New-York tribune., 1900-12-31
BRITISH DISASTER.
BoERS TAKE HELVETIA,. KILLING AND
WOUNDING FIFTY AND CAPTUR-
ING TWO HUNDRED.

ING TWO HUNDRED.
London. Dec. 31.-The War Office has received
the following dispatch from Lord Kitchener:
Pretoria, Dec 30. 7:5O a. m.-General Lyttel-
ton reports that our post at Helvetia was capt
ured yesterday morning by the Beers About
fifty were killed and wounded and two hundred
taken prisoners.
Colonel Kitchener reports that he is following
with small force in the track OF the enemy.
Helvetia being reoccupied by Reeves, who has
been reinforced from Belfast
Helvetia very strong position on the
MISUNDERSTANDING Railway, and was held
by a detachment Of the Liverpool Regiment
Am asking for further information
Lord Kitchener. telegraphing from Pretoria
Saturday, December %. says:
There is not much change in the situation in
Cane Colony The eastern force Of the enemy
appears to have broken up into small parties at
Utrecht. and to be moving about rapidly In the
same district. evidently waiting for support
from the north.
The last report states that the western force
is moving t3 Carnarvon. De Lisle and eThorney-
croft are in close pursuit
French has occupied Ventersdorp Clements
reports that he is opposed the road 70 Rus
tenburg The eastern line was blown up near
Pan, and a train was held up this morning on
the Standerton line, near Vaal station.
Whites column has arrived at Senekal Knoxs
column and Boye's brigade are holding De Wet
from breaking south
While Lord Kitchener sends bad news for
England on the closing day of the year, the
press continues TO take a surprisingly hopeful
view of a grave situation and Of revelations OF
an enormously wide field of Boer activity. Gen
eral De Wet is still at large. Kimberley is
isolated The Beers are in force enough TO have
captured a strong position at Helvetia, in the
Lydenburg district, while, judging from Lord
Kitchener's very recent advices, no progress is
being made against the Boer invaders in Cape
Colony.
According to further kilograms received yes
terday Zeerust is practically besieged. but has
provisions sufficient for five months. The gar
rison at Ottoshoop has been withdrawn TO Ldch-
tenburg
A dispatch from Carnarvon dated yesterday
reports that the Beers who have been threaten
ing that point were driven off and are being
pursued.
eft is evident" says a belated letter from
Krigersdorp dated December %. that the Boer
cornmissariat in the direction of the Magahes-
berg is well supplied. and that until the country
between here and the Magaliesberg is properly
cleared of Beers they will continue to concen-
trate there, the ground being particularly adapt
ed to their methods OF warfare"
The Beers admit that in their fight with Cen
eraI Clements at Nooitgedacht they lost 40
men.
''It is understood that Lord Kitchener cannot
ask the colonies officially to send troops says
a Durham dispatch dated December %. but he
desires it to be known in Australasia and Cana
da that Australians and Canadians arriving in
Natal will be eligible for immediate enlistment
IN an irregular corps which is proceeding to
johannesburg for five months service"
To emphasize Lord Kitchener's covert adInis-
sion that no progress is being made against the
invasion OF Cape Colony, a correspondent at
Burghersdorp, telegraphing Saturday, reports
as follows
Two fresh commanders are entering the Col
ony One has already crossed near Knaapdaar,
and the arrival of another is momentarily ex-
pected in the Steynsburg district. Ihe 6oers
though in bad condition They have guns or
transport but are well supplied with Lee-Met-
ford rifles and ammunition. Captured Boers
say that the intention of these confmandoes Is 70
roam about and wait until General De Wet ap-
pears upon the scene.
All dispatches arriving in London agree that
the Cape Dutch show no inclination to rise, but,
on the contrary, appear to be tired of the war
and desirous Of peace. Many refuse to supply
the Beers with food and are willing TO give in
formation to the British regarding Boer move
nents.
Details of the Greylingstad affair show that,
while Colvile's column pursuing the Beers.
a second force Of four hundred of the enemy
was seen moving toward the camp where the
British transport was inspanned. The small
British force made a plucky stand until rein
forcements arrived with artillery. and after
severe fighting the Beers were defeated The
British losses altogether were nine killed md
sixty-three wounded and missing. The Beers
are said to have had thirty-one killed
A warrant has been issued against DR. Te
Water, a member Of the late Schreiner Cabinet,
who is under arrest on a charge of delivering
seditious speech at Graaf Reinet, melting to
rebellion in connection with the recent Boer
invasion Of the colony; and this says the Cape
Town correspondent of The Daily Telegraph
is the beginning of series of arrests, heralding
a wide extension of martial law.