The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-10
British Attack a Beer Position on a
Hill Near Town,
Routing the Ensmy, Destroying Two Guns
and Capturing a Maxim.
Three Thousand British Troops,
Preceded by an Armored Train,
Advancing on Co1esburg From
Naauwpoot-News From Cape
Town Not Satisfactory from q
British Point Of View.

LONDON, Dec 9.-The War Office to-
might ISSUED the following dispatch
from General Butler, datc1 at Frere
Camp, December 9th. afternoon:
1.-THE following was received from
General White to-day:
Last night I sent General Hunter
with 500 Natal volunteers under Royns-
ton and 100 of the Imperial Light Horse
under Edwards to surprise gun on
hill. The enterprise was a imiraply
carried out, six-inch gun and how
itzer being, destroyed with guncotton
by Captain Fowke and Lieutenant
Turner. A maxim was captured and
brought to Ladysnith. Our loss was
one killed and Major Henderson of the
First Battalion of the Argyll Highland
ers wounded. At the same time that
Colonel Knox seized the hill one squad
ron Of the Nineteenth Hussars rode
around Pepworth Hill, burning kraals
and cutting the telegraph lines. They
had 10 casualties"
LONDON, Dec. "a special dispatch
from Pretoria dated December Sth.
says 5000 British troops, preceded by
an armored train, are advancing on
Colesburg from Naauwpoort.
LONDON, Dec. 9.-While SO far as
the actual British advance is concern
ed, this mornings dispatches show lit
tie change in the situation, the author
tiles anticipate from the announcement
that howitzers and cavalry have reach
ed General Methuen, and that General
Butler has received the heavy artillery
for which he was waiting. that the ad-
vance will no longer be delayed. News
of important battles by both Generals
is expected soon.
The fact that General Butler has or
dered 200 stretcher bearers from Piet-
ermaritzburg to assist the regular am
bulance corps indicates that he antic-
ipates sharp fighting. The latest pig
con from Ladysmith furnished General
General White, presumably showing
the vulnerable points.
The engineers at Frere camp have
done a good weeks work in completing
the trestle bridge 200 feet, and an ar
mored train is now repairing the line
in the neighborhood of Chieveley.
j The news from Cape Colony is not
satisfactory from the British point of
view. Some small outpost skirmishes
have occurred at various points, and at
Queenstown a quantity of rifles and
ammunition, including dunn dunn bullets
and Martins belonging to disloyal
Dutch have been seized.
The latest advices from Stormberg
indicate that the Beers position is ex
ceptionally strong. Reports received at
Cape Town from Bloemfontein say
everybody has been compelled to do
military duty, including Mr.. Fraser, the
Chairman of the Volksraad.
The Free Skaters, it is alleged, have
decided not to defend Bloemfontein, as
1t is not fortified, but to make stand
at Bainsvlei, southeast of Bloemfon-
tein-
Special reports say President Steyns
mind is failing.
smith, excursions are running weekly
from Pretoria, bringing numbers Of
gayly attired Dutch women, who take
up points of vantage ON the hills and
closely scan the proceedings in the
town
Russia is sending General Cueko. of
the general staff, as attache at Boer
head laager.
A siege train was shipped to South
Africa to-day from Southampton.
Mrs. Langtry's husband, Hugo Gerald
de Battle, sails for South Africa Decem-
Der 10Th, on special service. Mrs
Langtry declares that If she had not
made all her American arrangements
she would go too in the capacity of
nurse or otherwise.
The. War Office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from General Forester
Walker the British commander at
Cape Town:
1.-THE Free State Government reports
that there are thirty-five prisoners at
Bloemfontein, including Lieutenant
Tristan of the Twelfth Lancers, who
is severely wounded
FOUND THE BoERS IN STRONG
FORCE.
CAPE TOWN, Thursday, Dec. IA
hundred men of the naval brigade pro-
ceeded to the front tonight.
1t is known that the Beers have cross
cut the ends of their Mauser bullets,
thus producing an effect similar to the
dunn dums.
Halse and Warren and thirty men
left the camp at Carnevon to-day, and
when four miles out sighted a patrol Of
twelve Beers, who sought cover. Two
of the Beers were wounded. Halse as
certained that the Beers were in
strong force in a laager, and retired to
his base. This is the first brush Of
General Gatacre's forces, and they are