The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-24

ant Eloff have started with a thousand
followers to capture Buluwayo.
MAFEKING GARRISON IN BAD FIX
Magalapie, Cape Colony, Sunday,
Nov. ia dispatch received here from
Mafeking, dated Wednesday, Novem-
Der Is, says:
The garrison is cheerful. but the
position is daily growing more difficult.
The Beers are always drawing their
entertainments closer and are inces-
and musketry. The garrison is living
almost entirely in underground shelf
ers and the health of the troops is suf-
fering-"
GUN RANGE IS SHORT.
NIooi River, Natal. Nov. 24.-The
Beers have only sent an occasional
shell into the British camp since this
morning. The range Of the British guns
is not sufficient for them to be effective.
An official native runner cOrrObOrateS
the report that heavy firing has occur
red nOrthward. The runner, who is
from EStCOurt, says he was captured
by the Beers, who infest the heights
porthward. He adds that they searched
him, but failed to find the dispatches.
The Beers are in strong force under
the cover of a hill, on which are two
guns. When the British opened fire the
runner escaped in the confusion.
The same runner was at LadySmith
last week He reiterates that heavy
firing occurred there The Beers, he
claimed, made several attempts to cap
ture the British camp, but We're re-
pulsed with heavy loss. The native eX-
planned the failure of the assaults by
saying that every time the Beers ap-
preached the British set the whole
country abIaze, killing every one with
in reach.
LATER DETAILS.
Cape Town, Nov. 24.-FrOm the few
details which have reached here of
General Metheun's fight with the Beers
yesterday, it appears that Beers from
Fincham's farm shelled an advance
body of the British Wednesday, No
Vember p, and the British artillery was
pushed forward and shelled a hill,
which the British subsequently Occu-
pied, capturing two guns The BOer
casualties were thirty men killed and
wounded.
The Boer main column left Fincham's
farm during the afternoon and camped
five miles ahead. At daybreak Thurs
day the Beers fired from the hills, 1000
yards distant, on the British advance
forces. Other troops were then pushed
up and the engagement became gen
eral. The British artillery made excel
lent practice and silenced the BOer
gums. Then two battalions of the Gren-
adler guards and the Northumberland
regiment StOrmed the heights at the
point of the bayonet. Crossing the fire
zone amidst a storm Of lead, the guGrds
and NOrthumberlandS pushed up the
incline and reached the summit, doing
great execution with their bayOnets
and capturing the laager with guns.
equipment, prisoners, cattle and sheep !
The entire position was carried by s
o'clock, the cavalry consisting of the
Ninth Lancers and mounted infantry
pursuing the flying Beers.
The Beers, it is estimated, had $500
men Their loss is unknown
TWO HOURS FIGHTING.
The governor of Natal has forwarded |
the following dispatch to the colonial
office. TugeIa drift was attacked during |
the morning of Thursday, November %, |
by 250 or 300 Beers, who are believed to |
have advanced from Helpmakaar and I
UmVOti. The mounted rifles under Ma
jOr Leuchars and a small body of Natal !
police tOtaling 140 men posted south of |
the river bank forced the Beers to re- !
tire after two hours fighting. Our loss |
was sergeant major wounded.
THE Tugela rose during the day and |
is now reported to be impossible except |
by boats"
BOERS WERE SURPRISED.
London, Nov. PA special dispatch
received here from Belmont says that
Gen. Metheun's force numbered seven |
thousand men and that the Beers had
five thousand men. The latter, it is
added, held an exceedingly strong posi- /
ton on a series of hills extending a
dozen miles. They were strongly en-
trenched and their cannon were posted |
strongly and We're excellently served. |
The battle begun at o'clock and ragged |
for several hours. The Beers held their |
positions with great stubbOrnneSS and
splendid courage. The British riflemen
forced the attack under raking fire
and carried position after position with |
superb dash, driving out the Beers with !
great slaughter. The engagement was /
really a series of battles, during which |
the Beers were constantly carrying off |
their dead and wounded.
The war office today issued the fol- |
lowing advices:
cape Town, Nov. 24.-Afternoon-
Gen. Metheun further reports this |
morning: Wounded are doing well. |
There are over fifty prisoners including
German cOmmandant and six field |
cOrnets. Nineteen of these prisoners |
are wounded We are unable to esti- !
mate the BOer losses. The prisoners !
say yesterdays attack was a surprise |
and that it is the only beating they |
have had. A large amount of CORE !
spOndence has been secured. The re-
servists are doing well. Col Pole |
CareW replaces F'eatherstonhaugh in /
command Of the Ninth brigade
PRESIDENT OF P. & G. |