Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-27
BATTLE.
Lord Methuen Meets the
Beers Near Belmont.
English Garry Heights After Four
Hours of Fierce Fighting.
Beers Retreat With Heavy Loss-English
Troops Distinguish Themselves.

London. Nov 2G.-This afternoon, the
war office posted the following dispatch
dated Cape Town. 30 Z. NJ, today,
from Gen. Forester Waldo:
Lord Methuen reports that he moved.
yesterday, Saturday.. at $50 A. M
With the 9th Brigade. the mounted
corps, the naval brigade and two bat
terieS. the guards following with the
baggage. Near Gras Pan (abOut 10
miles north of Belmont on the railway
line to Kimberley $500 Beers with six
guns ana TWO machine guns, opposed
him. The action began at a. NJ. Our
batteries fred shrapnelyery accurately
till the heights seemed clear. Then
the naval briga lie and infantry advanc-
ed to the assault. The fighting was
desperate until 10 A. NJ. when the
heights were carried. The Beers re
treated on the line where the 9th Lam
GERS We're placed to intercept them.
The result was not known at the time
Of telegra phing. The artillery took i'm
mediate advantage of the enemy's re-
tirement.
Early in the action 800 Beers attack
ed our rear guard. The brigade met
this and also protected the TANKS. The
eaIlantry and suffered heavily, but no
particulars are yet known.
The enemy showed the greatest stub
bornness and must have suffered
greatly. Twenty were buried. 1t is
known that 80 were killed and As
wounded More than 80 horses We're
found dead in one place. One battery
fired 800 rounds.
Our force must halt one day at Gras
Pan 70 rest ana replenish ammunition
The force worked splendidly and is
prepared to overcome any difficulty.
The naval brigade, the Royal Marines.
the light infantry and the 1st Battalion
nf the North Lancashire Regiment es-
pCcially distinguished themselves.
Regarding Thursdays fighting. ST
Boers killed are accounted for Sixty
four wagons were burned. A large
quantity Of powder. $4,000 rounds Of
ammunition and $50 shells We're blown
up. Commandment Albrecht Cchief of the
Orange Free State artillery command
"a the Boer artillery. Gen. Bolewy
was III chief command.
A further dispatch from Cape Town.
dated yesterday. says: The officers.
non-commissioned officers and men in
'
except a driver and gunner. both Of
whom AT" seriously ill., Two privates
have died If pneumonia. The Belmont
wounded are due here. tomorrow. by
the ambulance train. Lord Methuen is
in Photograph communication with
Kimberley"
The admiralty is in receipt of the
following dispatch from Rear Admiral
Harris. dated Cape Town, Nov 26: I
deeply regret to report the following
casualties in the action at Gras Pan,
yesterday:
Killed-Commander Ethelston Of the
Powerful: Major Plumbe of the Doris:
Captain Guy Senior of the Royal Ma
rineS of the Monarch.
Woundcd-Flag Captain Prothero of
the Doris. severely; Lieut.. Jones Of the
Doris.
The other casualties are not yet
known Commander De Horsey, Capt.
Morgan and Lieut.. Wilson. all of the
Monarch. have proceeded to join the
naval brigade with Lord Methuen.
At Wellington barracks. London, the
following telegram. undated. posted
from Col. Crabbe Of the Grenadier
Guards. respecting the fight at Bel
mont: The Grenadiers on the right
and the Scots Guards on the left sue
cessfully carried 4 height east of Bel
mont The battalion fully maintained
the reputation Of the regiment
The casualty list shows that in addi-
ton To Lieut. Fryer. killed. and Col.
Crabbe and six other officers wounded.
y men We're killed and S. wounded.
with five unaccounted for.
London. Nov. Especial dispatches
from PictermaritZburg announce the
arrival Of Gen. Butler there. He met
with q splendid reception. Railway
communication between Estcourt and
Mooi river has been restored by Lord
Dundonals forces and the MOOT river
column entered E,stcourt. yesterday
Sunday, the Fs;court column immedi-
ately starting the advance toward Co
lenso.
\ special dispatch from Estcourt, dated
sunday. SAYS: The Moot river column
has Joined Gen. Hildyard's forces and is
5ivouacking. this morning, at Frere.
about midway between Estcourt and Co.
lerso."
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