Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26
CAPE DUTCH JOIN The BOERS
Reports Cause Serious Alarm at the English
Headquarters,
FEARS THAT IT IS A GENERAL MOVEMENT
General Methuen Warns Beers Not to
Use Dumdum nuiIets and TO
Observe the Rules
of War.

LONDON, Nov. 25.-The news Of the death
OF the khalifa and the final defeat of the
dervishes has been received here with great
Joy as a welcome set-off to the serious stu
alton, in South Africa.
The gravest news from Capetown today
comes from the northern past of the colony,
where 1t is now evident numbers OF Dutch
farmers have risen and Joined the invading
Free State forces in the Herschell and Bark
ley East districts.
A dispatch from Queenstown, Cape Colony,
General Gatacre's, headquarters, announces
that 400 colonial rebels, Including an ex-
magistrate of Barlsley East, have Joined the
enemy at the latter place, and that the
whole force is reported to be marching on
Dordrecht, whence 1t can operate and pos
sibly intercept General Gatacree advance
to reoccupy stornberg Junction, strategic
point from which General Gatacre can get
in direct touch through the railroad with
General French at Naauwpoort and thus,
with the British base at De Aar.
Another dispatch says that refugees ar
irving from Queenstown ASSERT that Lady
grey has been occupied by the colonial
farmers and that it is feared there that
there is general movement in favor of the
Beers
ing the treacherous use of the white flag
by the Beers Is arousug indignation. The
troops engaged are bitterly complaining and
II is feared the result will be a refusal to
give the Beers quarter.
An incident similar to the one which oc-
CURED at the battle of Glencoe, when an
officer was shot by wounded Boer, is re-
ported by the London Times correspondent
at Belmont, who says that Lieutenant Blum
dell of the Grenadier Guards was shot by a
wounded Boer, whom he was tending.
Warming to Beers.
Such statements appear incredible, but
they are now confirmed officially by the pro-
test of General .Methuen, who has sent a
message to the Boer commander, saying:
81 must ask you to warn your wounded
not to shoot our officers I must warn you
not to use dumdum bullets or use the flag
of truce treacherously. Such action is cow
ardly in the extreme and l cannot counte
nance it."
All accounts confirm the splendid charging
of the British infantry, the Scots Guards en-
tering the fight with drums beating and flies
playing.
The second ridge was the strongest posi-
tion. The Beers there were sheltered be-
hind ramparts of boulders. Nevertheless,
the Guards advanced steadily, many of them
coolly smoking
E. E. Knight, we'll known war corre-
spondent who went to Havana during the
Spanish american war, was wounded in the
arm by dumdum bullet
The hospital train arrived at Orange river
in the nick of time from Capetown and was
sent to Belmont. The train is constructed
from the corridor system, with beds ranged
in tiers on each side. On it's return to
Orange river with the wounded it was found
that number of them were able to walk,
but there were many stretcher cases. The
troops in camp lined the route from the sta
tion to the hospital. The wounded were
cheerful and, as they limped along, sup
ported by medical orderlies, exchanged chaff
with soldiers in the crowd.
Got any loot?" asked soldier.
Yes was the reply from the manned
man, .'in my blooming leg.'
There Is much discussion now as to
whether General Methuen intends to march
direct to Kimberley or double around and
cut off the Free Staters who have invaded
the Colesburg and Burgersdorp districts and
driving them on Generals Gatacre and
French, infiict crushing defeat on them.
The general opinion, however, is that he
will proceed north and attack the Beers at
Modder river, thus relieving Kimberley.
Anxious About Mnfeking.
There is much anxiety now as to the fate
of Mafeking in view of tie latest and
somewhat respondent advices. 1t was ru-
mored in the Glasgow Stock exchange today
that Mafeking has surrendered, but the
War Office officials declare they have nothing
confrmatory or otherwise.
In the meanwhile the news from Natal is
not encouraging. Estcourt and the Mooi
river camp are both hard pressed and 1t
seems almost joke to regard the garrisons
as forming part of the relief force for Lady
smith.
A dispatch from Pretoria, dated Thurs
day, gives advlces from south of Lady
smith to the effect that General Joubert the
same morning shelled Estcourt camp, but
without response. The Inhabitants of the
town were reported to be leaving.
The dispatch from Pretoria also indicates
that news of the battle of Belmont had
reached Pretoria, as 1t says heavy fighting
Is reported south of Kimberley today be-
tween the Free Staters and supposed Brit
lsh relief force from Orange river.
The foregoing dispatch does not refer to
the British attack on the Boer position at
Willow bridge, outside OF Estcourt, the prev
lous day, which was reported by the English
newspaper correspondents The attack is said
TO have been a surprise and although the
British retired on Estcourt they did not do