The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-15

Fighting The British Loss Heavy.
On Half Rations at Ladysmfth-Sor-
ties and Bombardment at Mafeking
Molteno, Cape Colony. December 10.
General Gatacre left Putter's Kraal
by train for Molteno and the proceed
ed by a forced march twelve miles to-
ward Stormberg.
He a a little over 1900 men, in
Guiding the Northumberland Fusileers,
the Royal Irish Rifles and Two batter
les of field artillery.
The object was 10 ascertain the
strength of the position occupied by the
Beers, who were intrenched along the
Stormberg mountain range.
Leaving Molteno ait 9 O'Clock p. m.
Saturday, the British made a memora-
Bile night march over the rocks and
veldt There was no sound except a
steady tramp, and there were no dis
tinguishing lights, the bright moon
having gone down. The column ar
rived safely within two miles of it's des~
tination, the only special incidents of
the march having been an occasional
sudden call of halt" under the belief
that the Beers were lear.
Suddenly a terrific fire was opened
simultaneously ON the British front
and right iank. The Royal Inish Rifles
which formed the advance, sought shell
ter behind a neighboring koje Or Hill
and were speedily Joined by h re-
mainder of the column. 1t was soon
found, however, that this position also
was covered by Boer gums, which were
more pOVerf u1 han had been
The British. therefore, sought a safer
position about half a mile away, two
batteries i'm the meantime engaging
the Beers and covering the troops in
their withdrawal.
The action unen ocean general at
long range. A detachment of mounted
Infantry moved northWard with a view
of getting on the Beers right flank.
Suddenly a strong commando was seen
moving from the north n the Royal
Irish Rifles and the Northumberland
regiment were sent out to meet it. 1t
was soon discovered, however, that the
Beers had machine guns we'll placed,
and the British were compelled to face
a terrible fire.
Finding it impossible to hold the po-
sition in the face Of am enemy appar-
entity superior in position, numbers
and artillery, THE British retired to-
ward Molento, THE Beers following up
the retirement closely and bringing two
big guns to bear ON the returning coll
umn.
The engagement began ait Ais a. m.
1t was z a. M. when the British retired.
General Gatacre says he found the
Boer position i~mpregnGable. It was i'm
possible for the British infantry to get
at the Beers.
~.-a~rr tA@HrTTyc, DUyUVErAT
London. December 1O.-The war office
issues the following dispatch from Gem
eral Forester Walker, ait Cape Town:
.'Gatacre reports: Deeply regret to
inform you THAI I met with a serious
reverse lin the attack on Stormberg. l
was misled as ito h enemy's position
by the guides, and found impractical
bile ground"
THE BRITISH LOSSES.
The British losses, so far as known
ait present, ARE 2 killed, 26
and COS missing, who are probably prls-
Pretoria, December Isis hundred
and seventy-two British prisoners were
taken at Stormberg. In the fighting at
Modder river yesterday evening Cen
eral Cronje maintained his position
and captured fifty British soldiers.
Pretoria, December H., via LourenZo
Maruues.-The Beers captured three
British guns in the engagement with
General Gatacre's forces at Stormberg.
The sortie at Kimberley last Satur-
day was an attempt to take the Boer
position at Kamperdam and to secure
the water works. All the British
shots fell short.
FIGHTING AT MAFEKING.
Mafeking, November 80, via Louren-
20 Marques, December 11.-Sorties by
%Lo Dr;fich orr1nrad train and ROpr
shelling of the town continue. The
British have had out few casulties.
Last evening the protectorate regiment
managed ito ecu an outpost, where
the British Lee-Metfords could reach
the enemy's big gun and the result
was tina the effectiveness Of the Boer
fire was materially reduced.
ON HALF RATIONS.
Lorenzo, Marques, December H.
The following dispatch has been re-
ceived from the Boer lager near Lady
smith:
Several Kaffir runners from Lady
smith to Estcourt nave been captured.
They received from ELS to $40 for the
trip. The intercepted messages show
that men and horses in Ladysmith are
now on half r~ations, hat whiskey is
Ell a bottle and that beer is ex-
hausted."
Modder River, Cape Colony, Deem
Der 1O.-The naval Al nch gun again
took up a position north Of the camp
this afternoon, while the Howitzer bat
terry was posted southeast ON the left
of the Beers. Both opened a hot fire
with Lyddite shells and shrapnel, tc
which the Beers sharply replied with
a dozen guns, thus unmasking their
position, which was the object Of the
British maneuver. After an hours
firing the Boer guns were ~silenced, the
Howitzers seached the trenches and
then threw shell after shell upon the
hills, the explosion of the Lyddite caus-
ing the whole ground over an exten.
sive area ito rise in the air in dens
brown clouds. A Boer long gun was
dismantled.
1t now appears that the Beers in.
tend that h next fight is to take