The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-28
Report Received Yesterday from
General Butler Giving an Account
of the Beacon Hill Fight.
PRAISE FOR GEN. HILDYARD
WHO HAS MADE THE RELIEF OF
LADYsMITH POSSIBLE.
CIery Trying to Reach the Beleag-
Won Another Victory.


LONDON. Nov. 2s. 4:3O a. ma fresh in
terruption in the East African cable service
at this interesting moment has caused
cessation of war news. AS yet the War Of
flee has not received Lord Methuen's de-
tailed list Of casualties, nor Is any informa-
ton at hand regarding the whereabouts of
the Ninth Lancers. who were sent in pur-
suit OF the Beers from Gras Pan. The
Daily Mail says that a private telegram
announces that the Lancers are still scout
Ing ahead of Methuen's advancing column.
but as he announced yesterday that he was
giving his men days rest this is hardly
possible. Indeed, the greatest anxiety is
felt. and more especially in view of the
fact that a Berlin journal, the Deutsche-
warte. which regularly prints Boer COM
munications. announced yesterday. before it
could have been ascertained from British
sources. that the naval brigade lost one
hundred men at Gras Pan. and that the
Nin'h lancers were captured
The fact that General Methuezr was forced
to fight a second pitched battle near the
scene of the first shows the Beers were not
demoralized at Belmont, but quickly rallied
and, with unabated courage, met the splen-
did assault of the British naval brigade at
Gras Pan. The excellent military qualities
displayed by the Beers In these two fights
were no doubt partially derived, from the
training of Commandant Albrecht. former
officer of the Austrian army. Presumably
n IL
march northward. He was. when last heard
from, still nearly fifty miles from Kimber
ley. and doubtless an action will have to
be fought at Modder river before Diamond
opolis' Is relieved. There Is some doubt
as to what is meant by the statement that
the Beers are falling back on Warrenton,
which is fifty miles north of Kimberley.
unless the dispatch was intended to fall into
British hands, in the hope of misleading
General Methuen. The latter, however, is
said TO be far too cautious to be caught by
such a trick, and. 1t is added, it can be
confidently anticiated that mis- column will
sweep steadily forward. in spite OF the de-
termined resistance he will meet with.
The conclusion must be accepted however
reluctantly, that the Beers are deliberate
In their misuse of white flags. On top of
General Methuen's warning and other evil
dence comes the statement of Correspond
ent Knight. who has arrived at Cape Town
wounded. He says he accompanied a de-
tachment Of the Northampton Regiment
when a force of Beers, three hundred yards
distant surrounded and displayed a white
nag. The officer commanding the Northamp-
tons ordered his men to rise, when the Beers
deliberately volleyed. wounding eight
dispatch from Cape Town, dated yes
terday afternoon. says: 1T is reported
that General Methuen has captured Honey
Nest kloof, ten miles north of Gras Pan,
and two million rounds of ammunition"
HILDYARDS VICTORY.
General Hildyard's achievement at Bea-
con hill Is beginning to be recognized as one
Of the best things the campaign has yet
shown, as it has relieved the tension of the
situation In Natal and has brought the re-
lief Of Ladysmith within measurable dis
tance. General Butler appears to be confi-
dent OF Lord Methuen's ability and is de-
voting all his energy TO Ladysmith. An at
tempt will be made presumably to reach
Colenso in time TO cut off the retreat OF the
Beers from Weenen over the Tugela river
1t Is feared. however. that the enemy viii
get there first and destroy the bridge AT
FSrere bridge the British found two massive
spans utterly wrecked by dynamite, one
piece weighing 22i pounds having been
hurled 300 yards.
Apparently General Clery's advance to the
relief OF Ladysmith has really commenced
So far as ascertainable. General Hildyard's 3
force. which is already at Frere, must
number 1000 men and should be able 10 re-
occupy Cclenso, where il may have to await
achievements OF artillery and cavalry be-
fore joining hands with General White.
General Barton now occupies Estcourt ana
Mooi river will be occupied by reinforce
ments from Pietermaritzburg The whole
situation has been distinctly cleared since
the arrival of General Butler In Natal.
though. doubtless, the British will have
many difficulties 10 overcome. Before Cen
eral White is relieved big battle Is likely
20 occur at the passage OF Tugela river.
and II may be expected that the Beers will
make stand there. In any case, wherever
tkey elect TO try 10 stem the British ad-
vance. there will be desperate fighting and
Of a sanguinary character.
The outlook in Cape Colony Is dark for
the British. That General Gatacre has no
easy task Is proved By the latest dispatches
from Queenstown and elsewhere. showing
that the majority OF the population on the
frontier have openly declared themselves
on the side OF the Beers. Bands Of Beers
are doing immense damage over wide
area. and they have not appeared south of
stormberg. General Gatacre. however,
moves TO the front to-day. so II Is hoped by
the British the invasion will soon be
stemmed.
A meeting OF the refugees from Aliwal
North the constituency OF Mr.. ]. w. Sauer,
the commissioner Of public works. held at
Queenstown Sunday passed a resolution OF
"d1strust and alarm" at Mr.. Sauer's visit 10
the border. (which has been followed by