The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-12-31
ANOTHER BRITISH DISASTER
BOERS CAPTURE POST 1T HELYE-
 TIA INTHE TRANSVAAL.
Two Hundred Prisoners-Bur urghers Being FoIIOwed-xitchen Says Hel- vetiu was u Strong Position -Has Asked for Further Information.

Asked for Further Information.
 London, Dec. 31.-The war office has received the following dispatch from Lord Kitchener:
 "Pretoria, Dec. 20, 1900, FOO p. m.
 General Lyttleton reports that our post at Helvetia was captured yester- day morning by the Boers. About fifty were killed and wounded and 200 taken prisoners.
 "Colonel Kitchener reports that he is following with a small force in the track of the enemy, Helvetia being reoccupled by Reeves who has been reinforced from Belfast.
 1 "Helvetia is a very strong position on the Machadodorp-Lyden railway and was held by detachment Of the Liverpool regiment. Am asking for fur ther information"
 l Lord Kitchener wiring from Pretoria Saturday, December 29. says:
 "There is not much change in the sit uation in Cape Colony. The eastern force of the enemy appears to have broken up into small parties at Utrecht and to be moving about rapidly in the same district evidently waiting for sup port from the north.
 "The last report states that the west ern force Is moving to Carnarvon. De- Lisle and Thorneycroft are in close pursuit
 French has occupied Ventersdorp. Clements reports that he is opposed on the road to Rustenburg. The eastern line was blown up near Pan, and train was held up this morning on the Standerton line near Vaal station.
 Whites column has arrived at Sene- kal. Knoxs column and Boies' brigade are holding Dewet from breaking south.'
 According to telegrams received yes- terday Zeerust is practically besieged, but has provisions sufficient for five months. The garrison at Ottoshoop has been withdrawn to Lichtenburg. A dispatch from Carnarvon dated yester day reports that the 13oers, who have been threatening that point were driv- ell off and are being pursued.
 Tt is evident" says a belated mes
 
 Der 23 that the Boer commssariat in the direction of the Magaliesberg Is well supplied and that until the country be- tween here and the Magaliesberg Is properly cleared of Boers they will con tinue to concentrate there, the ground being particularly adapted to their methods of warfare"
 The Boers admit that in their fight with General Clements at Nooitgedacht they lost 130 men.
 Tt Is understood that Lord Kitchener cannot ask the colonies officially to send troops" says Durban dispatch, dated December 29 but he desires it to be known in Australasia and Canada that Australians and Canadians arriv- ing in Natal will be eligible for lmme- diate enlistment in an irregular corps, which is proceeding to Johannesburg for five months services"
 To emphasize Lord Kitcheners covert admission that no progress is being made against the invasion of Cape Col ony a correspondent at Burghersdorp, wiring Saturday, reports as follows:
 Two fresh commanders are entering the Colony One had already crossed the Knaapdaar and the arrival of another is momentarily expected in the district. The Boers are said to have two or three horses each, though in bad condition. They have no guns or transport, but are we'll supplied with l rifles and ammunition. | Captured Beers say that the intention of these commanders is to roam about and wait until General Dewet appears upon the scene"
 All dispatches arriving in London | agree that the Cape Dutch show no in- to rise, but on the contrary appear to be tired of the war and desir- ous of peace. Many refuse to supply the Boers with food and are willing to give information to the British regard Ing Boer movements.
 Details of the Greylingstadt affair show that while Colvilles column was the Boers a second force of 100 of the enemy was seen moving to- ward the camp where the British trans- port was inspanned. The small British 'orce made a plucky stand until rein 'orcements arrived with artillery and liter severe fighting the Boers were de- 'eated. The British losses altogether were nine killed and sixty-three wound- I'd and missing. The Boers are said to lave thirty-one killed