The times., 1900-12-21
MARTIAL LAW PROCLAIMED.
Serious Aspect ofthe Boer Invasion
of Cane Colony.

CAPE TOWN, Dec. 2O.-Martial law is
being eytended to certain districts of the
Cape Colony.
The districts in which martial law has
superseded the civil law are Britstown,
Victoria West, Richmond, Hanover, Ma
raisburg, Graaff Reinet. Middleburg. Aber-
deem, Steynsburg, Cradock, Tarka, and
Molteno.
LONDON, Dec. 20.-The extensive proc
lamation of martial law in the Cape
Colony sufficiently indicates the serious
view the Government takes of the latest
developments in South Africa. The War
Office has issued nothing more than Cen
eral Kitchener's official despatch, but OFF,
cial news telegraphed from Cape Town
fills in the outline.
II is learned from these dispatches that
the Rhenoster invaders occupied Venter-
stad Tuesday, but vacated the place on the
approach OF a British force and went in
the direction of Steynsburg, which they
expected to reach today. In this, how
ever they were balked. the British gar
risoning the place strongly before they
arrived. The official statements added
that the invaders will now have great diff
Guilty in moving in any direction, as Burgh-
ersdorp, Stormberg, Rosmead, Naauw-
poort, and Steynsburg are strongly guard
ed, while the Orange River has risen con-
siderably, barring their return. They were
last reported in the Zuurberg range be-
tween Steynsburg and yenterstad
Regarding the Sand River invasion an
official reports says that 1000 Beers
crossed the river, making for Colesberg.
A column was despatched from Coles
berg, and the Beers were diverged in the
direction of Philipstown, which they oc-
cupied Wednesday. A portion of the
commando occupied Hout Kraal station
Thursday, cutting the railway. Consid-
cradle re-enforcments have been de-
spatched to De Aar and Hanover Road
and it is expected The Boer advance will
be stopped. Hitherto there has been lit
tie fighting, the invaders having In every
instance retired before the British. At
Venterstad the Beers took twenty of the
garrison prisoners. They summoned the
Hammelfontein garrison to surrender,
but the demand was refused. The Beers
then attacked them and the fighting last
ed some hours. The burghers were
eventually driven off.
An unofficial report from Cape Town
confirms the report of the recrudes-
cence OF rebellion Immediately south
west of the Orange Rivei.
The members OF the court that was try
ing treason cases at Colesberg have ar
rived at Cape Town. They intended to sit
at Colesberg until December %. but the
arrival OF Beers within seven miles of the
courthouse necessitated the removal of
the records to a safer place.
Meanwhile General De Wet has tenn
porarily disappeared from the scene. A
prisoner that he released has arrived at
Bloemfontein. He states that when the
Beers attacked Dewetsd9rp they had 5000
men and $1,000 horses. General De Wet is
said to have told the prisoner, who is ap-
parently a civilian, that-he lost more in
killed at Dewetsdorp than the entire Brit
ish casualties. He admitted that he was
beaten, hut said he was determined not to
surrender without Honor. He wanted a
free pardon for all his followers, many OF
whom are Cape rebels He declared that
he was able to hold out until March.
The prisoner confirms .the report that
General De Wet was hard hit at Thaba
NJ Chu, when his force was triseeted. He
lost several prisoners number of horses.
a quantity of ammunition. and two guns,
in addition to his heavy casualties.