Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-01-04
HOT FIGHTING REPORTED

U4A7 "-Nf .h'H4'-
Small, but Sharp, Engagements, With
Signal British Successes. |
BRILLIANT RESCUE or PRISONERS
Captain Montmorenoy Makes
a Gallant Raid.
BUT NO NEWS OF A BATTLE BY BULLER
London, Eng, Jan. Lowing to
lack of news from important points,
interest in the war today centres on
the comparatively nnimportant skir-
mishing near Dordrecht. Cant. Mont
morency,s sortie with patrol OF 100
mon of tho Twenty, first Lancers. and
his retreat, December 30th, wero fol.
lowed up the next day by a successful
British engagement and the rescue OF
small marty; supposed to be men Capt.
Montmorency loft behind him.
Under Capt. Goldswortby, force. Of
| 110 mon, with four guns accompanied
by Capt. Mortmorenoy' scouts, snllied
| out Of the Dnrdrecht during the morn
| ing of December 3lst TO relieve Lieut..
| Turner and 81 mon lett over night at
! I.abnschagne's Mex, The Beers were
driven back and Lieut.. Turner's narty
was rescued Eight Beers and 13
horses are known to have been killed.
The Times. in its second edition,
publishes a dispatch from Sterkstrom,
dated December 31st, which says:
Capt. Montmorency's scouts were
cut off, owing to their refusal to leave
wounded officer, Lieut.. Warren, oi
Brabent's- Horse. These men under
Lieuts. Milford and Turner of the
Frontier Mounted Rifles, defended
themselves most gallantly against re-
poated attacks of some 800 Beers. The
enemy resorted to s1sniping' during
the night, but were repused with loss
"At 5.15 this morning Capt. Colds
worthy, with The Cage Mounted Rifles
arrived and the enemy immediatel.
fled to the hills. Turner's party. who's
horses had nearly all been killed, .wer'
rescued. They displayed splendid pluck
and the brilliant manner in whicf
Capt. Goldsworthy effected their relic
on his own responsibility is deserving
of the highest praise. Our loss wer
two men wounded The Boers los
about 80 men, including eight me-
killed f"
, Another account says: 1.-THE success
, of this little party will arrest th
progress OF the enemy's recruiting i
: that vicinity.
! A dispatch from the Modder Rive
! says. December 3lst, the naval CUR
J. 4. planted few excellent shells, withou
, reply. The eneny's position on th
! left is apparently considerably weal
Il But neither from the Modder Riv,
9 nor from Frere comes any news tendir
Q to show an impending phange in th
existing iBipasse, nor confirming Il
impression created by yesterday g di'
patches that Glen. Butler neditated 9
Immediate for ward movement.
IA Count Gleiohen Of the Grenade
Guards aud a distant relative OF Quet
J, Victoria. who was wounded at tl
u battle Of the Modder River, has r
l. covered from his wound and has lie
Cape Town for the 'front.'
70 A Cape Town dispatch dated Su
s. day, December 31st, published in Il
second edition OF the Times, says:
"For the moment there is gener
n lull in active military operation
y, pending tho arrival Of Gen. Robert
10 1t is generally hoped that he will, 1
Y. Y. some time at least, direct t
N operations from here. The absence
., Gen. Butler, however unay oidable, b
ne left the colony without that cent?
~ organization and vigorous control
az headquarters essential to the condu
IN of a campaign along go vast frontier
VI The same correspondent says; =
view Of the fact that DR.. Leyds a
on other Boer agenrs seem ahie to cal
et freely to Pretoria, the British cens'
tie shin will be even stricter henceforth
g A DE Aar disl latch, dated Decent
ne 3lst, says mounted patrol has &c
ur from there and that other arrangemei
OF have been made to prevent looting
ne ne that neighborhood by small Boer forc
e, q, SUCCESS OF GEN. FRENCH.
I Ill London, Eng, Jan. 2.--The succ
;al cbnfii med officially, the War on
ar M Tins afternoon issuing a dispatch fir
on Cape Town, dated january 1st,
sh- | follows ~ ~,
'ho French reported at p. IN. tot
se, from Coleskop, by heliograph,
follows: Leaving at Rensberg, hold
the enemy in front with half Of
FIRST Suffollss and section of the Ro
Horse Artillery, ! started thence q
in the afternoon December 3lst, TAX
req with me five squallrons OF cavalry. /
of the Second Berks, SO mounted
nm fantry linfantry carried in ,wago
and 10 guns. /, / halted for four ho
Ket at Maidor,s farm, and at $50
ne, morning occupied the kopje o,
arr looking and westward Of Colesberg.
ms enemy's outposts were taken compile
Ally by surprise. At daylight, we she
the lager and enfiladed the righ
ser the enemy The, artillery fire in re
ohe was very hot. We silenced the G
ttie on the enemy's right, flank, den
lt strating with cavalry and guns to
'rk, north OF Colesberg towards the junct
iid where strong laageI OF the enemy
OF holding a hill and q position south
Il. of Colesberg as far as the junct
eai- Our position cuts the line OF ret
tne via the road and bridge. S
ms Thousands of Beers, with two g.
ale reported. TO be retiring tow
NorvaPs Pout. All llRemington's SC
proceeded towards Achterland yes
ent, day morning. Slight casualties, al
Ball threo killed and few wounded. L
tur- details. p
ac- Brief independent messages
we're Rensberg, filed last evening, sur
ship men. Gen. French's dispatch
be slightly. According to them,
egi- British were still shelling the
sury position at, O'Clock yesterday o