The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-03

THE LOSS OF LIFE SMALL
COLONEL PITCHER CAPTURE
FORTY PRISONERS.
AND ALSO CAPTURES THE BOERS' LAAGER
In Germany the Bundesrath Seizure Has
Created Bad Impression and an En-
phaiic Protest Has Been Made to
the British Government.
the British Government.

the British Government.
London, Jan. 2.-The War Office has
received the following from Cape Town,
under today's date:
Colonel Pitcher reports through the
officer commanding at the Orange River:
Il have completely defeated a hostile
command at the Sunnyside laager, this
day, january 1st, taking the laager and
forty prisoners, besides the killed and
wounded Our casualties are two pri-
Yates killed and Lieutenant Adie wound
ed. Am encamped at Dover farm,
twenty miles northwest of Belmont and
ten miles from SunnySide'
A LATIDR AND FULLER REPORT.
Belmont. Cape Colony Jan "A dis
patch from the Associated Press rep
resentative at Dover Farm, dated Jan
mary 1st, says:
a mounted force consisting of 100
Canadians of the Toronto company and
200 Queenslanders, commanded by Col
Onel Richards, two gums and horse
battery under Major DeRcugemont, for
ty mounted infantry under Lieutenant
Ryan and 200 of the Cornwall light in
mel Pitcher, left Belmont yesterday at
noon on march Westward covering
twenty miles before sunset. The force
encamped at Cooks Farm, where the
troops were welcomed enthusiastically.
At six o'clock this morning the force APP
preached q spot where a laager of the
Beers was reported. Colonel Pitcher, on
approaching the position, which was Il
line of strong kopjes, detached Major
DeROugemOnt with the guns, TorontoS
and mounted infantry to work toward the
right, making a turning movement Hmm
self with the Queenslanders toward the
South Dosition. The Beers left their laa
ger and opened fire. but the Queensland
ers completing the movement, the laa-
ger was captured with forty prisoners.
The British casualties were two men
killed three wounded and one missing.
The whole force worked admirably. The
two men killed belonged to the Queens
land contingent
STILL ANOTHER REPORT.
Belmont, Cape Colony, Monday. Jan.
1.-Another dispatch from Dover Farm,
dated January 1st, says:
''The colonial troops, who have been
longing to be allowed to meet the Beers
have at last been given an opportunity
TO do 30. and scored brilliant success.
The raid conducted by Colonel Pitcher
was very difficult, owing to the fact
that the movements of the troops were
immediately communicated to the Beers
by natives In order to prevent this,
Colonel Pitcher, in making his forced
march from Belmont, left a British
trooper at every farm house, with in
structions not to allow the natives to
leave their huts. the patrols calling the
names Of the~ natives hourly in order to
prevent thei escape. In the manouever
at Cooks Farm, Colonel Pitcher sent
mounted patrols cast. One of these,
consisting of four men, commanded by
Lieutenant Adie, suddenly encountered
IA Beers, who opened fire. The Lieu
tenant was severely wounded, and Pri-
vate Butler gave UP his horse in order to
carry the Lieutenant out of range.
'Another private, whose horse had
bolted returned pluckily to render SER
vice. He was wounded in the leg and his
horse was killed. Meanwhile Lieutenant
Ryan. who had worked magnificently
reported that the veldt on the right of
the enemy was clear. whereupon Major
DeROugemont ordered the guns to Il
trot They arrived within !, 800 yards
of the laager. unlimbered and planted
five shells in as many minutes within
the laager.
Immediately the enemy could be seen
streaming over the kopje. They were
completely surprised, but quickly opened
a we'll directed fire.
"A representative OF the Associated
Press had the privilege of carrying an
order to the Toronto company to double,
quick into action. The order was re-
ceived with great satisfaction The
company rushed forward until within
thousand yards of the enemy's position.
when it opened a hot fire upon the kopje
and completely subdued the Boer fire.
THE British artillery shelled the po-
sition with wonderful accuracy, while
Lieutenant Ryan, with mounted infan-
try, worked round and completely un-
covered the fire of the Beers, who had
been esconsced in the bushes.
Meanwhile Colonel Pitcher. with the
Queenslanders, taking advantage of
every cover, made a direct attack. the
Australians moving slowly but surely and
only shooting when they saw the enemy
retiring under their steady fire The
Queenslanders behaved with great cool
ness, laughing and chatting even at the
moment of great peril
DENIES BRTTAIN'S RIGHT.
Berlin, Jan. 2.-Striut silence is