Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-01-04
eHeLAao,s LARGE FORCE.
Cord Roberts viii Have 200, 900
Men Under Him.


Men Under Him.
London. Jan. 4.-The morning pa
pers are unanimous in praising the
gallantry of the Canadian and colonial
troops. Although the continuance of
minor successes gratifies the British
public, it is not forgotten that the
larger aspects of the campaign are un-
changed. AS the Daily News remarks,
1T is day of small mercies."
The Importance of both General
French's and Colonel Pitchers victo-
ries lies in the effect they are likely
to have upon the colonial Dutch.
The latest dispatch from Douglass
confirms the early report that the
Boer laagers consisted chiefly of Brit
ish subjects, who on the arrival of the
small Free State commando accepted,
probably, an invitation to throw in
their lot with the Beers, thus terroriz-
ing the loyalists, who are now jubi-
liant.
A Cape Town dispatch reports sthat
the rebels in Barkley district are de-
moralized by the British occupation
of Dordrecht. Should it turn out that
the Dutch rebellion is thus being. d.
unfinished, it will be G matter of great
relief for the British campaign.'
The Standard remarks: "Cntil the
Tugela has been crossed and Lady
smith relieved, it would be idle to
deny that the political position in
Cape Colony is one of very great dam
ger, and if, unhappily, General Butler
is again defeated. it will be necessary
to dispatch 100000 additional men to
keep the Dutch in order.''
Winston Churchill's estimate that
100000 men will be required to defeat
the forces of the two republics has
been ridiculed in many quarters, but
as matter of fact this number is al
most reached, without the extra 1OO,-
600 which the Standard foresees must
be required.
Yesterday the admiralty chartered
eight more large transports. When
all the troops destined for South Al
RIGA join those already there Lord
Roberts will be in command of about
100000 men. Thirty thousand are now
afloat or ready to embark. Military
observers, in view of what these fig
ures mean. cannot see how the British
can fail to crush the Beers by mere
force of numbers.
Belmont, Cape Colony, Jan. A
dispatch from the Associated Press
representative at Dover farm, dated
January l, says:
"a mounted force, consisting of 100
Canadians, a Toronto company, 200
Queenslandcrs, two guns and horse
Battery, forty mounted infantry and
900 of Cornwall light infantry, the
whole commanded by Colonel Pitcher,
left Belmont yesterday noon and
marched westward, covering twenty
miles before sunset The force
encamped at Cooks farm, where the
troops were welcomed enthusiastical-
ly. At o'clock in the morning the
force approached the Spot where a
lager of Beers was reported. Colonel
Pitcher, on approaching the position.
which was a line of strong kopjes, de-
tached Major de Rougemant, with
guns, the Torontos and mounted in.
fantry to work towards the right
making the turning movement him
self, with the Queenslanders toward
the south position. The maneuver was
a complete success. The British
shells were the first indication of the
presence of the troops. The Beers left
the lager and opened fire, but the
Queenslanders, completing the move.
ment, the lager was captured with
forty prisoners. The British casual
ties were two killed and three wound
ed and one missing. The whole force
worked admirably. The two men
killed belonged to the Queensland
contingent"