Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-12-27
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
News of the Gravest Character Re-
ceived from Sir Alfred Miner.
DUTCH UPRISING IN CAPE COLONY.
A Dispatch Received from Lord Kitchener
Saws That His Troops Are Following
the Beers Up-COmmandant
Kreuz Captured.

London. Dec 24.-News of the
gravest moment came Saturday from
South Africa. 1t came from Sir Alfred
Miner, the governor general himself.
1t has not been published yet in En-
gland, and it describes a situation
which it is scarcely an exaggeration
to pronounce no less serious than that
of the dark days just a year ago.
Kimberley is again threatened and
the British forces on all sides are too
weak Miner reports that a strong
force of Beers has established a posi-
ton between De Aar and Kimberley,
IA miles from the latter place. His
information points to their being able
to supply themselves with artillery
buried months ago, while the feeling
of the Dutch in the Cape Colony is
such that the invaders will be able to
secure ample supplies of provisions
and ammunition.
Sir Alfred Miner adds the signifi-
cant warning that the position of af-
fairs is apparently not realized either
in Cape Colony or by the home gov
eminent, and unless there is an i'm
mediate response to his demand for a
further force of mounted troops sew
eral months of hard operations would
be necessary.
The Dutch uprising in Cape Colony
is in active progress and an important
Boer success at Kimberley would
scarcely fail to precipitate a rebel
lion which would require great cam
paign to crush.
Dispatch Received from Lord Kitchener.
London, Dec. 24.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Kitchener, dated Pretoria, De-
cember %: ''ks far as it is possible
for me to form an opinion from the
reports of officers on the spot, I think
the Boer movement into Cape Colony
has been checked. OF the two forces
that entered the colony the eastern
is still north of the ZOutpansberg
range, while the one that entered west
appears to have been turned in the
direction of BritstOwn and Prieska.
Our troops are getting around both
bodies and a special column is also
being organized which will be dis
patched Immediately when [ know
where it's services are most wanted.
The Beers have not received much as
SIStd1C0 LII cape OOAOhJ, oo AcrA cANo 10y
information goes. We have armed
some of the colonists who are assist
ing our forces. Railway and telegraph
communication has been much inter
rupted by the very bad weather.
''Dewet is in the neighborhood of
Senekal. Gen. French, in con junction
with Gen. Clements. attacked a force
under Beyers, south of the Magalies-
berg The Beers broke away in
southwesterly direction toward Pot
chefstroom and were followed by Gen.
Gordon with a column of French's
force. Yesterday evening about five
o'clock Clements force was engaged
south of ELEPHANTS mex, but I do not
yet know the rsult.''
a later dispatch from Lord Kitch-
ener, dated Pretoria, December %,
says: ''The western column of Beers
occupied Britstown and cut the rail
way south of De Aar junction. The
enemy is being followed up. Gen.
French has been in contact for two
days with the commanders of Beyers
and Delarey, south of the Magalies-
bers. He is pursuing them. The
enemy have lost considerably and
Commandant Kreuz and others have
been captured. Gen. Colville engaged
two separate commanders December
81 near Vladllfontein, with slight
losses, the enemy retiring