The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-01-12
TRANSvAAL WAR ITEMS.


The exact position at Molteuo and
Cyphergat is not yet clear, but in any
case these little engagements are be-
ginning to attain a greater degree OF
mobility. Lord Methuen's cavalry
scouting has developed the fact that
the Beers intrenchments extend some
40 miles, far overlapping the British
positions and making flank attacks eX-
ceedingly difficult. Military analysts
affirm that the Boer trenches confront
ing Gen. Butler stretch away some II
miles, and that work upon them is
pushed unremittingly. While the adj
vance is delayed, flank movements are
rendered most difficult because long
marches are not done with CELEBRITY,
and it is hard to time an attack with
certainty.
Gen. White still holds out, or did so
on the 9Th when the Beers, ousted
from their foothold inside the works,
suspended their assault at nightfall.
England has taken heart. The situa-
ton, however, is worse. The beleag-
ured force must have expended large
amounts of ammunition, which cannot
be replenished and must have lost
number of officers and men, which is
counterbalanced, so far as the garrison
is concerned, by the greater loss of the
Beers. 1t is also reported that Gen.
White is in need of relief and is short
of ammunition.
Gen. French reports that while en-
gagged in Bombarding Thurman on Jan.
/, he took 100 prisoners, including
two captains, Mr.. billiard, the magis-
trate, and eight other officers, besides
capturing 20 natives together with
number of rifles and revolvers and a
quantity of ammunition. Fifteen Brit
ish were wounded.
There was small sl1irmish near
Belmont on the morning of the 3D..
The British fired few shells, but the
Beers did not respond. A detachment
of about 40 Beers attempted to rush
Klolfontein, but were beaten back by
the mounted infantry. Possibly this
force consisted Of fugitives from Sunny
side.
A report from Col. Pitcher of the
British forces says that on Jan. l he
completely defeated the Beers in com
mand at Sunnyside laagar, taking the
laager and capturing 40 prisoners, with
loss of only two privates killed and
one lieutenant wounded.
The guns which were captured from
Gen. Butler at Colenso have been
mounted in the hills commaning the
drift over the Tugela river at Spring
field. The Beers also captured geo
! rounds of shrapnel when they took the
| guns.
A Boer dispatch from Dordrecht
! dated Jan. 4, says that the British
were compelled TO retreat from that
place; that the fighting around Coles
burg continues, and that the British
occupy some of the outside kopjes.
The latest kilograms say Gen. French
! has almost surrounded Colesburg, but
| that the Beers are stiffly defending all
their position close to the town, pre-
venting the British from capturing it.
| The Kaffir stations in the vicinity of
| Derdepoort have been destroyed by the
! Beers and the inhabitants have fled to-
a place of safety. 1t is estimated that
! 1900 Kaffirs were dispersed.
The British naval guns at Chleveley
camp continue their ineffective, long
range fire night and day, to divert
| Boer attention from the movements of
British troops.
Col. Baden Powell of the British
forces, reports that in a recent attack
on the Beers at Mafeking that he lost
| 81 men, had Ii wounded and taken
/ prisoners.
1t is said that President Kruger has
sent seven sons and 80 grandsons into
the Boer army to fight the English, in
addition to taking the field himself.
Britain has lodged a protest with
! Switzerland against Boer recruiting,
which is said to be in progress in that
country.
Lieut.. Col. Watson of Gen. French's
command was wounded on the 9th, and
| 20 of his men were taken prisoners, in
Guiding seven officers.
Wernher, Belt & Co., diamond mer-
chants, have donated S25O,OOO to the
fund for the equipment of the British
yeomanry.