The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-08
METHUEN NEAR KIMBERLEY.
Decisive Battle May Soon Be Fought
mt spytfontefn.

OecisiSe battie Mny soon be Fought
mt spytfontefn.
LONDON. Dec. THE War Office has
received the following message. dated Doc
g. from General Forester-Walker. the Brit
ish governor at Cape Town: General
Methuen wires to-day that he has resumed
command and is nightly in communication
with Kimberley. The health of the troops
is excellent"
Perhaps an explanation for the retire
ment OF burghers from Natal can be found
in dispatch from Modder river, Dec. g.
saying that strong Boer force, estimated
to number 1900 men. was reinforcing Gen.
Cronje from Natal The same dispatch
says everything points to the fact that a
great engagement will be fought at Spyt
fontein. The Beers are massing on the
hills there. are vigorously building stone
defenses and are digging rife pits in every
direction. The Boer redoubts on Lazaretto
ridge. west OF Kimberley. are also being
extended and strengthened. showing that
the rumors of the intentions OF the Beers
to abandon the attempt to stem General
Methuen's advance are unfounded. The
British have shifted their camp a few
and are settling down for a week. There
are some cases Of fever among the troops.
Much depends on General Gatacre's ad-
vance. There is undoubtedly large con-
centration of Beers ahead of Gen Methuen.
Practically the whole Of their Mafeking
forces have Joined the Kimberley besieg-
ers.
An official account Of the sortie at Kim
berley Nov. Is, when the British casualties
as cabled yesterday, occurred, says: THE
British demonstrated towards the wimbie-
dom rifle ranges. The enemy's guns were
posted In the range at Spitskop to wimble-
ton Siding. Major Scott-Turner. with tho
mounted troops. attacked the enemy's
right flank, capturing a lager and three
redoubts. The enemy in a fourth redouot
made stubborn resistance. when Major
Scott-Turner was killed. The British cap
tured many shells and destroyed other
stores" The same dispatch gives reports
from Colonel Kekewitch. dated Dec. and
4. showing the Beers were increasing in
numbers around Kimberley.
Major Scott-Turner, who was killed in
the sortie. was a gallant rough rider who
had seen much hard service In MatabeIe-
land under Forbes and Darlington He was
fine horseman and a man utterly fear
less, with an Unborn love of adventure
Lieutenant Wright, also killed, was famous
as one OF the coolest and most expert rifle
men In South Africa and a match for the
best hunters among the Beers.
1t is reported from Orange river to-day
that lO7 dead Beers were taken to Kafirs-
kop after the battle Of Belmont.
The Boer advance in the northeastern
part OF Cape Colony Is becoming remark
able. The local farmers are Hocking TO the
Boer laagers. the townspeople. in many
instances. welcoming the invaders with
demonstrations of JOY. The annexation of
British territory proceeds daily. The re-
ported Boer successes have made a great
impression among the Basutos.
Advices from Pretoria say the govern
ment has allowed two cable messages to
reach Winston Churchill.
The mint at Pretoria Is coming a hundred
thousand sovereigns monthly.
The War Office has been notified that the
British had five killed and twenty-five
wounded In the sortie from Kimberley Nov.
Is, including three colonial officers.
Special dispatches from Lorenzo Mar.ueE.
dated Tuesday. Dec. g. say President
Kruger is only prevented from going to the
front by the objections of the members
OF the executive council. Mrs. kruger. II is
added, Is i'll.
Official dispatches received at Pretoria
from the different Boer forces say. all is
quiet. except at Kimberley, where an
armored train made sorties yesterday morn
ing.
The Orange Free State has proclaimed
the annexation Of Dordrecht. about fifty
miles north of Queenstown Cape Colony.