New-York tribune., 1900-01-03
BoER REPORT FROM coLEsBERG.
POSITION SAID TO FAvE BEEN HELD
LADY SARAH WILSON'S HUSBAND


WOUNDED.
Pretoria, Jan. Last night the British in
great force attacked Commandant Schoeman' $
storm the position. They repeated the attack
this morning but were forced to retreat the
Beers holding the position. The loss of the Brit
ish is not known, but it is reported to have been
heavy
The Beers consider it a great compliment to
the Transvaal that Lord Roberts should have
been selected TO the supreme command of the
British forces
Three British prisoners, who were taken at
Malagro. say that Captain Gordon Chesney Will
son. husband of Lady Sarah Wilson. and five
other officers. whose names they refuse to give.
were wounded in a recent sortie from Mafeking.
FRENCH CONFIRMS THE VICTORY
DETAILS OF ENGAGEMENT AROUND COLES
BERG.
London, Jan. 2.-The success OF General
Frenchs column is now confirmed officially, the
War Office this afternoon issuing a dispatch
from Cape Town, dated January 1. that General
French reported at p. to-day from Coles
kop, by heliograph, as follows:
Leaving at Rensburg holding the enemy in
front, with half of the LIST Suffolks and section
Of the Royal Horse Artillery started thence
ing with me five squadrons of cavalry, half of
the I'd Berks and eighty mounted infantry, in
halted for four hours at Maiders Farm, and at
$3.50 this morning occupied the kopje overlook
ing and westward of Colesberg: The enemy's
outposts were taken completely by surprise. At
daylight we shelled the laager and en1laded the
right of the enemy's position. The artillery fire
in reply was very hot from 15-poundeT using
Royal Laboratory ammunition, and other guns.
We silenced the guns the enemys right
flank. demonstrating with cavalry and guns to
where a strong laager Of the enemy was hold
ing hill, and position southeast Of Colesberg.
as far the juA cton. Our position cuts the line
of retreat via the road and ridge. Some thou
sand Beers with two guns, reported to be
retiring toward Norvars Pont All Remington's $
scouts proceeded toward Achterland yesterday
morning. Slight casualties. About three killed
and few wounded. Details later.
Brief independent messages from Rensburg,
filed on the evening of January 1, supplement
General Frenchs dispatch slightly. According
TO them, the British were still sheling the Boer
position at o'clock Monday evening, and
were expected to enter Colesburg to-day.
The British losses were three men killed and
seven wounded. No officers were killed
wounded. The Beers supposed to have suf-
fered heavily from the accuracy of the British
artillery fire. General French's statement that
the Beers using 15-pounder and Wool
wich ammunition evidently refers to one of the
British guns captured at Stromberg.
The Boer strength in the engagement with
General French estimated at from five thou
sand to seven thousand men.
While the afternoon newspapers are disposed
to overrate the brilliancy of General French's
success, it will doubtless have good, moral
effect, and, 1t is added, If promptly followed
up, as seems likely from the fact that Reming-
tens Guides are already advancing on Achter-
land, 1t may result in securing Norval's Pont
bridge. thus gaining important strategic ad-
vantage, as thence General French will prob
ably be able to threaten Bethulie bridge which
is the main line of retreat for the Beers facing
General Gatacre.
Other official dispatches, dated January l. say
that General Methuen's position is unchanged
Sir Charles Howard Vincent, colonel of
Westminster Volunteers, has failed to pass the
medical examination necessary to qualify him
to command the City Of London Infantry Divi-
sion bound for South Africa. The command Of
this corps must therefore. >be given to another
Harry McCalmont, the we'll known sportsman
has been ordered to South Africa with the War
wickshire Militia
George Lynch the newspaper correspondent
who was captured outside Of Ladysmith and
imprisoned at Pretoria, has been released and
has arrived at Lourenco Marques.
Sir William Thomson has been appointed con-
sulting surgeon to the British forces in South
Africa
General White reports, under date of Decem-
Der 81 that the number of cases of dysentery
and fever is increasing.