The sun., 1900-12-21
MARTIAL LAW ~ CAPE COLONY.
Indicates Seriousness Of Recent Developusats
In South Africa.
.srseia, Cap,s Dsspaieh to The SUI.

In SCUM AIuCe'
spsefoi Cap,s Dsspaseh to The SUI.
CAPE TowS, Dec 2o.--Alartial law = being
extended to Ger tain districts OF tho CAps
Colony. 1t has superseded the owl Law
at Britstown. Victoria West, Rlohnond
Hanover, harrisburg. Grsah Rsanes. Middle
burg, Aberdeen. Steynsburs. Cradook. Tarka
and Molteno.
LONDON, Dec Tho extensive proc
lama,lon OF martial law in Cape Colony suf-
flciently indicates the serious view the
Government takes OF the latest develop
ments in south Africa. The War onnes has
issued nothing more than Gen. Kitchsnsr's
Official despatch. but Official news teaesra
from Cane Town Oils In the outlines.
Its learned from these dispatches that the
Rhenostsr invaders occupied VentsrStAd on
Tuesday. but vacated the place on the ap-
proach .! n British force and went In the
direction OF Steyns5urg. which they ex-
pected to reach to-day. In this however.
they were baked. the British Garr1soning
the place strongly before they arrived
The orf,cisl statements add that the In
yaders will now have great difficulty in NOV
ing in any direction. az Burghersdorp. Storm
berg St,ynsburg Rosmead and Naauwpoort
are strongly held, while the Orange River
La. risen considerably. barring their return.
They we're last reported In the Zuurbers
range between SteynsburR and Ventsrstad
Regarding the sand River invasion an
oflcia! report says that 1000 Beers crossed
the river. making for COlesbers column
was despatched from ColesberR and the
Beers we're diverged in the direction OF
pbll,ps,own. which they occupied on Wednes-
dav A portion OF the commando occupied
Hou, Krnal station on Thursday. cutting
ai,l . n =
have been despatched 70 De Aar and Han
ovar Road and il is expected that the Boer
adyanc. will bc stopped.
Hitherto there h,s been little fighting. the
i,y,derI IN evary instance having re-
tired before the BrIr h. Al Venter.t d the Beers
took twenty of the garrison prisoners. They
summoned the lilmelfontein garrison TO
surrender, but tho demand was refused.
The Beers then attacked them and the light
Ing lasted some hours. Tho burghers were
eventually driven on
An unofficial report from Cape Town con-
firms the report OF the recrudescence OF tho
! rebellion immediately southwest OF the
| orange River
| Tho members OF the court that was trying
! treason cases at Colesberg have arrived NJ
! Cape Town. They intended to ait at Cclcsbers
! until Dec. .? but the arrival OF Beers within
| seven miles of the court house necessitated
I the removal of the records to safer place
| Meanwhile Gen De Wet has temporarily
| disappeared from tho scene A prisoner that
| lie released has arrived at Bocmlontcin
| lie SAYS that when the Beers attacked
| Dc~et sdorp they had O.10 men and is.Wt
horses. Gen DE Wet is said 20 have told the
| prisoner. who IL apparently a civilian. that
he lost more In killed at Dewetsdorp than
the entire British casualties.
ne admitted that he was beaten. but said
! he was Determined not Ia surrender without
, honor lie wanted a free pardon for all his
followers, many of whom re Cape rebels
He declared ,ha: he Wns able TO held ol'
4 until Mdrch The prisoner conhrins me
rruor' tnnt Gen. D. Net wa. hard III AZ
, Thnht N'Cru. when his force wa- rrisccted
. lie lost several prisoners. nI'rber OF horses
: "A ,uan'i'y oi ammunition and two guns
I in addi.ion 10 his heavy casualties