The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-01-06


has completely defeated the Beers and
has occupied Colesburg.
The Daily. Mail Has the following
dispatch, dated Jan. /, from Penns-
berg: =
Yesterday afternoon a big force Of
cavalry and infantry, with six guns,
under the personal command of Gen.
French, moving by detour. occupied
some hills three miles from Solesberg,
where the Beers were in strength.
confident in the natural aid afforded
them by the hills around. The ene-
my's position extended six miles
around the entire village. At day
break II artillery opened the battle.
The Beers were taken by surprise, but
replied vigorously. An artillery duel
was maintained for two hours. Then
a Boer Hotchkiss collapsed and was
abandoned. We captured it. A Boer
big gun was silenced, but this and the
other big Bocr guns We're withdrawn
to the northward, where we are har-
ing shell fire. Colesberg is in our
are jubilant. We have captured many
WuSOl anu IL COASluCllulC luSl11lAAy
Of stores. Our losses were quite slight.
heavily. They may stop at Achterhang
or cross the river at N%orvalspont.
where the bridge is still intact"
An Example of Sound Tactics.
London, Jan. 3.-The success of Gen.
French in driving the Beers from
Colesberg has shot a welcome ray Of
light through the gloom of campaign
in South Africa. Everywhere it is
commented upon as an example of
sound tactics and as an illustration of
what may be done when the right
methods are employed with the Beers.
The government is urged to take the
lession to heart and to see that no
stone is left unturned in the endeavor
to get the largest possible forces Of
cavalry and mounted infantry to the
front. Now that Gen. French has the
Beers O the run the hope is expressed
that he will give them no rest, but
will harrass them until they have
found their way across the Orange riv-
Ter, which is twelve miles distant. The
old wagon road to the Free State from
Colesberg CRUISES the river by a fine
bridge 1874 feet long. 1t is believed
that the Beers retreated toward
Norvalspont, further east, and the
question is whether Gen. French will
be able to secure these two bridges be-
fore the Beers destroy them. One i'm
portant feature of the success of Gen.
French is that it will have a deterrent
effect upon the
Disaffected Dutch
%colonists. There is a disposition here
to underrate small victories and
skirmishes. 1t should be borne in
mind that French has only 1000 men.
and so far as the important points Of
the campaign is concerned the situa-
ton is virtually unchanged.
At Modder River the Beers appear"
to be modifying somewhat their line
of defense. Gen. Buffers scouts have
discovered a Boer camp established in
the vicinity Of Springfield. southwest
of Colenso, by a Free State CON-
mando. Similar movement has been
of Beers, it is reported, have formed a
the stream at Kameethoek. The hell
ograph reports from Ladysmith show
that all was well on Dec. 81. The
b%ombardment was being continued,
but it's intensity had relaxed. An Of
fetal dispatch from Ladysilith con.
firms the report cabled yesterday that
several officers of the Daronshire reg
iment We're seriously wounded by the
explosion of a Boer shell in the mess
tent.
Rumors of a Dutch Rising.
Cape Town. Jan. 3. - Ugly rumors
are in circulation of a Dutch rising
with the object of Selling Cape Town
and the docks and capturing the gov
ernor of Cape Colony, Sir Alfred Mil
ner. The center of the movement is
said to be Paarl. a village about thir-
ty miles from Cape! Town, where a
meeting Of the Northumberland was
held recently. A secret meeting was
held at Richmond on Dec. %, and it
is reported that the members Of the
bund in these two towns are acting in
C~ncert. The members of the bund at
Wilmington and the Dutch in Clan
William district are said to be armed
with Mausers and to be anxious to
use them in behalf of the Beers. AL
though the stories of an uprising are
discredited, the police and military
are taking ample precautions.
TO PREVENT A RISING.