, 1900-12-21
CONFIRM INVASION
KITCHENER AND HIS AIDS RE.
PORT ON THE BOER
RAIDS.
The British Pursuing Them-The Off
ciaI Report Says the British Sol
diers Will Endeavor to Drive Them
Back to the North.

patcn mas been received from Genera
Kitchener, dated Pretoria. Wednes.
day, Dec. 19:
"A party of Beers. estimated at from
500 to 500. has crossed the Orange
river at Rhenoster Hook.
"A second band is reported to have
crossed nea Sand Drift.
They have been followed. | have
sent a considerable body of mounted
men, who are getting around them.
The Beers from Rhenoster Hook
are being followed closely from Ven
terstadt, which they left at 8 o'clock
yesterday evening, going in the direc-
ton of Steynsburg.
THE important points on the rail-
road and the neighborhood are well
guarded. | hope the band will soon
be driven north again"
Cape Town, Dec. 2O.-The invasion
of Cape Colony is spreading.
1t is reported that the Beers have
occupied Colesburg. south of Phil
lippolis, and near the Orange river
river colony frontier.
The people here are much disturb
ed.
A mixed force of 1000 men was dis
patched north yesterday evening.
Heavy cannonading Heard.
New York, Dec. pa dispatch to
the Journal from Johannesburg says:
Heavy cannonading was heard this
morning northward of Krugersdorp.
Marauding Boer parties still infest that
neighborhood.
New York, Dec. 2O.-A dispatch to
the Tribune from London says: There
are persistent rumors that General
Kitchener has asked for large rein.
forcements of mounted men. Various
figures, ranging from 10000 to 10000
men, are named, but the war office is
silent, and the reports are not credited
by military men. No action in the di.
rection of Strengthening the army in
South Africa is probable until Lord
Roberts return. If reinforcements are
sent it is not believed that they will *
coed 10000 men. A picked body of
mounted infantry already is under or.
ders to sail early in January, but it will
not outrun 1000 men. The supply of
horses is reported to be scant in South
Africa. Some experts consider ths>
there are men enough already in the
field, and that the proper course would
be to send horses by thousands and put
in the saddle the infantry now suffer-
ing from inaction and WEAKNESS of
camp routine. Attempts on the part of
press agencies to magnify the services
of mounted infantry under Clements
and explain away the recent reverse
are not convincing. The structures of
officers here upon the manage
ment of the British forces in that en-
gagement are most severe.
Invasion Of Cape Colony.
Lord Kitchener maintains silence
with respect to the invasion of Cape
Colony. and there is bound to be con
siderable anxiety until the truth is
known. 1t is difficult to believe that
the Beers who crossed the Orange riv-
er can be in sufficient numbers to
brighten the war authorities. or to
General Kitchener much annoy
ance. One of the commanders is,
however, reported to be in the neigh.
borhood of Aliwal North, which is
about the worst center of d%isaffection
in the whole colony. The invading
Beers are probably receiving consider
able assistance from the local Dutch,
and in case of a general uprising. the
troops at the disposal of the British
authorities would not be sufficient to
cope with the situation, which private
advices depict as somewhat ominous.
Delarey seems disposed to follow up
his success at Nooitgedacht. Hitherto
the Boer generals have been content to
rest on their oars after a victory, but
Delarey, if he intended profiting by his
defeat Of General Clements, should
not have given the latter time to be
joined by General French.
Heavy Losses Of British.
AS was generally expected, the losses
of the Northumberland fusiliers at
Nooitgedacht a week ago were much
heavier than official accounts at first
reported. Owing to the altered ar
rangements for Lord Roberts leturn,
and the short route in London which
the field marshal will cover in his urive
to Buckingham palace. it is feared by
a good many people that the crush will
be very great. The authorities are,
however, determined to prevent a repe'
tition of the s%candalous scenes which
marked the return Of the city volun.
teers.
Societys gossip now proposes to re-
ward Lord Roberts with an earldom
and 100000.
st. Paul's was we'll filled at the ser
vice in memory Of the soldiers and sail
ors who have fallen during the war
The lord mayor and sheriffs attended in
state, and there were files Of Cold
streams and Blues, with a full military
band. Lord Wolseley and Mr.. Broder
lex represented headquarters and the
war ONCE. The service was impress