Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-15
THE WAR IN. AFRICA.
A British Force Outflanked by the
Beers at Rensburg.
Beers ENTRENCHINC AT KIMBERLEY.
Lord Roberts at nIOdder River-BOers Take
GunA from Mafeking to shell Kimber-
ley-Magersfontein ShelIed-JOubert
Trying to Outflank Butler.

Trying to Outhank Butler.
Rensburg, Feb. 1O.-The Beers out
fanked the British here yesterday.
A considerable force of the enemy
was threatening the British commu-
nications between Rensburg and
Slingersfontein, IL miles away, and
during reconnaissance by some
Inniskillings and 20 Australians from
Slingersfontein the Beers were dis
covered attempting to get a gun in po-
sitiOn to shell the British camp. The
Australians, having come into very
close contact with the enemy, took
cover under a hill about 5000 yards
from the camp. Thereupon the Beers
took up a position with a view of pre-
venting their retirement. Some
burghers got within 200 yards of the
Australians and called upon them to
surrender. They replied by fixing
bayOnets and shouting defiance. Sergt.
Edwards and two men made a dash
and, gallOping under a hot fire, passed
number of hills held by the Beers,
took word that the Australians were
safe and confident of holding the
enemy at bay and of getting out after
Inniskillings prevented the enemy
getting their guns in position. The
Australians lost one man killed and
three wounded.
The conveys have been successfully
gotten into Slingersfontein to-day,
the British escorts having had several
brushes with parties of from 20 to 80
Beers infesting the region. Lieut..
Col. Page, with a section of artillery
and $50 horse, got one large convoy
through by shelling the enemy out
of the road. The Beers also out
f1anlled us on the west, placed a gun
in position at Bastard's Mex and fired
on one of our Outposts, driving off
1000 sheep.
Spencer WfIkinson's Opinion.
London, Feb. 12.-Spencer Wilkin-
son in the Morning Post to-day dwells
upon the evidence of the unexpected
activity and probable numbers of the
Beers near Colesberg, where they are
not enclosed, but only half surround
ed on the south. He points out that
the Boer positions cover front of 20
miles, and infers that there must be
several thousands of the enemy on
I1iS : Lie ca IJ1 SSSSS UIIC nODS
that the rumor from Durham that a
Boer force is advancing in the hope of
outfanking Gen. Butler is correct, for
he considers that Gen. Joubert would
thus expose himself to just the sort of
blow it is so difficult to deliver
against the fortified positions north
Of the Tugela.
Beers Constructing Trenches at Kimberley.
London, Feb. 12.-The war office has
issued the following dispatch, dated
yesterday, from the general com
handing at Cape Town: kimberley
reports that the Boer fighting force
was apparently increased on Wednes-
day, February Z. Next day the Beers
commenced the construction of
trenches to the east, nearly parallel
to the Glacis and 400 yards from the
premier mine. A native reported that
he accompanied some Beers who left
Mafeking for Kimberley, carrying
with them a six-inch gun and quick
firing field gun. Otherwise the situa-
ton IS unchanged
Lord Roberts a. Modder River.
Modder River, Feb. 1O-Lord Rob-
e1ts is here. Upon appearing before
the troops he was enthusiastically
cheered. He visited the camp of the
Highland brigade and compliment
ed Gen. Macdonald and his men on
their steady conduct at Koodoosberg
drift. The Highlanders returned
last night. Before retiring they found
the bodies of IL Beers. They be-
lieve the losses of the enemy were
heavier than those of the British,
because it is known that, in addition
to the dead Beers found, several had
been buried.
Eating HorsefIe al at Kimberley.
London, Feb. 12.-Startling intelli-
gence comes from Kimberley in the
Cape newspapers just received by
mail in London. 1t appears that since
January S, the rations at Kimberley
have been for the most part horse
flesh, SO repugnant to wolsen and
children that many refuse to eat.
It also appears that the death rate
has been heavy and that the priva-
tons of the garrison have been in
creasing steadily.
MagarsfOntein Shelled.
Modder River, Feb. 10.-Apparently
the Beers have brought all their big
guns from Mafeking to shell Kimber-
ley. Our naval guns shelled Mayors
fontein to-day, but the Boer guns were
silent. 1t is supposed that the enc
my have withdrawn their artillery.
They are blowing up the perma-
nent way beyond Morton siding.
Jouberr Trying to Outfank Butler.
Durham, Feb. lat is rumOred
here that Gen. Joubcrt is marching
with a column of 5000 men to out
flank Gen. Butler.
The Six-Day Walking Match.
ST. Louis, Feb. 12.@The score for the