The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-12-22
IS A CRUSHING BLOW.
Great Britain staggers Under Hecens
Defeats mt the Hands OF
the Beers.


shocked over the ominous report sent
10 the war Office by Lord Kitchener. 1t
contains news of one of the most crush
ing disasters TO British arms since the
beginning of the campaign. Coming
as it does on the anniversary OF the bat
tie of Colenso there are not few VINO
express the fear that the hand OF Prov
idence will be against the English in this
conflict. The incoherent and hysterical
dispatches of Lord Kitchener create
the fear that the situation is much more
alarming than the official reports IN
fer. His statement that four companies
Of Northumberland fusileers are miss
ing is generally believed to mean that
they have been captured by the Beers.
London, Dec. 17.-Lord Kitchener's
message to the war office is as 1oi-
lows:
pretoria, Dec. H-Clements brought IN
his force to Commando Mex. unopposed.
| The casualties were. regret to say, heaVy
killed. five officers and nine OF other
ranks; missing. IS officers and 800 or otner
ranks. These latter were four companies
of the Northumberland fusileers who were
| stationed on the hill. and some yeomanry
| and other details sent up to support them
Names and nature of wounds are being
telegraphed from Cape Town.
"Broadwood's brigade took no part In the
engagement. The Beers suffered severely.
Knox drove De Wet north to the Thaban-
| chu-Ladybrand line which was held by our
| troops. De Vets force about 5000 strong,
made several attempts to get through dur
ing the day, assisted by force OF Beers
operating from the north. These attacks
were driven back, though some of the Beers
| from the south were able to get through
| the line"
Wiring later, December IA, Lord
Kitchener reports that while passing
the lines in neighborhood of Thaban-
| chu De Vets force lost considerably.
| The South African light horse and
| Thorneycroft's mounted infantry cap
| tured 15-pounder, taken at De Vets
| dQrp, n pompon, several wagons with
ammunition, 90 prisoners and some
enemy has not been able to pass
north
Under date of December IL Lord
| Kitchener reports to the war Office from
Pretoria as follows:
| elements mas come to see me. He says
| that four companies of the Northumber-
lands held out on the hill as long as their
| ammunition lasted. The Boer force at
| lacking the hill was 1000 strong, while an
other force of 1000 attacked Clements
| camp. BY 60 a. m. the hill was carried.
| Requirements of one company of the
| Yorkshires failed to reach the top. Glenn
| ents' retirement was carried out with regu-
larity, but, as many native drivers bol;ed,
| a considerable amount of transportation
was lost. All their ammunition not taken
away was destroyed. He reports that all
| behaved well.
'Broadwood has gone to Rustenberg and
supports ELEPHANTS Mex, which has been
reinforced. flag of truce, which has come
into Commando Mex, from the Beers, says
Jouberts son was killed. and further re-
ports their losses as heavy"
Gen. Kitchener's supplementary dis
patch referring to the disaster at the
Magaliesberg confirms Fridays most
pessimistic fears and demonstrates
that the catastrophe is among the
worst of the war. The matter was
brought up in the house of commons
Saturday, but the secretary for war
Mr.. William st. John Brodrick, had no
information to add, except that the
wounded numbered six officers and As
men.
with one voice that the extraordinary
activity of the Beers just now is occa-
stoned by n desire to make a strong
showing in the field in order to assist
President Kruger in his European me-
gotiations. On the other hand. how
ever, there is a growing conviction
that many more soldiers will be needed
in South Africa before the war can be
brought to n close. That money and
men will be expended until Great Brit
ain has accomplished her purpose goes
without saying. but it is daily more APP.
parent how utterly weary the nation
is of the inglorious struggle.
LordSKitchener. it Is feared. will find
that 10000 men are not enough to cope
with the difficulties besetting him. lie
is said to have peremptorily demanded
that the imperial government dispatch
Immediately every available mounted
man.
London. Dec. 1.-THE following dis
patch has been received by the wal
office from Lord Kitchener:
pretoria. Dec. 16.-Five officers and 81
men, Magaliesberg prisoners have been re-
leased.
1.-THE Beers surrounded and captured 12
OF Brabant's horse In defile in the Zastror
district
"Col. Bomfeld, moving on Vryheid de.
feated the Beers with heavy loss, driving
them from Scheepers Mex and capturing
quantity of arms. The Scheepers Mel
movement occurred December 49,
"The Beers who attacked Vryheid. De
cember 10. lost 100 killed and wounded be
fore they retired. The fighting lasted al
day, the enemy drawing off at 1880 p. m
The British loss was six killed. 10 wound
ed and 30 missing. Our casualties include
two officers, who died of their wounds"
Wiring from Pretoria yesterday
Sunday, Lord Kitchener, after an
nouncing that the released Magalies
berg prisoners have arrived at Rus
tenberg, says that the Boer force di
vided into two portions, one moving
south and the other west.
London, Dec. 1.-THE Society OF
Friends OF the United Kingdom are
about to memorabilia Lord Salisbury
protesting against the burning OF
homes, causing great suffering to WON
en- and children, as means of checking
| A. l.. -