The National tribune., 1899-11-30

On Nov. % the Beers again shelled the
camp of Gen. Barton at Mooi River, and
| the British replied with their artillery.
The Daily Mail published dispatch
| from Naauwpoort, dated Wednesday, Nov.
%. which says that large force under
Gen. Methuen has crossed the Orange
River and is advancing to the relief of
| Kimberley.
On Nov. 23 word was received from Gen.
| Methuen. at Belmont marching to the
| relief of Kimberley. He cabled:
Attacked the enemy at daybreak this
| morning. He was in n strong position
Three ridges Were carried in succession,
mel. Infantry behaved splendidly, and
received support from the naval brigade
and artillery. The enemy fought with
courage and skill. Had | attacked later
| should have had far heavier loss. Our
victory was complete. Have taken so
Of the Beers, but the greater part of the
enemy's killed and wounded We're removed
by their comrades. Have captured a large
number of horses and COWS and destroyed
large quantity of ammunition.
"Brig.tien. FetherStonhaugh was Sc
| verely wounded in the shoulder and Lieut.
Col. Crabbe, of the Grenadier Guards, is
reported wounded"
Those who took part were the Grenadier
| Guards, Codstream Guards, Scots Guard,
Northumberland Fusiliers, Northamton-
shire Regiment, and South Yorkshire
Regiment. The total in British killed,
wounded. and missing was Dps. Twenty
one commissioned officers We're wounded;
50 officers and men were killed.
The War Office issued dispatch from
Cape Town which is brief official diary
of events at Kimberley from Nov. II to
Nov. II. 1t shows that no serious engage
ment occurred between those dates; that
the British losses have been infinitesimal,
and that the Boer losses We're probably
very small. The final entry indicates
that the Beers, anticipating the advance of
the relief column under Gen. Methuen, has
taken up defensive positions to the south
of the town.
Gen Butler started for Natal on Nov %.
Owing to the heavy work of debarkation
and entraining at Durban the preparations
for the advance OF the relief force under
Gen. Clery seems to be in no wise so ad
yanced as has been supposed. This delay
probably was also due to the necessity Of
pushing stores and provisions to the front
in needful quantities before the troops are
sent. On the other hand, the celebrity with
from Cape Town equally tends to show
that all such preparations regarding forage
and provisions were already well advanced
there before the troops arrived at Cape
Town.
A native runner who was at Ladysmith
Hech ldSJ Stdteu tildl itdNy ISitIIS
occurred there. The Beers, he claims,
made several attempts to capture the Bri-
tish camp, but were repulsed with heavy
loss. The native explained the failure OF
the assaults by saying that every time the
Beers approached the British set the whole
country ablaZe, killing every one within
reach.
Later dispatches from Gen. Methuen on
Nov. "a stated that Gen. Methuen's force
numbered 1000 men, and that the Beers
had 5000 men. The latter, it is added, held
an exceedingly strong position on series
of hills, extending a dozen miles. They
were strongly intrenched and their cannon
W % posted strongly, and were excellently
ser yed. The battle began at O'Clock and
ragged for several hours. The Beers held
their positions with great tstubbornness and
splendid courage. The British rifemen
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