The record-union., 1899-11-23
Beers Open Fire on the British
Camp on the North,
The Latter Returning With Shells, Which
Caused the Enemy to Retire.


Have Taken Place About Mafe-
king, the Beers Bombarding the
British Forts With Good Effect
-Cannonading Still Continuea
at Ladysmith.
DURHAM, Nov. 22.-The Beers
opened fire on the Mooi River camp on
the north, but without casualties to the
British
MOOT RIVER (NataD, Nov. 22-The
British fired several shells which are
believed to have caused havoc among
the Beers, the latter taking advantage
of the heavy rain and retiring. The
Boer shells were apparently aimed at
the bridge. 1t was a surprise attack,
but had been fully guarded against. The
British had three wounded.
LONDON, Nov 23.-The Morning
Posts" correspondent at Pietermaritz-
burg, telegraphing Tuesday evening,
says:
The Beers are now all around Mooi
River station, where another of your
correspondents is reported to be with
the troops
DURBAN, Nov 22-About 1900
Free State Beers with guns are march
ing from the west by way of Fort Not
tingham.
PRETORIA, Tuesday, Nov. 21.-Gen-
reports heavy fighting Monday after
noon. The British briskly fired on the
cannon and Boer forts. The Beers re-
piled, bombarding the British forts
with good effect. The loss of the British
is unknown. One Boer was wounded.
The following dispatch has been re-
ceived from the Boer headquarters near
Ladysmith:
THE field cornets of the Pretoria
commando reported that British gun
carriers and some horsemen had been
heard moving last night in Ladysmith.
Our outposts observed the British en-
deavoring to sortie toward Lombard s
kopje and Bulwama hill, where our
Maxims opened fire. The range was too
great, and therefore our artillery began
shelling, which drove the British back
About daybreak the British batteries
fired upon our positions. Two Burgh-
ers were wounded.
TT is supposed that the object of the
sorties was to relieve the Estcourt
force, which had sent an urgent mes
sage to Ladysmith requesting aid. The
Burghers captured the messenger, but
finally allowed him to proceed
In his last report General Joubert
says: Il am cutting off the retreat of
the Estcourt troops to Pietermaritz-
burg, and driving them back on the
Tugela River
It is also reported that the Boer COM
mander with the forces near Ladysmith
has "comprehensively surveyed the diff
ferent points from which the fall of
Ladysmith can be assured
The official returns of the Transvaal
casualties since the outbreak of the
war show that 90 men have been killed
and 200 wounded of whom a number
have recovered and returned to the
front.
Newspaper reports from Cape Colony
say general rising of the Dutch farm
ers is imminent in Natal, and that the
have been proclaimed republican ter
ritory have already joined the Boer
forces.
LONDON, Nov 23.-The Daily
Mali publishes dispatch from Nauw-
poort, dated Wednesday, which says a
large force under General Methuen has
crossed the Orange River and is ad-
yancing to the relief of Kimberley.
LONDON, Nov. %, 5 a. n.-Although
it is evident that the situation in Natal
is again becoming sufficiently alarming,
nothing can be officially ascertained to
allay public anxiety or the curiosity felt
regarding the disposition of the rein
forcements recently landed at Durham.
The War Office dispatches are confined
to a mere recital of few casualties at
Mooi River, which confirm the reports
of skirmishes there, but give no de-
tails as to how the engagements hap
pened The special correspondents are
only permitted to describe Major Gen
eral Barton's camp at Mooi River
vaguely as large or ample
One correspondent says that 1000
Beers are within twenty-five miles of
Howick Falls, near Pietermaritzburg
and that the inhabitants are fleeing to
the Capital Evidently a considerable
force of the enemy is now within thirty
or forty miles of Pietermaritzburg, but
it is officially announced from there
that no anxiety prevails, the garrison
numbering thousand men, with six
guns.
General Joubert's plan, apparently, is
daring attempt to defeat the British
relieving column from Durham in detail
while still attempting the reduction of
Ladysmith. A serious attack on Mooi
River camp is now hourly expected
with the object of destroying the bridge
at Wester. Should this be accomplish
ed. the Beers would be free to turn
their attention again to Estcourt, while
lif repulsed would retire again on Wee
men and Join the investing forces about
LadysInith.
| The Boer report that General Hid
yards messenger asking General White