The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-12-26
HOW BRITISH WE'RE BEATEN AT
MAGALIESBERG.
The Examiner London Correspondent
Claims That War Office is Withhold
Some More Bad News.

LONDON, December 16.-Private in
formation conveyed to THE Examiner"
correspondent late tonight is to the
effect that the British have sustained
further reverses in South Africa, which
the Government is Withholding from
publication for fear of the effect on the
public of so many disasters. THE
Examiners correspondent is informed
THAT General De Wet, far from being
chased by the British, made a dash on
the lines of communication in the
Orange Free State and captured or
destroyed large quantities of guns, am
munition and supplies of all kinds, seri-
ously Gripping English operations.
There are rumors that another Boer
force in the Transvaal has made a sue
cessful attack and captured more pris-
oners.
These victories are in addition to De-
larey's capture of 600 at Magaliesberg
a few days ago and Brabant's loss of
| 100, officially reported today.
ALIWAL NORTH, December ia
party of Brabant's house, consisting
mainly of raw recruits, engaged su-
perior force of Beers December 18th
near Zastron, Orange River colony,
losing 4 killed, 16 wounded and 120 TAX
| en- prisoners.
| LONDON, December 16.-The follow
/ ing dispatch has been received by the
War Department from Lord Kitchener:
| PRETORIA, December 15.-Five
officers and 316 men, Magaliesberg
prisoners, have been released.
! Colonel Bomfield, moving on Vry-
! held, defeated the Beers with heavy
! loss driving them from Scheepers Mex
and capturing quantity of arms. The
! Scheepers Mex movement occurred De-
! Cember 18th.
''The Beers who attacked Vryheid
! December 10th lost 100 killed and
wounded before they retired. The
! fighting lasted all day, the enemy draw
! ing off at 1880 p. m. The British loss
was six killed, nineteen wounded and
thirty missing. Our casualties include
two officers, who died of their wounds" "
Wiring from Pretoria yesterday CSun-
day., Lord Kitchener, after announcing
that the released Magaliesberg prison
ers had arrived at Rustenburg, says
that the Boer force divided into two
! portions one moving south and the
other west.
The Magaiesberg affair is described
as follows in a dispatch to the stand
ard" from Reitfontein:
"The scene of the engagement was a
horseshoe shaped depression. The
lNorthumberlards occupied the center.
General Clements camp was pitched
900 yards lower down, at the eastern
point of the horseshoe, and Colonel
| Leggis' camp was about 300 yards dis
tant.
General Delarey's 1000 men, against
whom General Clement had fought re-
peated actions were suddenly unknown
to General Clement re-enforced
by 5000 from Warm Baths under Com
mandant Boyers. At daybreak Colonel
Leggis' pickets deserted what seemed
to be a fresh force of British troops
thirty yards distant. The strangers
were challenged. They replied with a
volley, revealing 400 Beers in khaki.
The firing became heavy and the noise
aroused Colonel Leggis' troops, who ar
rived just in time to save the outposts
from capture. A furious engagement
ensued Artillery was brought up and
it compelled the Beers to retire. Col
onel Leggis followed up the withdrawal
but was shot dead by a bullet through
his head