The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-12-02
FIGHTING WASHEAVY
METHEUN HAS ANOTHER ENCOUN-
TER WITH BOERs.
Enemy Was Compelled to Retire
After Desperate Fighting-Result
Was Not Known mt the Time of
Observation-Disclosures That h
Losses VIII BE Heavy British
Forces Worked Splendidly-Naval
Brigade Suffers Heavy Sacrifices
News From Natal More Hopeful.

London, Nov. %. - Yesterday after
moor the war office posted the follow.
ing dispatch, dated Cape Town, 1920
p. NJ, from Gen. Forestier-Walker:
Lord Mtehuen reports that he
moved yesterday Saturday at $3.50 q.
m, with the Ninth brigade, the mount
ed CORDS, the naval brigade and W
batteries, the guards following with
the baggage. Near Gras Pan about
ten miles north of Belmont. on the
railway line to Kimberley $500 Beers
with six guns and two machine guns,
opposed him. The action began at =
a. IN. Our battery fred shrapnel very
accurately till the heights seemed
clear. Then the naval brigade and the
infantry advanced to the assault. The
fighting was desperate until 10 a.. M,
when the heights were carried. The
Beers retreated on the line where the
Ninth Lancers were placed to intercept
them. The result vas not known ut
the time of telegraphing. Tho artillery
took immediate advantage of the enc.
my's retirement. Early in the action
500 Beers attacked our rear guard. The
brigade met this and also protected
the TANKS. The naval brigade acted
| with the greatest gallantry and suf-
fered heavily, but no particulars are
vet known. The enemy showed the
greatest stubbornness and must have
suffered greatly. Twenty were burned.
It is known that 81 were killed and AZ
wounded. More than SO horses were
found dead in one place. One battery
fred 500 rounds. Our force must halt
one day at, Gras Pan to rest n re-
plenish ammunition. The force worked
splendidly and is prepared to overcome
many difficulties. The naval brigade,
the Royal marines, the light infantry
and the First battalion Of the North
Lancashire regiment especially dis
tinguished themselves.
Regarding Tuesdays fight. 81 Boer
killed are accounted for; 81 wagons
were buried, a large quantity Of pow
der, $4,000 rounds of ammunition and
$50 shells were blown up. Command
ant Albrecht (chief of the Orange Free
State artillery commanded the Boer
artillery. Gen. Rolewy was in chief
command"
Creates Grent Suspense.
London, Nov. 2S.-No further news
respe citing Lord Metheun's advance
has been received and the absence, CT
official details regarding his losses
creates the greatest suspense, especial
ly since the publication of the heavy
sacrifices endured by the naval brig
ade. No alarm, however, is felt as to
his position, despite the evidence that
the Beers intend to contest every foot
of the way. 1t was known that In h
absence of sufficient cavalry he would
be compelled to advance slowly, and he
has. a preference for night or early
dawn attacks, which events seem to
have been justified. the Beers being de-
cidedly averse to darkness for their op-
erations. The fact that in the Gras
Pan action n British battery fired
500 rounds proves the desperate nature
Of the fight. and there is no doubt the
casualties were great. 1t now develops
that no guns were captured In the Bel
mont engagement. Meanwhile the
news from Natal is distinctly more
hopeful from the British point of view.
The details are rather vague, but it
seems certain that the Beers are re-
firing, that railway communication Is
being reopened and that British relief
forces are joining hands.
Butler at Pietermarltxburg.
London, Nov. 2S.-Spccial dispatches
from Pietermaritzburg announce the
arrival Of Gen. Butler there. He met
with a splendid reception. Railway
communication between Estcourt and
Moot River has been restored by Lord
Dundonald's force, and the Moot Riv-
er column entered Estcourt yesterday
Sunday, the Estcourt column imme.
diately starting the advance toward
Colenso.
England Declares State of War Ex-
icts.
st. Petersburg, Nov. %. - The Rus
sian newspapers announce that the
British charge d'affaires has informed
the Russian government that Great
Britain has been in a state of war
with the Dutch republics since Oct. II.
The Svedt, commenting upon this,
says: England, in giving this notice,
withdraws her. declaration that she it
not carrying on war, but is merely
subjugating rebels"
The Novoe vremya, which attributes
f%ar-reaching Importance to the British
notification, says: 1.-The powers are
now in q. position to send not only Red
Cross agents, but military agents as
well, and they may Judge this a fitting
time to irtervent, especially as the Al
rikanders are going more and more to
the Boer side"
Durham, Nov. photographic COM
munication with Estcourt has been re-
stored.
Estcourt, Nov. %. = Commandant
Gen. Joubert is retiring from Moot
River on Ladysmith.