Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-12-07
BoERs MAKING 1T HOT FOR INHAB-
ITANTS OF LADYSMITH.
THEIR GUNNERY is ACCURATE
HAVE A BIG NEW GUN PLANTED
WHERE 1T COMMANDS CITY.
Beers Very Active in the Country
Around Stormbers Junction
General Methuen-s Force Is
still Encamped Mt
Modder River.

A<<AD ho%u31 H. SATURDAY, bcS- Hc
hottest bombardment Of the siege took
place last Thursday. The Beers got a new
big gun into position on Lombards kopje
completely commanding the town, and
shelled our camp that day and yesterday,
planting shells with great accuracy in the
camp OF the Gordon Highlanders and the
Manchester regiment. where there Were
many narrow escapes. To-day the enemy
resumed the bombardment, doing some
very effective shooting. Several of our
guns have been shattered by the Boer big
gun.
QUEENSTOWN CAPE COLONY, Satur-
day. Dec. 1.-The Beers have become very
active in the country around Stormberg
Junction, to which General Gatacre will
make his next move.
The telegraph lines have been cut in va
rious places, and communication with
Steynsburg, Dordrecht and harrisburg
has been severed. 1t is believed
here that the Beers have &C.
cupied Steynsburg. Firing has been
heard in the direction of Stormburg, prob
ably between General Gatacre's vanguard
and the Boer command.
LONDON, Dec. $50 a m.-Again there
is complete lull in the war news. Lady
smith has established photographic COM
munication with Frere, and il is reported
that all was well up to Sunday. A dis
patch from the Boer lager by way of
Lourenzo Marques. dated Thursday, No
vember 30, confirms the report that the
commands have been closing in upon
Ladysmith and mounting big guns in new
positions.
According to the same advices a heavy
cannonade had been maintained and gen.
eral assault had been ordered for Thursday
morning, but was countermanded at the
last moment.
Modder river dispatches say that the
Beers are encamped amid the hills half
way to Kimberley; but it Is also asserted
that large body of the enemy has gone
in the direction of Jacobsdale. 1t Is pos
eible, therefore, that Lord Methuen may
endeavor to clear his right flank as far
as Jacobsdale before continuing mis- ad-
vance. He is still waiting at Modder river
for stores, guns and ammunition.
The sortie from Kimberley on Noyem-
Der Is appears to have been much more
serious than had been supposed. Details
are now arriving of reconnaissance in
force by mounted troops under Colonel
Scott-Turner, at dawn. in the direction of
ridge near carriers farm where the
Beers were strongly intrenched Finding
the Boer pickets asleep, Colonel Scott
Turner proceeded along the ridge under
cover and rushed the Boer redoubts at
BE- a. n. in the face of a hail Of bullets.
The Beers hoisted white flag and fired
at the British under its protection before
surrendeTing. Owing possibly to the ex-
hausuon Of their ammunition. the British
We're unable to follow up the attack and
TO seize large Boer lager about 800
yards ahead. especially as Boer reinforce
enemy was keeping up a heavy fire from
the shelter of the thick bush.
during the sortie, an armored train re-
cohnoitered north and south. while con-
siderable force of British. with field guns
and Maxims. advanced toward Spytsfon-
TEN. holding the Beers in check o. that
direction.
Ten Guns were engaged simultaneously
and. viewed from the coming tower, an ar
tillery duel seemed proceeding in every d.
FeeTGn; except Except toward kenilworth. the
Ing no force sufficient to hold the position
he had stormed, Colonel Scott-Turner be-
gan gradually retiring his men, He had a
horse shot under him. and a bullet went
through the feshy part of his shoulder
Several men had terrible wounds.
1t is alleged that the Beers used Martins
and explosive bullets, and that they fire.
quently fired at the British ambulance
wagons. The British captured twenty
eight of the enemy.
There appears to be some doubt as to
whether this was the reconnaissance in
which. according to the announcement OF
the war office: Colonel Scott-Turner was
killed. or whether that officer met his fate
in subsequent sortie.
Ii is reported from Cape Town that the
Transvaal government still refuses TO ac.
knowledge the right of the United States
regarding prisoners in Pretoria, insisting
that Great Britain must inquire through
Commandment General Joubert
The first batch of wounded soldiers from
South Africa, numbering 1913 men. arrived
in the Thames to-day on the British trans
port steamer Sur1atra, which left Table
Bay about November ].
PRETORIA, Saturday. Dec 2-(Via Lou
reno, MarqueZ Monday, Dec. 4.-Genera
Joubert is iDdiSpused and has arrived al
Volksrust, across the Transvaal border 70,
medical treatment.
dispatch from the head lager wher,
Cta1l ylaare lie trH
mand during the absence of General Jou
bert. announces that council of war wa.
held December 3 with reference to assault
ing Iadysmith. The state attorney has ar
rived ut the camp to advise the Boer com
manders
Comfortable wood and iron houses hav,