The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-02
THE BOERs DEFEATED AND COM
PEELED TO RETIRE FROM
THEIR POSITION
BURGHERS CLOSELY PaHSSED
NIGHT MARCH FOLLOWED BY IAN
ATTACK WHICH RESULTED
IN BRITISH VICTORY
LONDON IS LESS GLOOMY

Success at CoIesberg, While 1t Does
Not Alter or Improve the General
Situation, Tends to Cheer the
English Public - Latest Reports
Ladysmith-UgIy Rumors of Pro-
jected Uprisings Are Current I'm
South Africa-Position of the
Beers I'm Front of Gen. Butler
Growing Stronger.
LONDON, Jan. IA special to the
Daily Mail from Bennsberg says:
yesterday afternoon a big force Of
cavalry and infantry with six guns, un-
der the personal command of Gen.
French, moving by detour, occupied some
hills three miles from Colesberg, where
the Beers were in strength, confident in
the natural aid afforded them by the hills
around
"Last night all the cavalry artillery
and infantry, the latter riding in wagons
to increase the general mobility, started
upon night march with the object of
turning the Beers right The flank opera
llOnS were SUCCESSFUL. Lie lHld1llIy dilU
field batteries Immediately made feint
attack upon the Boer front, and, while
this was proceeding, the cavalry and light
artillery got completely around the
enemys right flank, as arranged.
1.-THE enemy's position extended six
miles around the entire village At day.
break our artillery opened the battle. The
Beers were taken by surprise, but replied
vigorously An artillery duel was main
tained for two hours. Then a Boer Hotch-
| kiss collapsed and was abandoned. We
captured 1t. A Boer big gun was silenced,
but this and the other Boer guns were
withdrawn to the northward, where We
are harassing the Boer retreat by dam
aging shell fire.
"Colesberg is in our hands and the few
remaining loyalists are jubilant. We have
captured many wagons and asconsiderable
quantity of stores.
"Our losses were quite slight, but the
Beers must have suffered heavily. They
may stop at Achterhang, or cross the
river altogether at Norvalspont, where
the bridge is still intact"
LONDON LESS GLOOMY.
Iil0 SuCSCoS VI NICll. Il CliSii III OAfFAAA6
the Beers from Colesberg has shot
welcome ray of light through the gloom
of the campaign in South Africa. Every
where it is commented upon as an ex-
ample of sound tactics. and as an Illus
tration Of what may be done when the
right methods are employed with the
Beers The government is urged to take
the lesson 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.
One important feature of the success OF
Gen. French is that it will have a deter
rent effect upon the disaffected Dutch
colonists.
SMALL VICTORIES.
There is disposition here to underrate
| small victories and skirmtshes 1T should
be borne in mind that Gen. French has
| only 1000 men, and so far as the important
| points of the campaign are concerned the
| situation is virtually unchanged.
| At Modder river the Beers appear to be
| modifying somewhat their line of de-
| Tense Gen. Buffers scouts have discoV-
| cred Boer camp established in the
vicinity of Springfield, southwest OF
| Colenso by a Free State commando.
similar movement ldS DSSll iAeiuC a. A'ANN
| der river A large force Of Beers, 1t Is
reported, have formed new laager about
fifteen miles down the stream at Kamee-
! thoek. -,
The heliograph reports from Ladysmith
| show that all was well on Dec 81 Ine
| bombardment was being continued, but
| its intensity had relaxed
DORDRECHT AFFAIR.
| Considerable interest was taken today
| in the details of the skirmishlng near
Dordrecht. Capt Montmorency's sortie
with patrol of 12O men of the Twenty
first lancers and his retreat, Dec. 90
were followed the next day by sue
cessful British engagement and the res
! cue of small party supposed to De men
| Can't. Montmorency left behind him;
Under Capt Goldsworthy, force OF llO
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