Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-11-27
A DEARTH OF NEWS
ENGLAND SUFFERING UNDER con-
TINUED SUSPENSE.
NO DETAILS. OF WAR LOSSES
HEAVY SACRIFICES BY THE NAVAL
BRIGADE.

HEAVY SACRIFICES BY THE NAVAL |
BRIGADE.
Desperate Battle of Gras Pan Fills |
London With Anxiety for List
of Casualties-VaEue Re-
ports That the Beers
---. Are Retiring.
LONDON, Nov. I'll a m.-No further |
news respecting lord AIethuens advance
mas been received and the absence Of Of |
ficial details Regarding his. losses creates
the greatest suspense, and especially since
the publication of the heavy sacrifices en-
dured by the naval brigade. No alarm,
however, is felt as to his position, despite
1.-THE evidence that the Beers intend to con-
test every foot of the way. 1t was known
that. in the absence OF sufficient cavalry,
he would be compelled to advance slowly,
and he has preference for night or early
dawn attacks, which events seem to have
justified, the Beers being decidedly ad-
The fact that in the Gras Pan action one
verse TO darkness sfor their operations.
desperate nature of the fight and there is
little doubt that the casualties were heavy.
1t is now known that no guns were cap
| tured in the Belmont engagement.
Meanwhile the news from Natal is dis
tinctly more hopeful from the British
point of view The details are rather
vague, but it seems certain that the Beers
are retiring, that railway communication
| Is being reopened and that the British re-
| lief forces are joining hands.
| This, taken with General Buffers arrival
| at Pietermaritzburg, is expected to make
matters move briskly very soon.
General billiards reconnaissance is
praised as work of very great difficulty,
| admirably executed The troopship Medic
arrived at Cape Town yesterday with the
| Australian contingents. The Pindari and
| the Idaho arrived there Saturday, bringing
| three batteries of artillery.
| The Servia, with troops, has left Cape
Town for Durham, and the arnsports Mo-
hawk and Manchesterport have arrived at
| Durham. ...'f
| The utmost activity prevails in getting
| war necessaries ready for the front Five
thousand men worked all day yesterday
tSunday) at Woolwich arsenal preparing
| stores. The arsenal employees, now num-
! Ssql leul psuIBA ussq sAeq 'cIS'6I SurIsq
| heSu cAptCl at SnElStHdS
| tide.
| Among minor items of news Is a report
that President Kruger is suffering with
| Bright's disease. and that his condition
is growing worse. Five hundred Beers at
| tackled kurman, in Beehuanaiand, on No.
venber 1S- The fighting lasted almost con-
tfnuouSly for six days and nights, but the
| Beers were finally beaten of with a loss
of thirty in killed and twenty-eight
wounded.
| The British lost one killed and one
wounded. The Beers suddenly disappeared
| for some reason unknown
Despite the brighter outlook to-day the
Times in its review of the situation, voices
the anxiety felt and says:
THE activity the Beers display at points
| separated by hundreds of miles. their abiI-
to offer battle at Belmont and again at
GFasS Pan. their widespread operations
offensive action in Natal. seem to indicate
numbers far in excess of our estimates
! II Is clear that the military requirements
were at first greatly underestimated. and
that sixth division ought Immediately to
| be prepared for embarkation.''
This. coming from the hitherto optimis-
/ tic Times. is significant.
A special dispatch from Estcourt, dated
| Thursday, November %, and describing the
engagement. at Willow Grange, says:
h General billiards s plans were TO attack
Beacon Hill and the hill beyond with the
bayonet. Both were occupied by the Beers
in force, with intrenchments and with four
| about 10 feet high. A column under the
command of General Hilliard marched five
miles over undulating ground and then be-
gan the steady work of climbing the height.
The naval gun and a battery of field ar
tillery were dragged by sheer strength and
with the greatest difficulty over the veldt
I and up an almost inaccessible eminence
l.. The Beers retired the off side of
| Beacon hill, while the British were climb
ing the near side. At this moment ter
rihc thunderstorm burst, continuing for
| hours. AT o'clock the weather cleared
and few artillery and rifle exchanges
closed the days operations, darkness fall
ing and the prospect being very dismal
The heavy rain was renewed, but when the
storm had spent itself the British march
was resumed. until. after several hours of
dangerous and tedious work. climbing the
vanced pickets Of the Beers were reached
in the small hours of the morning
1.-The West Yorkshires were moving
stealthily along and were within bayonet
striking distance, when a nervous private
fired his rifle. This warned the Beers and
they fed. The Yorkshires charged as best
they could. clearing the Beers from the
final position just at daybreak, with three
| ringing chers.
Tine Beers rallied and attempted to ride
sounded the charge and the British re-
spouded with cheers. the enemy fed and
the position was won. The Beers left
blankets, as well as thirty horses. The
British took several prisoners.
- he OUJetL I'll ltIt ieCOIllidiSsSAiite, WHICH
was to prevent the enemy taking up GER
tain positions which overlook East Est
court having been attained, the column
gradually retired to camp, while the ar
| tiIlery and some infantry held Beacon Hill.
The British losses are estimated at eight
| killed and fortI-two wounded"
| LONDON, Nov. 26-This afternoon the
war office posted the following dispatch.
dated Cape Town 1920 p m. to-day, from
| General Forester-Walker: Lord Methuen
reports that he moved yesterday (Satur-
day. at 3:30 a. m, with the Ninth brigade.
; the mounted corps, the naval brigade and
two batteries, the guards following with
the baggage. Near Gras Pan (about ten
miles north OF Belmont. on the railway line
to Kimberley. ESQ Beers. with six guns
t action began at 6 a m Our batteries fired
I shrapnel very accurately till the heights
e seemed clear. Then the naval brigade and
infantry advanced to the assault. The
= | firing was desperate until 10 a. nl.. wher
) the heights were carried. The Beers re-
) / treated on the line. where the Ninth
Iancers were placed TO intercept them
r The result was not known at the time OF
2 telegra phing- Phe artillery took irlme.
date advantage of the enemy's retirement
Early in the action 800 Boers attacked
our rear guard The brigade met this and
also protected the TANKS. The naval bri.
suffered heavily, but no particulars are vel
known.
'.The enemy showed the greatest stub
bornness and must have suffered greatly
Twenty were buried. 1t is known tha;
s thirty-one we're killed and forty-eigh'
h / wounded More than fifty horses were
- found dead IN one place. One batter.