Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-03
British General French's Reported
Defeat of Beers Confirmed.
FIGHT AT DOVER FARM
Colonel Pitcher Also claims TO nnvo
Completely Defeated the Boer. nj.
the snnny.ido Langcr Monday
Tmgola River As Eordnbio ana
BuIIor's Army Is in Fine Form
ana Full of Confluence.
(By Telegraph to virglnian Pilot,

(By Telegraph to Virglnan Plot)
London, Jan. 1.-The success of Gen
eral Frenchs column is at length con
ilrmed officially, the War Office this
afternoon issuing dispatch from Cape
Town, Monday, January !, as follows:
French reports at D. m. to-day
from Coleskor by Telegraph, as fol-
lows:
g Leaving at Iaensburg, holding the
enemy in front half Of the First Suf-
folks and q section OF the Royal Horse
Artillery. l started thence at five In
The afternoon, December 81, taking with
me five sQuadrons or cavalry, half OF
the Second Berks and eighty mounted
infantry. infantry carried in wagons,
and ten guns.
:" L halted for four hours ut AIaldors
farm and at $3.50 this morning occu-
pied the kopje overlooking the west
ward of Colesburg. The enemys out
posts were taken completely by SUR
prise. AT daylight we shellcd the Ian
ger and cntiiidated the right OF the
enemys position. The artillery fire in
reply was very hot from 10 FOUNDER,
using royal labortory ammunition and
other guns. We sllenced the guns on
the eneiny's right flank demonstrating
with cavalry and guns to the north of
Colesburg towards the junction., where
strong laager OF the enemy were
holding n hill. and position south
east Of Colesburg as far as the juno
Ption. Our position cuts the line of re-
treat via the road and bridge Some
thousands of Beers with two guns are
reported to be retiring towards Nor
1T
ceeded toward Achtcrand yesterday
morning. Slight casualties, about
three killed and few wounded. De-
tails later"
BUTLER READY TO FIGHT.
London. Jan. 9,-Thc Daily Telegraph
has received the following. dated Jan
uary I'd, from Frcrc Camp:
The weather is fine. The Tugela riv-
er Is now fordablc. General Buffers
army is in fine form, ready and conf
dent for the work before it,"
ANOTHER REPULSE CLAIMED.
London. Jan. 1.-The War Office has
rec lived the followi from Cape Town,
under to-days date:
colonel Pitcher reports through the
officer commanding at The Orange
river:
have completely defeated hos
tile command at the Sunnyside Laager
this day, January LIST. taking the laager
and forty prisoners, besides the killed
and wounded. Our casualties are two
privntes killed and Lieutenant Adic
wounded. Am encamped at Dover
farm, twenty mics northwest of Bel
mont, and ten miles from S,nnysde."
REPORT CONFIRMED.
Belmont, Cape Colony, ian. "a
dispatch from the Assoc ated Press rem
sentative at Dover Farm, dated ian
uary LIST, says:
IA mounted force, consisting OF 100
Canadians, of the Toronto company,
and 200 Queenslanders, commanded by
Colonel Richards. two guns and horse
battery under Major DeRougemont;
forty mounted infantry, under Lieuten-
ant Ryan. and 200 OF the Cornwall Light
Infantry, The whole commanded by
Colonel Pitcher, left Belmont yestcr-
day at noon on Il march westward
covering twenty miles before sunset.
The force encamned ut Cooks Farm,
where the troops were welcomed en-
Enthusiastically. AT 4 O'clock this morn
Ing the force approached spot where
q laager of the Beers was reported.
Colonel Pitcher, on approaching the
position, which was q line .of strong
kopjes. detached Major DeRougcmont,
with the guns Torontos and mounted
infantry, 10 work toward the RICH
making a turning movement himself
with the Queensianders toward ine
south position, The Beers left their
laager and opened fire. but the Queens
landers, completing the movement,
the laagcr was captured with forty
prisoners The British casualties we're
two men killed, three wounded and ono
missing. ple whole force worked adj
mirably- The two men killed belonged
to the Queensland contingent
ANOTHER REPORT.
Belmont, Cape Colony, Monday. jan
nary Another dispatch from Dover
Farm, dated January l, says:
THE Colonial troops, who have been
longing to be allowed to meet the Beers
have Mt last been given nm opportunity
to do so. and scored II br liant success
The raid conducted by Colonel Pitcher
was very difficult, owing 10 the fact
that the movements of the troops We're
Immediately communicated to the
Beers by natives. in order TO prevent
this Colonel Pitcher, In making his
forced march from belmont, left Brit