The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-16


turning OK wagons to the railway line
prostrated by heat and exhaustion"
London, February LIT is officially
announced that the British cavalry di-
vision under General French, Monday,
February 18th seized the crossing of
the Reit river at Dekib's drift, on the
east bank of which the Sixth and Sew
enth divisions are now comped.
TOTAL BRITISH CASUALTIES.
London, February 14.-The total
British casualty returns up to tonight
are: Officers-killer 152, wounded $50,
missing 112; men-killed 1,477 wounded
$3.50 missing 2,7S1, other fatalities re-
ported 563; grand total 0,505.
PLUMER'S FIGHT WITH BOERS.
Advices from Gaberones, dated Feb
ruary 4th, say: The artillery duel
between Colonel Plumer's force and
the British dropped two shells into the
Boer fort. The Boer guns have since
been silent. Colonel Plumer'S advance
has been checked by floods"
DEFEAT OF THE BRITISH NEAR
RENSBURG.
Rensburg, Tuesday, February 13.-
Before dawn yesterday the enemy
opened an attack upon Slingerfontein,
assaulting with musketry the hills on
the northeast held by three companies
of the WorceSters under Captain Ho-
vel. The artillery attack began at
sunrise. The Beers approached in
great numbers, estimated at seven to
one. The British, under good order,
sustained the attack throughout the
day.
Meanwhile, two big guns on the
west opened upon the British at day.
light and fired for half an hour, when
a British hOwitZer silenced them with
Lyddite, the British artillery firing
with precision. The shelling continued
all day, and last evening the Beers
brought up a 40-pounder in order to
lombard the camp from a hill to the
north. The attempt was plainly Wis
ible, as the gun could be seen being
drawn up by eighteen oxen.
With the Beers surrounding the
British in overwhelming numbers and
having artillery, it then became evil
dent that it would be impossible to
retain Slingersfontein, which the Brit
ish evacuated under cover of the dark
ness. falling back upon Rensburg. The
British casualties were lighter than
might have been expected in the cir
cumstances.
A DRAWN BATTLE.
A dispatch from General Butler at
Chievelrey was received today, an
nouncing reconnaissance at Spring
field. resulting in no gain of ground on
either side. Captain Hamilton Russell,
Lieutenant Churchill and ten men
were wounded and Lieutenant Pilking-
ton and six men were captured by the
Beers. Churchill is said to be Winston
Churchill's brother. recently given a
commission in the South African Light
Horse The dispatch proves that the
Beers are actively following General
Buffers every move.
A dispatch from Mafeking says the
garrison there can mold out until June.
General Buffers dispatch from
Chievelrey, dated Monday, February
18th, says: The commanding officer
ait Springfield reports this morning that
a squadron of the First Dragons NOV
ing to the outpost line covering the
right flank of the camp, met a party
of Beers near Fuste enberg. The Beers
reaching the crest of a hill first, opened
a heavy fire on the squadron, which re-
tired. He sent out supports and the
Beers retired
The dispatch then gives the casual
ties as already cabled. Continuing the
dispatch says: 'Dundonald with zoe
mounted men, a field battery and the
First Royal Welsh F'usiliers, February
18th, reconnoitered the high ground
which the enemy has been in the habit
or visiting Inc enemy evacuated III
with the loss of two men, after slight
resistance. When the force retired on
the completion of the reconnaissance
the enemy returned in considerable
numbers and kept up a heavy rifle fire
wOunding slightly Lieutenant G.
Churchill, of the South African Light
Horse. Five men are missing"
It is not quite clear who wrote the
dispatch, as Generals Lyttleton, Hold
yard, Warren and other generals are
believed ito be in the neighborhood OF
Springfield.
BOERS SHELL THE WOMEN'S 6
LAGER
The Daily Chronicle publishes the
following dispatch from Mafeking
da, ed January 29th: The Beers shellet
the women laager for two hours or
Saturday, January 27th. Boer women
| warned by spies, evidently went into
! the trenches, clapped their hands and
hurrahed when the shells fell near the
English women. Lady Sarah Wilson
was slightly wounded"