The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-03
C0L0NIALS HAD THEIR TURN
CANADIANS AIDED IN ROUTING ,
LARGE BOER LAGER.

Raid Made by Col. Pitcher in which
Forty Beers Were Captured, and
Many Were KiIIed-TwO of the
Queensland Men KiIIed-BaIance of
the Enemy Left Their Position and
Fled Over the HiIIs-Toronto Men
Fought Wen.
Belmont, Cape Colony. Jan. "A dis
patch from the Associated Press repre-
sentative at Dover Farm, dated Jan. l.
says:
"A mounted force consisting of 100 Ca
nadians of the Toronto company and 200
Queenslanders, commanded by Col Rick
ards, two guns and horse battery, under
Maj. Derougement, forty mounted infan-
try, under Lieut.. Ryan, and 200 of the
Cornwall Light Infantry, the whole com,
manded by Col. Pitcher, left Belmont yes
Jerday at noon on a march westward, COW
ering twenty miles before sunset The
force encamped at Cooks farm, where the
troops were welcomed enthusiastically.
"At s clock this morning the force ap-
preached a spot where a lager of Beers
was reached. Col. Pitcher on approach
ing the position, which was a line of
strong kopjes, detached Maj. Derouge>
mont with the guns and mounted infan-
try to work toward the right, making a
turning movement himself with the
Queenslanders, toward the south position.
The Beers left their layers and opened
fire, but the Queenslanders completed the
movement, the laager was captured with
forty prisoners.
THE British casualties were two men
killed, three wounded and one missing.
The whole forced worked admirably The
TWO men killed belonged to the Queens
jand contingent"
Colonial Troops Fought Well.
Belmont, Cape Colony, Monday, Jan. l.
Another dispatch from Dover Farm,
dated Jan. I, Gays:
The colonial troops. who have been
longing to be allowed to meet the Beers,
have at last been given an opportunity TO
do so, and scored a brilliant success. The
raid conducted by Col Pitcher was very
difficult, owing to the fact that the move
ment of the troops was Immediately COM
municated 10 the Beers by natives. In
order to prevent this Col. Pitcher, in max
ing his forced march from Belmont, left
a British trooper at every farm house,
with instructions not to allow the natives
to leave their huts, the patrols calling the
natives hourly in order to prevent their
escg.
In the mareuver at Cooks farm, Col.
Pitcher sent mounted patrols east. one
of these, consisting of four men. COM
manded by Lieut.. Adie suddenly encoun-
tered fourteen Beers, who opened fire. The
Lieutenant was severely wounded, and
Private Butler gave up his horse in order
to carry the Lieutenant out of range.
horse had t.
cd. re urned pluckily to render service He
was wounded in his leg aud his horse was
llil ed. 4N
Meanwhile Lieut.. Ryan, who had work
ed magnihcanny, reported that the Veldt
on the right of the enemy was clear,
wheIeupon Mai. Derougemont ordered the
guns 10 trot. They arrived within 1,500
Y rds of the laager, unllmbered, and plant
ID five shells in as many minutes within
the laager.
Immediately the enemy could be seen
streaming over the kopje. They were com
pie ely surprised, but quickly opened a
well directed fire.
work of Toronto Company.
A representative of the Associated
Press ad the privilege of carrying an or
der to the Toronto company to move dou-
II -uuick into action. The order was re-
ceiyed with great satisfaction. The com
pany rushed forward until within a thou
sand yards of The enemys position, when
il opened hot fire upon the kop1e ana
completely subdued the Boer fire.
The British artillery sheled the posi-
ton with wonderful accuracy, while Lieut..
Ryan, with mounted infantry, worked
around and completely uncovered the hre
of the Beers who had been ensconsed in
the bushes.
Meanwhile, Col. Pitcher, with the
Queenslanders. taking advantage of every
cover, made a direct attack, the Austral-
ians moving slowly, but surely and only
shooting when they saw the enemy retir-
ing under their steady fire. The Queens
landers behaved with great cooiness,
laughing and chatting even at the moment