The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-12-01
'BOERS DEFEATE
BRlT1su FORCES UNDER METHUEN
WIN A COMPLETE VICTORY.
Enemy Driven From strong Position
After q Splendid Attack by Brit
ish Troops-Boers Suffered Heavy
Losses-British Losses Were So
Killed and 40 Wounded-still
Anxious Regarding Situation in
Natal-White's sortics Democrat
ice the Boers-Boer Positions Cap
tured by White.

London, Nov. 25.-The secretary Of
war has received the following DIS
patch through Gen. Forres.er-Wa.kel,
from Gen. Methuen, dated Belmont,
Nov. %:
Attacked the enemy at daybreak
this morning. He was in a strong po-
ton. Three ridges were carried In
succession. the last attack being pre-
pared by shrapnel. Infantry behaved
splendidly and received support from
the naval brigade and artillery. The
enemy fought with courage anil skill.
Had attacked later should have had
far heavier less. Our victory was
complete. Have taken forty prisoners.
Am burying a good number of Beers,
but the greater part Of the enemy's
killed and wounded were removed by
their comrades. Have captured Il
large number of horses and COWS and
destroyed large quantity Of ammuni-
tiGn"
The British losses are reported as IS
killed. 40 wounded and IS missing.
Repetition of Elnns1augtc.
London, Nov. 25.-Before anxiety as
lieyed there comes news of Il great
battle at Belmont. This has happened
sooner than was expected. Only the
official account is yet to hand. but so
far as can be gathered the fighting ap-
pears to have been almost a repetition
Of the battle of Elans.aagte. A dis
patch of the previous day estimated
that 1.-THE Beers in that vicinity num-
bered 1000 and that they had five
guns. and judging from the absence
of any statement to the contrary in
the official report it is believed that
the British were slightly superior il
number to the enemy.
brilliant Sortics by White.
London, Nov. 25. - The situation in
Natal remains obscure. Fighting was
reported at both Estcourt and Lady
smith. 1t was at first reported that
heavy firing had been heard in the di-
rection of Willow Grange, leading to
belief that Gen. Hildyard had made
sortie. Later dispatches announce
that Gen. White SORTED from Lady
smith and inflicted Il demoralizing de-
feat upon the Beers.
1t would be premature to give full
credenc, to either report. What is
quite certain is that I1adysmith. Est
court and Moot River Station are all
isolated and the Beers seem able, af-
ter detaching enough troops to hold
three British forces aggregating IT,
coo men, to push forward toward Pie
termaritZburg with some 1000 men.
A disquicting feature of the whole
campaign is the fact that all the adj
vancing columns report meeting the
Beers i'll force. After the brill ant sue
cess of Gen. Joubert in partially par
alyz.ng the relieving columns. the
question is asked what would have
happened had he at the outset of the
war, instead of sitting down before
Ladysmith, pushed OH toward Pieter-
maritzburs?
An official dispatch from Sir Alfred
Miner to Mr.. Chamberlain reports
that thus far the efforts of til, Beers
to pr3yokc an uprising among the
Basutcs. or to start civil war have
been unsuccessful.
Captured by Gen. White.
Durham. Nov. 25.-Thc Natal Times
says: During the night attack on
Sunday Gen. White captured severa!
Boer positions with guns and much
material"
Basis of Settlement.
Lcnlon. Nov. 25.-rhc Daily Chroni-
Gle says: I'VE learn that the cabinet
has decided that bass of settlement
in South Africa will be Il united South
Africa, modelled upon the Canadian
plan. The details have not yet been
settled. but it is pract cally settled
that no terms of peace will be accept
cd by the British government short of
the British occupation CT Prstori:.
and Rloemfontein.'
Dutch Rising Continues.
Lordon. Nov. 25.-The war office has
received the following Dispatch from
Gen. Forester Walker at Cape Town:
Gen. Gatcacre reports having (on
Wednesday, encamped a battalion of
infantry near Putters kraal. and that
pinfolcelnents of mounted troops with
half Il battalion Of infantry arrived as
the same camp. The Dutch rising cen
t'nues in the Broken Nail d:s:r cts.
The police at Molten's report that
armed Dutch have left Craddcc!s
Cape Co!onyl to join the rebels at
Broken Nail"
Bocrs Forced to Retire.
Orange River. Nov, o5.--An engage