Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
The BQ.ERS
DEFEATED.
len. French Routs Them on
Sunday and Occupies
Colesburg.
oILCHER WINS VICTORY,
He Captures Sunnyside Laager and In.
mates-French's Victory Gained by
Flank Operations-News NNela
coined by English People.

coined by English People
Rensberg. Cape Colony, Jan. q
ieneral French has completely de-
eated the Beers and occupied Coles
urg. The general continued to keep
he Beers on the move and pressed
hem closely Saturday and Sunday,
living them no time to make pro-
,nged stand, and when day broke he
sas within striking distance of the
nemy.
Sunday night all the cavalry, artil-
,ry and infantry, the latter riding in
Iagons to increase the general mobili-
], started upon night march with the
bject of turning the Beers right.
The flank operations We're success
ul. The infantry and field batteries
Immediately made a feint upon the
3oer front, and while this was pro-
.eeding the cavalry and light artillery
got completely around the enemy's
right flank, as arranged.
The program worked without hitch.
The Beers were utterly surprised and,
findin~ their retreat threatened, fed
in disorder to the eastward, leaving
solesburg in General Erench's hands.
Another Victory.
London, jan. 2.-(By Associated
Press.)-In the following from Cape
Town, under today's date, Colonel
pilcher reports through the officer
,mnianding at Orange river: 81 COM
etely defeated the hostile command
spnnysides az ger u .lsiE day, Jan. l..
king the Laager aud 40 prisoners, be-
des the killed and wounded. Our
sualties were two priyates killed and
tenant Ade wounded. I am en-
ed at Dover farm, twenty miles
west of Belmont and ten miles
Sunnyside."
aIls Of Frencli's Engagement.
on, Jan. 2.-By Associated
The success of French's col
was confirmed officially by the
office this afternoon issuing dis
from Cape Town, dated yester-
is follows: ''French reports at 2
from Colesburg, by heliograph, as
VS.: L am leaving at Rensburg,
ng the enemy in front, half of the
tSuffolks and a section of the Roy
sc artillery. / started thence at
H.. b.
ock in the afternoon, December
s.l.-. iaking with. me five squadrons OF
cavalry, half of the Second Berkshires
eighty mounted infantry, infantry car
,ried in wagons and ten guns. i halted
-four hours at Maidor's farm, and al
1890 this morning occupied the
kopje overlooking and westward oil
Colesburg. The enemy's outposts We're
taken completely by surprise. AT day
flight we shelled the laager and enfilad-
led the right of the enemy's position
Inc artillery fire in reply was very hot
from 15-pounder using royal labro-
tory ammunition and other guns. We
silenced the guns on the enemy's right
flank, demonstrating with cavalry ane
q I~uns to the north of Colesburg, to-
wards the Junction, where a strong
aager OF the enemy was holding the
hill, and the position southeast o.
Eolesburg, as far as the Junction. Oul
bosition cuts the line of retreat via ths
road and bridge. Some thousands o.
Beers with two guns are reported ts
y pc retiring towards Norval's Point. Al
u Remington's scouts proceeded to
yard Achterland yesterday morning
Is here were slight casualties, abou
hrpa killed and n few ,you,,flp6 80
Later Details.
Brief independent messages from
ensburg filed the evening OF Januar,
supplement French's dispatch bu
Try slightly. According to them tn.
ritish were. still shelling the Boel
(sition at 5 o'clock Monday evening
Id expected to enter Colesburg today
lie British losses We're three killet
Id seven wounded. The Beers ar,
pposed to have suffered heavily from
e accuracy of the British artillery
e. French's statement that tn,
pers are using 15-poundar ant
u oolwich ammunition evidently refer
one of the British guns captured
Stormberg. The Boer strength il
E engagement with French is esti
bted at five to seven thousand men
A Hay OF Light.
London, Jan. 2.-The success of Gen
lal French in driving The Beers from
plesbArg has shot welcome ray 0
ght through the gloom OF the cam
Aign in South Africa. Everywhere i
commented upon as an example o
5und tactics and as an illustration O
that may be done when right method
Re employed with the Beers.
The government is urged to take th
sson 10 heart, and see that no ston
Rtleft unturned in the endeavor to ge
he largest possible force Of cayalr,