The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-01-05


Leading Up to history of a Skirmish
in Which Montmorency's Scouts Dis
tinguished Themselves-A Few British
Stand Of 500 Beers Until Relief Comes
When the Transvaalers Are Driven Off.
London, Jan. 3.-The Daily Tele-
graph has received the following
dated Jan. from Frere camp: THE
weather is fine. The Tugela river is
now forbade General Buffers army
is in fine form, ready and confident
for the work before it."
Belmont, Cape Colony, Jan. "A
dispatch from the Associated Press
representative at Dover Farm, dated
Jan. l, says: "a mounted force con-
sisting Of 100 Canadians of the Toronto
company and 200 Queenslanders, COM
handed by Colonel Richards, two guns
and horse battery, under Major De
Rougemont, forty mounted infantry
under Lieutenant Ryan, and 200 Of the
Cornwall Light infantry, the whole
commanded by Colonel Pitcher, left Bel
mont yesterday at noon on a march
westward, covering twenty miles be-
fore sunset. The force encamped at
Cooks farm, where the troops were
welcomed enthusiastically.
cat o'clock this morning the force
approached spot where >laager Of
the Beers was reported. Colonel Pitcher,
on approaching the position, which was
a line of strong kopjes, detached Ma
jor De Rougemont with the guns, To-
rontos and mounted infantry to work
toward the right, making a turning
movement himself with the Queens
landers toward the south position. The
Vancouver was a complete success.
The British shells were the first indi-
cation of the presence of the troops.
The Beers left their laager and opened
fire, but the Queenslanders completing
the movement the lager was captured
iwth forty prisoners"
Rensberg. Cape Colony, Jan. l.
General French has completely de-
feated the Beers and occupied Coles
burg The general continued to keep
the Beers on the move and pressed
,
giving them no time to make a pro-
longed stand, and when day broke he
was within striking distance of the
enemy Last night all the cavalry,
artillery and infantry-the latter rid
ing in wagons to increase the general
mObility-started upon a night march
with the object of turning the Boer
right. The flank operations were sue
cessful The infantry and field bat
teries simmediately made a feint attack
upon the Boer front.
Kruger's Men Fly in Disorder.
While this was proceeding the cav
airy and light artillery got completely
around the enemy's right flank, as az
ranged. The programme worked with
out hitch. The Beers were utterly
surprised, and finding their retreat
threatened, fed in disorder to the east
ward, leaving Colesberg in General
French's hands.
Some Details of the Battle.
London, Jan. 1.-The Daily Mail has
the following dispatch, dated Jan. /,
from Rensburg: yesterday afternoon
big force of cavalry and infantry,
with ten guns, under the personal COM
mand of General French, moving by
det0ur, occupied some hills three miles
from Colesberg, where the Beers were
in strength, confident in the natural
aid afforded them by the hills around.
The enemy's position extended six
miles, around the entire village. AT
daybreak our artillery opened the bat
tie. The Beers were taken by, sur
prise, but replied vigorously. An artif-
1ery duel was maintained for two
hours. Then a BOer HOtchlzisS col
lapsed and was abandoned. We cap
tured it.
Big Gun Is Silenced.
"A Roer big gun was Silenced, but this
and the other Boer guns were with
drawn to the nOrthWard, whittier we
are harassing the BOer retreat by a
damaging shell fire. Colesberg is in
our hands and the few remaining loyal
lists are jubilant. We have captured
many wagons and a considerable guam
tity Of stores Our losses we're quite
slight. but the Beers must have suf-
fered heavily. They may stop at Ach-
tertang or cross the river altogether at
NorvaTs Pont, where the bridge is still
intact
Eundesrath Is at Durham. ~
Durham, Jan. 2.-The Imperial mail
steamer Bundesrath, of the German
East African line, which was seized by
the British cruiser Magicienne in Del
.agoa- bay, ON the ground that she was
carrying contraband of war. has been
brought to wharf here and is: now
guarded by marines and bluejackets.