The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-12

the Beers Captured.
London, December 9, 4:5O a. i
Methuen' restoration of the railway.
While relieving a load of anxiety here.
accentuates the dangers still threaten
ing his forces. 1t is gathered from the
brief official dispatch that Comman-
dant Pr1ns Loos' contingent was taken
tive forces acting from Belmont
and southwark from Modder river. 1t
IS quite possible, however, that rein
IorcementS were sen to Belmont mere
ly as a precautionary measure.
There is little other news Of i'm
portance. Reports continue to com
from Ladysmith that dissension exists
among the Beers, and especially that
the Orange Free State troops are dis
contented. There are also all kinds of
rumOrs of movements of commanders
from place to place, but the fact is that
little is known here regarding the ac-
tual position of the Boer forces. More
oyer, the rumors IF a collapse of Boer
spirit have been heard so often as not
to cause much satisfaction now.
BRITISH CAPTURE A BRITISH
STEAMER.
London, December 8.-A special dis
patch from Cape Town announces that
the British gunboat Partridge has cap
tured the British steamer Masnona,
Captain tombstone, which left New
York November 3rd. via st. Vincent,
November 18th, for AIgoa, bay, laden
with flour for the Transvaal. The car
go will be landed at Cape Town and
the ship released.
Cape Town, wednesday, December
Cit is announced that Major Elliott,
commanding in the native territories
of Griqualand East, is arming the ma
tiVes by imperial authority with a view
Of assisting the defensive forces.
Frere Camp, December S.-The tres
tie bridge is finished and the trains
are now traVersing it.
OndOn December 9.-The Times has
the following from MOdder river, dated
Tuesday, December 5: The river is
low and the railway bridge is rapidly
approaching completion. The first
train will cross tonight. After extra
ordinary eXertions the pontoOn bridge
has been completed"
BRITISH ADVANCE ON COLENSO.
Pretoria Thursday December T.
The following dispatch, dated today,
has been received from the head laager
near LadySmith: THE British are ad-
vancing on COlensO, but last night
passed without an attack. There was
a desultory c~annonade this morning,
the naval guns in L~adysmith replying
vigorously to Our fire."
Pretoria, Wednesday, December g.
Fighting commenced near Modder riv-
er at 6 o'clock this morning.
L~adysmith, December Z, via Weenen-
dath.-The total British casualties here
since November LIST are 5 officers and
&c men killed and Is officers and 100
men wounded, with 8 missing. The
BOer force is still around us in large
umbers but all within the town are
we'll and cheerful.
London, December 8, $50 p. m.-The
war office has just issued the follow
ing:
No further news has arrived from
General Methuen today, but the follow
ing has been received from Orange riv-
er station:
GA railroad culvert was blown up
near Gras Pan this morning. The tel
egraph was also cut. The guides re-
port heavy firing of guns toward the
north"
The foregoing implies that the Beers
have cut the line of communication be-
hind General Methuen, who apparent
ly is now fighting.
London, December 9.-General For
estier-Walker has sent the following
dispatch dated at 9 o'clock last (Fri-
day. evening to the war office from
Cape Town:
Telegraph n railway communica-
ton to Modder river las been reopen
ed. A battery of field artillery and a
battalion of infantry were dispatched
from Modder river against Command
ant Prins Loos' force of 1000 Beers,
with one gun who a destroyed the
railway. Our losses were fourteen in
wounded.
Belmont has been strengthened by
infantry and two guns n a cavalry
regiment, and troops from Naauw-
poort occupied Arundel Thursday. The
enemy's forces near General Gatacre
are reported as follows: At Dordreicht
800; marching from Jamestown tC
/, Dordreicht 700, with six guns; at
y Stormburg 1900; at Waterfall a large
force, strength unknown; at Molteno
about 400.
Lord Methuen reports casualties
December 9Th on patrol duty, as fol-
lows: Missing, Lieutenant Tr1stran
and four men of the Twelfth Lancersi
wounded, four men,"