The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
TROOPS CLOSE 70 CO[ENSO.
DundonaId's Command Within
Three Miles Of Beers Position.
BRIDGE NOT THEN DESTROYED.
Explosion Heard After British Force
Returned from the Reconnarisance
Nay Have Been Caused by the Blow
ing Up of the Structure.

Nay Have Been Caused by the Blow
ing Up of the Structure.
Frere Camp, Nov. 2S.-Lord Dundon-
AIDS command advanced to within
three miles of Colenso this morning,
and his scouts reconnoitered the bridge
across the Tugela and the position of
the enemy. They reported that there
were two camps of the enemy, and
that Colenso was full of Beers. The
bridge was intact.
The scouts were seen by the Beers,
and they retired under rifle fire.
There were no casualties.
{ After the British retired there was
tremendous explosion and cloud OF
smoke in the direction OF the bridge
across the Tugela river.
The Boer force at Colenso is be-
lieved to be about 5000 men. Reports
are coming in that many of them are
suffering from sickness and want of
food.
If the big railway bridge over the
Tugela has been scientifically de-
stroyed, as now seems likely, Gen.
Hildyard will have to make his passage
of the river by pontoon bridge. The
effect of the reconnaissance was to dis
close the fact that the Beers are
strongly placed along Grobler's kloof,
on the north side of the river, and it
seems evident that they intend to
make strong effort to resist the pas
A nati3es r rdiysr arrived from
Ladysmith says that the garrison there
is doing very we'll, and that everybody
Is comfortable.
British Troopship Wrecked.
London, Dec. 5.-The following dis.
patch has been received at the wal
office from Gen. Sir Frederick Forest
ier-Walker:
Cape Town, Dec. 3.-The Office,
commanding the troops on the Lismore
Castle transport telegraphs from Vre
denburg that the transport went ashore
on the rocks in St. Helena bay, Cape
Colony. All the troops were safely
conveyed from the ship to the shore
The horses are still on board, and il
will be difficult to land them"
The Ismore carried total of an
troops.
Another dispatch received at the
war Office sent by Gen. Forester.
Walker, says:
Col. Kekewich reports, under date
of Nov. 80, that the Bechuanaland pro
tectorate police captured the enemy's
lager to the west of Kimberley on
Nov. %. Communication by means o.
the searchlight between Kimberley an(
Modder river has been established
A telegram received here yesterday
states that Gen. Lord Methuen is agar
in the field, having recovered from the
effects of his wound. Major Count
Gleichen, a cousin of the queen, who
was also wounded at Modder river
was hit in the neck by bullet.
Tells of Modder Fight.
London, Dec. 5.-The Daily Mails
correspondent, in dispatch dated Bel.
mont, Nov. %, says:
The Beers at Modder river were
very strongly intrenched on both banks
and also in the broad bed of the
stream. Our troops drove the enemy
out of his position on the south side
Of the river. forced him across the
stream and then cleared him from the
other side until he was driven off il
full retreat. Gen. Methuen now has {
large force firmly established across
the river"
The Daily Mail also publishes dis.
patch from Sterksstroem, Cape Colony
under Tuesdays date, which says:
Gen. Gatacre, who occupies strong
position, has been REINFORCED by the
Second Northumberland regiment The
Beers have withdrawn from Molteno
There has been further movement
toward Indwe. Dordrecht is safe
Bushman's Hoeck is strongly held by
| imperial troops"
Look for Battle at spytfontein.
London, Dec. 5.-The publication OF
the list of casualties at Modder river
Tuesday materially relieves the ten.
sion that has existed in the public
4 mind since Gen. Methuen's first dis
patch. Heavy as the casualties We're
it had been considered that they would
be much more appalling, in view OF
Gen. Methuen's description of the ten
hours battle. Experts point out, how
ever, that the British advanced in very
open formation, rendering the most oil
the Boer firing ineffective.
Gen. Methuen remains at Modde1
river, pending the reconstruction OF
the bridge, which, a dispatch says, has
been SO far repaired that it can be
used by the troops. So news of an ad-
vance of the main force is hourly ex-
pected, along with an account of the
engagement which it is taken for
granted will occur at Spytfontein,
where the Beers are concentrating.
5000 Round Mafeking.
/ Cape Town, Nov 2S-A bicyclist
who left Mafeking on Nov II arrived
at Upington today. He reports that
5000 Beers surrounded Mafeking on
Nov. IA. The town was then all right
The damage caused by the lombard
ment was very slight, except to the
convent. The Boer trenches were 1900
yards from the town. They were using
| rifles bl1t without effect