the morning, the Beers
fighting on a front of fourteen miles.
The enemy retired with a loss of forty
killed and wounded. Our casualties
were one killed, seven wounded, in
Guiding one officer and two missing.
Lorenzo, Marques, Delagoa Bay, De-
cember 14.-Winston Churchill, the
correspondent and former
officer of the Fourth hussars, who was
captured at the time of the armored
train disaster near Estcourt, November
18th, has escaped from Pretoria.
London, December 14.-The war Of
flee this evening made the following
announcement:
THE Sixth division has been mobil-
lied and four battalions of this ivis-
ion will have embarked by Sunday.
The government has also provided for
the immediate mobilization of the Sew
enth division.
London, December IA special dis
patch received here from Weenen,
Natal, dated Monday, December 18th,
says that the Ladysmith garrison has
made a sortie and destroyed the Mod
der Pruit bridge.
BRITISH LOSS AT MAGERSFON-
TEN.
London, December IA revised list
of the total casualties to the British
troops of all arms at Magersfontein
places the number at S32. There were
Is officers killed and A wounded, and,
in addition, 5 are missing n one is
said to have been made prisoner.
The war office has received a mes
sage stating hat there were $50 cas-
ualties among the non-commissioned
officers and men of the Highland bri-
gade at Magersfontein. The brigade
lost 10 officers killed, SO wounded and
4 missing.
Modder River, Wednesday,, December
13.-Ambulances started early yester-
day morning, under a flag of truce, to
collect the wounded and bury the dead
who fell at Magersfo lrei1.
The Beers losses must exceed 700.
The destruction wrought by the naval
guns was enormous.
Word was passed along the Boer ines
to prepare to retreat at nIghtfali. All
confess that it was their greatest loss
during the war.
The British troops have returned to
Modder river, owing to the lack of
water near the position held yester-
day.
London, December 15.-':Lord Me-
thuen's check, following General Cat
acres repulse," says the Cape Town
correspondent of The Daily News, has
had a most depressing effect upon the
~loyalistS, who are by no means a grow
ing body. They are filled with dark
f~orebodings. Dutch disaffaction is rap
idly growing. A large section is rest
less n would need but little persuas-
ion to join the Beers.
There are disturbing reports from
the eastern districts of Cape Colony
where many secret meetings have been
held. The imperial authorities are
arming the loyal farmers in the Slut
terheim and Bedford districts"
THE BRITISH COMPLETELY SUR
PRISED.
The correspondent of The Standard
at Modder river, describing the fight at
Magersfontein, says:
six miles had to be covered before