Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-01-03
Official Report Of the Successful
Engagement Near Coles
burg.
Some Thousands Of Beers Report.
ed to Be Retiring Toward
Norvalspont.
While Probably Oyeres estimated,
the Victory Will Have
! Moral Effect.


General French's column is at length
confirmed officially the war Office issu-
ing q dispatch from Cape Town, Mon
day, Jan. i, stating that French report.
ed at52 p. M. from Coleskop, BY hello
graph, as follows:
Leaving at Rensbnrg holding the
enemy in front, half Of the first Suf-
folks and q section Of the Royal Horse
artillery I started thence at in the
afternoon, Dec. 81, taking with me,
five squadrons Of cavalry; half Of the
Second Berks and 80 mounted infantry,
infantry carried id 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 comp letely BY surprise. AT
daylight, we shel1ed the laager and en-
fladed the right Of the enemy's posi-
ton. The artillery fire in reply was
very hot from a 15-pounder using Royal
Laboratory amm unition, and other
guns. We siienced the gums on the
enemy's right flank, demonstrating
with cavalry and guns to the north Of
Colesberg, toward the junction, where
q strong laager Of the enemy was hold
ing a hill, and q position southeast of
EColesberg, 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 Norvalspo
All Remington scouts proceeded to-
wards Achterland, yesterday morning.
Slight casualties, about three killed
and few wounded. Details later. =
Brief independent mi messages from
Rensburg fled the evening of Jan. /,
supplement General French's dispatch
but sli ght1y. According to them, the
British were still shelling the Boer po-
sition at s q clock Monday and expected
to enter Colesbefg Tuesday
The British losses were men killed
and q wounded. The Beers are sup
posed to have suffered heavily from the
accuracy Of the British artillery fire.
General French's statement that the
Beers were using 15-pounder and
lWoolwich ammunition, evidently re-
fers to one Of the British guns captured
lat stormberg.
The Boer strength in the engagement
with General French was estimated at
from 5, goo to Z. 900 men.
Disposed TO Ovsrrate II.
While the afternoon newspapers are
disposed to overrate the brilliancy of
General French's success, it will doubt
less have good moral effect. and if
promptly followed up, as seems likely
from the fact that Remingt guides
are already adyancing on Achterlang,
1t may result in securing Noryalspont
brid sc, thus gaining an important strait
legic advantage, as thence General
French will probably be able to
threaten Bethu1i bridge, which is the
line Of retreat Of the Beers facing Gen-
feral Gatacre.
| Other official dispatches dated Jan. /,
Ray General Methuen's position is nm
changed.
Mr.. George Lynch, the newspaper
Icorrespon ondent, who was captured OUT
side ef Lad dysmith, and imprisoned at
Pretoria, has been released and has ar
rived at Lonrenzo Marques. i3s
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 of
Idysentery and fever is increasing.
!