The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-12-02
HANDIwORK SEEN IN THE RE-
PORTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
Too Incoherent to Enable the Read-
er to Form an Accurate Idea Oh
the Battle at acknowledgement
Fighting Qualities Exhibited ON
Q Both Sides-SituatfOn In NataA o"-
chanRed-Anxiety Felt Regard1ns
MafekinG-One Correspondent "'
Inmates B0er Losses mt
at 500 Killed.

Belmont bear a stereOtyped cnarac,ei'
proving that the hand Of the censor
has been at work upon them. e aie
too incoherent to enable the reader 10
form an accurate idea Of the event OF
to place a proper estimate upon the
value of the victory. All the accounts
agree respecting the splendid lighting
qualities exhibited on both sides. Moth
ing could have exceeded the sturdy
courage and pluck Of the British III
fantry in the face Of terrific fire, While
the Boer guns were splendldly serVeu'
the gunners standing to them WIN
dosged determination, exposing them
selves until the very last moment, and
only becoming wild and inaccurate IN
their aim during the final deadly
charge Of the British infantry. All a.
nit, however. that the victory could
not he properly followed up n utll-
lied owing to the want Of sufficient
cavalry.
The correspondent Of the Times at
Belmont says: "After the battle the
laager was burned and the ammunition
destroyed. Cavalry and mounted In
fantry on both TANKS pursued the enc
nv but were unable to overtake the
retreating Beers, who got away with
their transport. The Boer rout was
complete and their losses are believed
to equal ours. They used some dunn
dunn bullets. Everything was In their
favor. 1t is rumored that there have
been some threats to assassinate re-
calcitrant burghers who are tired OF
war and are deserving"
Gen. Whites dispatch of wednesday
effectually disposes of all rumors OF
another sortie from Ladysmith and OF
the defeat of the Beers. The situation
in Natal is unchanged, a sortie from
Estcourt to Willow Grove having little
effect.
The situation at Mafeking is being
regarded with anxiety in view of the
impossibility Of Lord Metheun being
time to come. Throngs Of people were
waiting Mt the war Office last evening
until a late hour for a list of those
killed, wounded or missing in the bat
tie of Belmont, but nothing was pub
lished in addition to Gen. Metheun's
first dispatch.
situation ut Ladysmith.
Durham, Nov. 26-An official message
from Gen. White at Ladysmith. dated
Nov. %. says: situation unchanged.
Troops we'll and cheerful"
The Natal Advertiser confirms the
report Of fighting ear Willow Grange.
1t says: give thousand British left
Estcourt Wednesday afternoon for a
reconnaissance. They surprised the
Beers at 3 o'clock Thursday morning
and occupied the Boer position. bayo-
netting eighty Of the enemy. At day
break the Beers opened with quick
firers. The British artillery was un-
able to reach the Beers and the British
position. therefore, became untenable
and was evacuated. Subsequently the
artillery was brought into action and
the Beers fell back. Their object hay
ing been attained the British returned
to Estcourt."
Beers Are Tired of War.
London, Nov. &c. - The Daily Mail
publishes the following dispatch from
Belmont describing the battle: "The
Beers held a position which the British
troops would hold against almost any
force. The British victory was com
plete. MY estimate of the Boer losses
is 500 killed and $50 wounded. The
Boer prisoners are ignorant. dirty and
wretched. They say that half their
command, tired of the war, will refuse
further service. The whole force of
the fearful fight was borne by the in
fantry. who were obliged to climb 500
feet straight into a terrific stream Of
missiles. The Ninth Lancers pursued
the enemy with great vigor, but the
Beers, well mounted and familiar with
the hills, melted before them. Possibly
our victory would have been more de-
cisive had we had more cavalry"
Saw Lieut.. Churchill.
Pretoria, Nov. 26.-Through the cour-
tesy of the Transvaal authorities an
Associated Press representative has
been permitted to visit Lieut.. Winston
Churchill at the model school where he
is confined with the captured officers.
Beyond a slight bullet wound in the
hand he seemed well and hearty. He
says the Beers have treated him with
much kindness.
United States Prods Kruger.
Washington. Nov. 26.-Mr. Marcum,
the United States consul ut Pretoria,
has been instructed by cable to i'm
press upon President Kruger that in
the view Of this government the usages
Of all civilized nations sanction the
m%inistration Of q neutral representa-
tive in the interest Of the citizens and
,captives of one Of the parties to q war,
and he must further insist upon per.
forming the sacred duties imposed by
all considerations of humanity. This
is practically IN announcement Of the
insistance of III government upon the
execution of the trust it assumed to
look after the interests of British citi-
zens in the South African republics.
Houses Blown Up.
Fort Smith, Ark, Nov. 26.-Several
houses at which non-union coal miners
oro boarding were h1Own I'm r,,4h