The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-12-29
INVASION CHECKED.
KIlToHENRR TAKES HOPEFUL
view or THE SITUATION.
HIS Dispatches Breathe Conscience.
Hardly Justiaeds by Their Con-
tents-He Thinks the Boer Move-
ment Into Cape Colony Has Been
checked-Ge en-. French Pursuing
the Forces Of Beyers and Delarey
4, -Boers Are Active Between.
JohannesburE and Pretoria.

DSS. lS WdT once ma
received the following dispatch from
LordSxitchener. dated Pretoria, Dec. q:
A far as 1t Is possible for me to
form an opinion from the reports Of Of
f1cers on the spot 1 think the Boer
movement into Cape Colony has been
checked. OF the two forces that en-
tered the Colony the eastern is still
north of the Zoutpansberg range, while
the one that entered west. appears Ito
have been turned ~in the direction Of
Brittstown and Prieska. Our troops
are getting around both bodies and a
special column is also being organized
which will be. dispatched IMMEDIATELY
when I know where Its services are
most needed. The Beers have not re-
ceived much assistance in Cape Colony
as far as my Information goes. We
have armed some Of the %colonists.- who
are assisting our forces. Railway and
telegraph communication has been
much interrupted by bad weather. De
wet Is in the neighborhood of Senekal.
Gen. French, in conjunction with Gen.
Clements, attacked a force of Beers
south of Magaliesberg. The Beers
broke away In the southwestern direc-
ton toward Potchefstroom and were
followed by Gen. Gordon with a column
of F'rench's force. Yesterday evening
about 4 o'clock Clements force was. en-
gagged south of Iliphantsnek, but I do
not yet know the result" .
BOers Occupied BrittstOwn.
A, later dispatch from Lord Kitchener
dated Pretoria, Dec. %, says:
1.-THE western column of Beers occu-
pied Brittstown and cut the, railway
south Of De Aar Junction. The enemy
is being followed up. Gen. French has
been in contact for two days with the
commandos Of Beyers and Delarey,
south of the Magaliesberg. He is pur-
suing them. The enemy have lost con-
siderably and C~ommandant Kreuse and
others have been captured. Gen. Col
vile engaged W separate commanders
Dec. q. near V%lafontein, with slight
losses, the enemy retiring"
Lord Kitchener's dispatches breath
ing q confidence hardly justified by
their contents Is the only official news
from the seat of war, blu kilograms
from Cape Town describe the situation
in anything but roseate hues. Without
believing the assertion of the Trans
vaal agency in Brussels that 6,000
Beers have invaded Cape Colony, it is
quite evident that the invasion was a
serionus and we'll planned affair. The
Cape Colony cabinet had an important
sitting yesterday. 1t appears that the
Beers Have Destroyed E
a railway bridge ninety feet long about
twelve miles south, of De Aar and that
no Cape mails have arrived at. Bloem-
fontein for three days. Further anxiety
has been caused in Cape Town by the
discovery that during the last two
months public bodies in out-of-the-way
places have requisitiened supplies OF
dynamite. The colonial government Is
now endeavoring to recover possession
Of these explosives and is removing all
stores of arms and ammunition from
suspected depots.
Other advices from Cape Town rep
resent the Dutch element in Cape Col
n as greatly elated over the south
ward progress of the Beers, and boast
ing that the whole district west or VIC
toria will join the raiders. IT is suspect
ed in Cape Town that h force travel
ing from Koutpans drift is no q body
of Beers, but one of colonials. Fastening
to Join the invaders. The Pletermar-
itzburg correspondent OF The Daily
Mail says: 1.-The Beers are active be-
tween Johannesburg and Pretoria. ex-
changing shots. with the British I
posts, and 1t is reported thai parties OF
the Beers are lowering around JONAH