Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-01-05
Official Report of the Successful
Engagement Near Coles
burg.
Some Thousands of Beers Report.
ed to Be Retiring Toward
Norvalspont.
While Probably Overestimated,
the Victory Will Have
Moral Effect.

LONDON, Jan. 8.-The success of
General French's column is at length
confirmed officially, the war Office issu-
ing a dispatch from Cape Town, Mon
day, Jan. /, stating that French report.
ed at 2 p. m. from Coleskop, by hello
graph, as follows:
Leaving at Rensburg, holding the
enemy in front, half of the first Suf-
folks and q section of. the Royal Horse
artillery, I started thence at s in the
afternoon, Dec. 81, taking with me,
five squadrons of cavalry; half of the
Second Berks and 20 mounted infantry,
infantry carried in wagons and 10 guns.
I halted for four hours at Maidor's
farm and at $3.50 this morning occupied
the kopje overlooking and westward
of Colesburg. The enemy's outposts
were taken completely by surprise. At
daylight, we shelled the lager and en-
filaded the right of the enemy's posi-
ton. The artillery fire in reply was
very hot from a 15-pounder using Royal
Laboratory ammunition, and other
guns. We silenced the guns on the
enemy's right flank, demonstrating
with cavalry and guns to the north of
Colesberg, toward the junction, where
a strong lager of the enemy was hold
ing a hill, and a position southeast of
Colesberg, as far as the junction. Our
position cuts the line Of retreat via the
road and bridge. Some thousands of
Beers with two guns are reported to be
retiring towards Norvalspont.
Gail Remington scouts proceeded to-
wards Aohterland, yesterday morning.
Slight casualties, about three killed
and few wounded. Details later"
Brief independent messages from
Rensburg fled the evening of Jan. /,
supplement General French's dispatch
but slightly. According to them, the
British were still Smelling the Boer po-
sition at s o'clock Monday and expected
to enter Colesberg Tuesday.
The British losses were 3men killed
and Z wounded. The Boers are sup
posed to have suffered heavily from the
accuracy of the British artillery fire.
General French's statement that the
Beers were using a 15-pounder and
Woolwich ammunition, evidently re.
fers to one Of the British guns captured
at Stormberg.
The Boer strength in the engagement
with General French was estimated at
from 5000 to 1000 men.
Disposed to Overrato It
While the afternoon newspapers are
disposed to overrate the brilliancy of
General French's success, it will doubt
less have a good moral effect. and if
promptly followed up, as seems likely
from the fact that Remington's guides
are already advancing on Achterlang,
it may result in securing Norvalspont
bridge, thus gaining an important STRAIT.
egic advantage, as thence General
French will probably be- able to
threaten Bethuli bridge, which is the
line of retreat of the Beers facing Gen.
eral Gatacre.
Other official dispatches dated Jan. /,
say General Methuen's position is un.
changed.
Mr.. George Lynch, the newspaper
correspondent, who was captured out
side Of ~Ladysmith, and imprisoned al
Pretoria, has been released and has ar
rived at Lourenzo Marques.
Sir William Thompson has been ap'
pointed consulting surgeon to the Brit
ish forces in South Africa.
General White reported, under date
of Dec. 81. that the number of cases o,
dysentery and fever is increasing.