The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-01-05

London, Jan. 2.-The success Of Gen
eral French's column is at length con-
firmed officially, the war office issuing
a dispatch from Cape Town, Monday,
Jan. /, as follows:
French reports at 2 p. m. today
from Colenkop, by Photograph, as fol-
lows: Leaving at Rensburg, holding
the enemy in front, half of the First
SuffolkS and section of the Royal
Horse artillery l started thence at 5
In the afternoon, Dec. 81, taking with
me five squadrons of cavalry, half of
the Second Besks and eighty mounted
infantry, infantry carried in wagons,
and ten guns. l halted for four hours
at Maidor's farm and at $3.50 this
morning occupied the kopje overlook
ing and westward of Colesberg.
Taken by Surprise.
""The enemys outposts were taken
completely by surprise. At daylight
we shelled the laager and enfiladed the
right of the enemy's position. The
artillery fire in reply was very hot
from 15-pounder using royal labora-
tory ammunition and other guns. We
silenced the guns on the enemy's right
flank, demonstrating with cavalry and
guns to the north Of Colesberg, to-
wards the junction where a strong
laager of the enemy was holding a hill,
and n position southeast Of Colesberg
as far as the junction. Our position
cuts the line of retreat via the road
and bridge. Some thousands Of Beers
with two guns are reported to be re-
firing towards NOrVars Pont. All Of
Remington's scouts proceeded toward
Achterland yesterday morning. Slight
casualties, about three killed and few
wounded. Details later"
Boers Suffered Heavily.
Brief Independent messages from
Colesberg filed the evening of Jan.
l supplemented General French's dis
patch but slightly. According to them
the British were still Smelling the
Boer position at o'clock Monday
evening and expected to enter Coles
berg Tuesday.
The British losses were three men
killed and seven wounded. No officers
were killed or wounded. The Beers
are supposed to have suffered heavily
from the accuracy of the British ar
tillery fire. General French's state
a
FOUNDER and Woolwich ammunition
evidently refers to one Of the British
guns captured at Stromberg. The
Boer strength in the engagement with
General French was estimated at from
5000 to 1000 men. The war Office has
also received the following from Cape
Town under Tuesdays date:
Colonel Pitcher reports through the
officer commanding at the Orange riv
er: Il have completely defeated hos
tile command at the Sunnyside laager,
this day, Jan. I. taking the laager and
forty prisoners, besides the killed and
wounded. Our casualties two privates
killed and Lieutenant Adie wounded.
Am encamped at Dover farm, twenty
miles northwest Of Belmont and ten
miles from Sunnyside.'
Effect of French's Success.
While the afternoon newspapers are
disposed to overrate the brilliancy of
General French's success, 1t will doubt
less have a good moral effect and, If
promptly followed up, as seems likely
from the fact that Remington's guides
are already advancing on Achterlang's,
1t may result in securing NorvaPs Pont
bridge, thus gaining an important
strategic advantage, as thence General
French will probably be able to
threaten Bethulie bridge, which Is
the main line of retreat for the Beers
facing General Gatacre. Other official
dispatches, dated Jan. l, say General
Methuen's position Is unchanged.