Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-01-04
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
London Papers Praise the Calamity
Of Colonial Troops.
COL. PITCHERS FORCED MARCH.
He Takes the Beers Completely BY Sur.
prlse-A Pretoria Dispatch Says the
British We're Defeated At Coles
berg Pitcher In Douglass.


London, Jan. 3.-Ihc morning M
pers sie unanimous in praising TIL,
gallanuy of the Canatian coIonja
troops. Although the continuance q
minor 'jiccesses gratifcs the British
public il is not forgotten that the
larger aspects of the campaign are
unchanged AS the Daily News re-
marks, 1T is Il day of snail mercies.
The Importance of both Gen. French
and ca. Pitchers victories lies in the
effect hey are likely to have upon
the colonial Dutch.
A Cape Town dispatch reports that
"the rebels in Barkley district are de.
moralMcd by the British occupation
OF Dordrecht. Should ii turn out that
the Ouch rebellion Is lhus being d.
unfinished IT will be matter Of great
relief for the British campaign.
The standard remarks. Until the
Tugela has been crossed and Lady
smith believed II would lie idle to de-
ny that the present position in Cape
Colony IS one of very great danger
and II unhappIy Gen. EULER is again
defeatcp. 1t will be necessary to dis
patch 100000 additional men 10 keep
the Du ch in order"
Yesterday the admiralty chartered
eight more large transports. When
oil the troops destined for South
Africa Join those already there Lord
Robert will be in command of about
100000 men. Thirty thousand are
now afoat or ready 10 embark. Mill
tary observers, in view of what these
figures mean, cannot see how the
British can fail to crush the Beers by
mere i0ice of numbers.
Col Pitcher 70 cd March.
Belmont Cape Colony, Jan. a.
A dispatch from Dover Farm, dated
January |, says; "The colonial troops,
who have been longing to be allowed
TO meet the Beers, Nlve at last been
given an opportunity to do SO and
scoredsa brilliant success. The raid
conducted by Gen. Pitcher ives very
difficult, owing to the fact that the
movements of the troops were imme-
diately communicated to the Beers
by natives. In order TO prevent this.
Col. Pitcher, In making his forced
march from Belmont, left British
trooper at every farmhouse, with in
Etructions not to allow the natives to
leave their huts, he patrols calling
the names of the natives hourly in
order to prevent their escape, IN the
vancouver at Cooks farm, Col I'il-
cher sent mounted patrols east. Lieut.,
Ryan reported that the yeldl ON the
right Of the enemy was clear, where
upon Maj De Rougemont ordered Til,
guns to a trot. They arrived within
1900 yards of the laager, unlmbcrcd |
md planted five shells in as many
minutes within the lager. lmme-
dately the enemy could be seen
streaming over the kopjc. They were
completely surprised but quickly |
opened a well-directed fire. A repre-
sentative of the Associated press had
the privilege Of carrying an order to
the Toronto company AT double quick |
into action. The company rushed
forward until within LOCO yards of the
enemv's position, when it opened a
hot fire upon the kopie and com
pletely subdued the I'oer fire The
British artillery shelled the position
with wonderful accuracy, while Lieut..
Ryan, with mounted infantry, worked
3round and completely uncovered the
fire OF the Beers, who had, been en-
sconced in the bushes, Meanwhile
Col. Pitcher, with the Queenslanders,
taking advantage of every cover, made
q direct attack.
"During the advance the |'oer fire
suddenly ceased. fhirty-ive Beers
hoistcd a white flag and surrendered.
A portion of the Torontos moved
across the front of the guns and en-
tered the lager, The Eoers had fed.
Fourteen tents, three wagons, great
store of rifles, ammunition, forage, |
saddles and camp equipment and MI
merous discriminating papers were
captured"
The British Said to Have Been Defeated.
Pretoria, Jan. 3.-Sunday the Brit
ish in great force attacked Comman-
dant Schoeman's commando in the
Colesherg district and tried to storm
~ position. They repeated the. at
tack Monday morning, but were
forced TO retreat. the Beers holding
the position. The loss of the British
il not known but II Is reported to
have been heavy.
Col. Pitcher Occupies Douglass.
Douglass, Cape Colony, Jan. 3,-Col.
Pitcher has occupied Douglass without
opposition and has been received with
enthusiasm by the loyalists
The Notice Of Contest Served.