Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-02
FRENCH BEAT B0ERS.
Fled In Disorder After Being
Surprised.
LEFT COLEsBURG TO BRITISH
a Dispatch Said Beers Loss Must Have
Been Heavy-British Loss Slight.
Were Harrassed on Retreat-B British
Rescued Near Derdrecht.

RENsBERo, Cape Colony, Jan. a.
French completely defeated the Beers
and occupied Colesberg
The general continued to keep the
Beers on the move ond pressed them
closely Saturday and Sunday, giving
them no time to make prolonged
stand. and when day broke he was with.
in striking distance of the enemy. Sun.
day night all the cavalry, artillery and
infantry, the latter riding in wagons to
increase tine general mobility, started
upon night march with the OBJ iect OF
turning the Beers right. The flank op.
erations were successful. The infantry
and field batteries Immediately made a
feint attack upon the Boer front and,
while this was proceeding, the cavalry
and light artillery got completely around
the enemy's right flank. as arranged.
The Beers were utterly surprised, and.
finding their retreat threatened, fed in
disorder to the eastward. leaving Coles.
berg in General Fronch's hands.
LONDON, Jan. 2.-At MOdder River,
General Buller's scouts have discovered
Boer camp established in the vicinity
OF Springfield, southwest of Colenso, by
Free State commando. A similar
A large force of Beers, it was reported,
formed q new laager about 10 miles
down the stream, at Kameelhoek.
Heliograph reports from Ladysmith
showed that all was well on Dec. 81.
Tho bombardment was being continued,
but its intensity had relaxed. An oih-
cial dispatch from Ladysmith coufirms
the report, cabled yesterday, that sew.
eral officers Of the Detonshire regiment
were severely wounded by the explosion
of Boer shell in the mess tent.
The Daily Mail had the following dis
patch, dated Jan, /, from Rensburg:
yesterday afternoon q big force OF
cavalry md infantry with ten guns, un-
der the personal command OF General
French, moving by detour, occupied
some hills three miles from Colesburg,
where tho Beers were in strength, con
fident in the natural aid afforded them
by the hills around.
tine enemy's position extended six
miles around the entire village. At
daybreak our artillery opened the bat
tie. The Beers We're taken by surprise
but replied vigorously.
"An artillery duel was maintained
for two hours. Then a Boer Hotchkiss
collapsed and was abandoned. We cap
tured 1t. A Boer big gun was silenced,
but this and the other Boer guns were
withdrawn to the northward, whittier
we were harrassing the Boer retreat by
damaging shell fire.
"Colesberg is in our hands and the
few remaining loyalists are jubilant.
We have captured many wagons and
considerable quantity of stores.
sour losses were quite slight but the
Beers must have suffered heavily. They
may stop ut Achtertang or cross tho
river altogether at Norval's pont, where
tho bridge Is still intact"
OApE Town, Jan. 2.-Ugly rumors
were iuJ ejaculation of Dutch rising,
with the Object of seizing Cape Town
and the docks and capturing the gov
ernor OF Cape Colony, Sir Alfred Nil.
ner. Tho center of the movement is
said to be Pearl, n village about 80 miles
from Cape Town, where meeting of
tho Afrilsanker Bund was held yester.
day. A similar meeting was held at
Richmond OH Dec. 28 aud it is reported
that the members of the bund in these
two towns were acting in concert.
The members of the bund at Willing
ton and the Dutch in Clan William dis.
trict were said to be armed with Maus.
ers and to be anxious to use them in be.
half Of the Beers.
Although the stories Of n rising werc
d'screditod, the police ana military were
taking ample precautions.
LONDON, Jan. 2.-Near Dordrecht,
Captain Montmorency' sortie with
patrol OF 100 men Of the Twenty first
Lancers and his retreat Dec. 80 were
followed up the next day by successful
British engagement.
Under Captain Goldswortly force
OF 10 men, with four guns. accompanied
by Captain Montmorency's scouts, sal
lied out of Dordrecht during the morn
ing of Dec. 81 to relieve Lieutenant
Turner aud ~ men left over night ut