The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-05
COLONIALS EAGER FOR THE
FIGHT.

FIGHT.
Belmont, Cape Colony, Monday, jan
uary Another dispatch from Dover
farm. dated January 1st, says:
The colonial troops, who ave been
longing to be allowed to meet the
Beers, have at last been given an Op-.
p~Ortunity to do so and scored a bril-
liant success. The raid nducte by
Colonel Pitcher, was very difficult, ow-
ing to the fact that the movements of
the troops were Immediately communi-
Gated to the Beers. In order to prevent
this, Colonel Pitcher, in making his
forced march from Belmont, left a
British trooper at every farmhouse,
with instructions not to allow the ma
= tives to leave their huts, the patrols
calling the names of the natives hourly
N order to prevent their escape.
FIN the maneuver at Cooks farm,
= Colonel Pitcher sent mounte patrols
east. One of these, consisting of four
men. commanded by Lieutenant Adie,
suddenly encountered 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 ang Another prl-
vate. whose horse had bolted, returned
pluCkily to render service. He was
wounded in his leg and his horse vas
killed. Meanwhile Lieutenant Ryan,
WIN nav - NHO@N
that the veldt on the right of he en-
envy was clear; whereupon Major de
ROugemOnt ordered the guns to a trot.
They arrived within 1,500 yards of the
laager, numbered, and planted five
shells within as many minutes within
the laager. Immediately the enemy
could be seen coming over the copje.
They were completely surprised, but
quickly opened a we'll directed fire.
"A representative of the Associated
Press had the privilege of carrying an
order to the Toronto company to double
quick into action. The order was re-
ceived with great satisfaction. The
company rushed wv until within
1.0s0 yards of the enemy's position, when
ii opened a hot fire, upon the kopje and
completely subdued the Boer fire.
The British artillery shelled the po-
sition with wonderful accuracy, while
Lieutenant Ryan, with mounted infan-
try. worked round and completely I'M
covered the fire of the Beers, who had
pee ensconed in the bushes.
Meanwhile Colonel Pitcher. with the
Queenslanders, taking advantage of
every cover. mad a direct advance the
Australians moving slowly but surely
and only shooting when they saw the
enemy retiring under their steady fire.
The Queenslanders behaved with great
c~OOlness. laughing n chatting even at
the moment of great peril.
Douglass. Cape Colony. January q
Colonel Pitcher has occupied Douglas
without opposition and has been receiv-
ed with enthusiasm by the loyalists.
A BRITISH REVERSE.
Pretoria, January Last night
Saturday the British in great force
attacked Commandant SChOemanS
commando in the Colesburg district and
tried to storm h position. They re-
peated the attack his morning, bIt
were forced to retreat, the Beers hold
ing the position. The loss of the Brit
ish is not known, but it is reported tC
have been heavy.
h Beers consider it a great complI-
ment to the Transvaal THAT Lord Rob
erts should have been selected to tn:
supreme command of the British
forces.
London, January 3.-The Daily Tele,
graph has received the following, dated
January End, from Frere camp:
"The weather is fine. The Tugela riv'
er is now fordable. General Butler:
army is in fine form, ready and conf
DENT for the work before it."