The San Francisco call., 1899-11-25
BELMONT ENGAGEMENT
A SERIES OF BATTLES

CAPE TOWN. Nov. 24-From the few
details which have reached here OF Cen
eral Methuen's fight with the Beers at
Belmont Yesterday, II appears that Beers
from FinChams Farm shelled an advance
body Of the British Wednesday Novem-
ber p. and the British artillery was push
ed forward and shelled a hill. which the
British subsequently occupied capturing
two guns. The Boer casualties were
thirty men killed and wounded. The Boer
main column left Finchams Farm during
the afternoon and camped five miles
ahead. At daybreak Thursday the Beers
fired from the hills. 1000 yards distant on
the British advance force. Other troops
were then pushed up and the engagement
became general. The British artillery
made excellent practice and silenced the
Boer guns. Then two battalions of the
Grenadier Guards and Northumberland
Regiment stormed the heights at the
point of the bayonet
Crossing the fire zone amid a storm Of
lead. the Guards and Northumberland
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
o'clock, the cavalry. consisting of the
Ninth Lancers and mounted infantry
=.
mated. numbered 300 men. Their loss is
unknown.
LONDON. Nov PA special dispatch
received here from Belmont SAYS that
General Methuens force numbered 1000
men and that the Beers had 5000 men.
The latter. IL is added. held an exceeding
ly strong position on a series Of hills. ex-
tending a dozen miles. They were strong
ly entrenched and their cannon were post
ed strongly and were excellently served
The battle begun at o'clock and ragged
for several hours. The Beers held their po-
sition with great stubbornness and splen-
did courage. The British riflemen forced
the attack under raking fire and carried
position after position with superb dash.
driving out the Beers with great slaugh-
ter. The engagement was really a series
of battles. during which the Beers were
constantly carrying off their dead and
wounded.
The War Office to-day issued the follow
ing advices:
CAPE TOWN, Nov. "a (afternoon) -
General Methuen further reports this
morning that the wounded are doing well
There are over fifty prisoners. including a
German commandant and six field cor
nets. Nineteen OF these prisoners are
wounded. We are unable TO estimate the
Boer losses. The prisoners say yester-
Qdy dAldCh NdS a. surprise and that II
is the only beating they have had A
large amount Of correspondence has been
secured. The reservisIs are doing well
Colonel Pole-Carl replaces Featherston-
baugh in command of the Ninth Br-
gade."
BELMONT, Cape Colony. Nov. "a 10
a. m--The entire western division moved
on the Orange River Tuesday and bivou-
acked at Witteputs. Two companies NJ
mounted infantry and n detachment OF
lancers were sent TO hold Thomas Farm
Their pickets prevented the Beers from
advancing. The Beers fired cannon and
the British artillery arrived on the scene
and silenced the Beers fire. At 2 O'Clock
in the morning the Guards Brigade moved
steadily forward TO a hill few miles east
OF Belmont Station. The Scots and Gren
adiers advanced 10 within fifty yards OF
the base, when the Beers poured In a
scathing fire, staggering the guards mo-
mentarily. But quickly recovering, they