The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-25
OLONISTS REBEL
Dutch Farmers In British Ter
ritOry Join Beers.
A General Movement Reported
In Favor of Invaders.
IN A TIGHT PLACE.
Gen. Gatacre is Getting Into
Close Quarters.
British Find Their Enemies In
All Directions.
IN A TIGHT . PLACE.

London, Nov. 25.-The news OF the
death OF the Khalifa and the final de-
feat of the dervishes has been received
here with great joy as a welcome set off
to the serious situation in South
Africa
The gravest news from Cape Town to-
day comes from the northern part of
the colony where it is now evident
numbers of Dutch farmers have risen
and Joined the invading Free State
forces in the Herscheu and Barkley
east districts.
A dispatch from Queenstown, Cape
Colony, Gen. Gatacre's headquarters,
announces that 400 colonial rebels, in
cluding an ex-magistrate of Barkley-
East. have joined the enemy at the lat
ter place and that the whole force is
reported to be marching on Dordrecht,
whence it can operate and possibly IN
tercept Gen. Gatacre's advance to re-
occupy Stormberg junction, a strategic
point from which Gen. Gatacre can Sel
in direct touch through the railroad,
with Gen. French at Maauwpoort, ana
thus with the British base at Deaar-
Another dispatch says that refugees
arriving from Queenstown assert that
Lady Grey has been occupied by the
colonial farmers and that it is feared
there that there is a general movement
in favor of the Beers.
Further dispatches from Belmont
confirming the treacherOus use OF the
WQ1Je nag DY ln6 bO6ISy are dlO OdSAAAe5
indignation.
The troops engaged are bitterly COM
planning and it is feared the result Will
be a refusal to give the Beers quarter.
An incident similar to the one which
occurred at Glencoe when an officer
was shot by a wounded BOer, is report
ed by the London Times correspondent
at Belmont who says that Lieut. Bun
dell of the Grenadier guards was Shot
by wounded BOer, whom he was tend
irg. Such statements appear incredible
but they are now confirmed officially
by the protest of Gen. Methuen who has
sent a message to the Boer commander
saying:
I must ask you to warn your wound
ed not to shoot our officers. I must
warn you not to use dumdum bullets
or use the flag of truce treacherOusly.
Such action is cowardly in the extreme
and I can not cOuntenance it.
All accounts confirm the splendid
charging of the British infantry, the
Scots Guards entering the fight with
drums beating and flies playing.
The second ridge was the strongest
post. The Beers there were Shelled be-
hind ramparts of bOulders. Neverthe-
less the guards advanced steadily many
of them cOOlly smoking
E. F. Knight, a well known corre-
spOndent who went to Havana during
the Spanish-American war, was wound
ed in the arm by dumdum bullet.
The hospital train arrived at Orange
river in the nick of time, from Cape
Town. and was sent to Belmont. The
train is constructed in the corridor
system. with beds ranged in tiers on
each side. On it's return to Orange
river with the wounded, it was found
that a number of them were able to
walk, but there were many Stretcher
cases. The troops in camp lined the
route from the station to the hospital.
The wounded were cheerful and as they
limped along supported by medical or
derlies, exchanged chaff with soldiers
Got any loot" asked a soldier. Yes"
was the grim reply from the manned
man; in my blooming leg
There is much discussion now as to
whether Gen. .Methuen intends to march
direct to Kimberley or double around
and cut off the Free Staters who have
invaded the COlesburg and burghers-
dorD district and driving them on
Generals Gatacre and French infiict a
crushing defeat on them The general
opinion, however. is that he will pro-
ceed north and attack the Beers at
MOdder river, thus relieving Kimberley
though no official confirmation IS yet
forthcoming.
An official statement was issued at
Durham yesterday that there were no
Beers south of the Mooi river The
Beers, however. as shown in recent
dispatches are rapidly closing round
the MOOi river camp An armOred train
and mounted patrols which fecOnnoit-
cred the country around on Wednesday
reported seeing but a few of the enemy.
Yet the following day the Beers were
found in strong force in two directions
Two Beers have surrendered to the
British at Nottingham Road station
south of the MOOi river and there are
reports that the Boer forces are StarV-
ing, which it is said explains their raid
ing farms
I1uTnbers of loyal farmers have taken
the field in response to the call for mo-
bilization of the rife associations and
are doing splendid scouting work. Two
of these volunteer patrols checked the
Beers near MOoi river. The govern
ment has realized that value Of their
services and yesterday authorized the
raising of a mounted corps Of farmers
to check BOer raiding.
BOERS ON ALL SIDES.
AIooi River, Natal, Nov. Pa recon-
naissance in force in direction Of High
lands Station has discovered a big
force of Beers with guns The Beers
shelled and the British guns replied. The
scouts also reported another strong
Boer force to the northwest of the
camp.
The British guns have returned to
camp and the infantry has fallen back.
The mounted infantry still is out.
BOERS WE'RE TRICKED.
Orange River, Cape Colony Friday,
Nov. Z4.-6-30 p. MN all f07 wounded.
including several Beers, have arrived
here from Belmont One of the Beers.
a boy of II years of age, was compelled
to take up arms with his father who is
a prisoner. A wounded prisoner said
that 20 men were selected from each
Boer section to pick off the British Of
hcers- But he added, on the advance
OF the British force the Boer marksmen
were bewildered as it was impossible
to distinguish the officers, who wore the
same equipment as the men The
marksmen were also unable to make
out the Sergeants and other nOn-corn-
mISSlOned officers whose stripes had