The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-01-06
ANOTHER E'lG.lI WON.
Col. Pitcher Captures Beer Lager,
Taking Many Prisoners.
Losses of the South African Troops
Thought to he Hcnvy-Cnnndinn
and Australian Soldiers Praised
for Their Valiant Work.

Thought to lie Hcnvy-Cnnndinn
and Australian Soldiers Praised
for Their Valiant Work.
London, Jan. 3.-The war office has
also received the following from Cape
Town, under Tuesdays date:
Col. Pitcher reports through the officer
commanding at the Orange river:
II have completely defeated a hostile
command at the Sunnys!de laager, this
day, January ], taking the lager and 40
prisoners, besides the killed and wounded.
Our casualties are two privates killed and
Lieut.. Adie wounded. Am encamped at
Dover farm, 20 miles northwes, of Bel
mont and ten miles from Sunnyside."
Troops Are Praised.
London, Jan. 3.-The morning pa-
rers are unanimous in praising the
gallantry of the Canadian and colonial
troops. The Times says: "The moth
er country will share with the Cana
6ians and Australians in the pride and
qualification they must feel at the fine
qualities displayed by their troops in
this dashing little engagement"
Success. of Colonial Troops.
Belmont, Cape Colony, Monday, Jan.
1.-Ano1her dispatch from Dover
Farm, dated January 1, says:
THE colonial troops who have been long
ing to be allowed to meet the Beers have
at last been given an opportunity to do SO.
and scored a brilliant success. The raid
conducted by Col Pitcher was very diff
ficult. owing to the fact that the move
ments OF the troops were Immediately
communicated to the Beers by natives.
In order tn this E01 Pitcher In
making his forced march from Belmont,
left British trooper at every farmhouse
with instructions not to allow the natives
to leave their huts, the patrols calling the
names of the natives hourly in order TO
prevent their escape. In the maneuver at
Cooks Farm Col. Pitcher sent mounted pa
trolls east. One of these, consisting Of four
men, commanded by Lieut.. Adie. suddenly
encountered IA Beers who opened fire. The
lieutenant was severely wounded and Pri-
vate Butler gave up his horse in order to
carry the lieutenant out of range.
Lieut. Ryan. who had worked magnifl-
Gently, reported that the vcldt on the right
of the enemy was clear. whereupon Maj
De Rougemont ordered the guns to n trot.
They arrived within 1900 yards of the
lager. unlimbered and planted five shells
in as many minutes within the laager. Inn
modiately the enemy could be seen stream
ing over the kopje. They We're complete
ly surprised, but quickly opened Il well-di-
rccted fire.
IA press representative had the privilege
of carrying an order TO the Toronto COM
pany at double-quick into action. The or
der was received With great satisfaction.
The company rushed forward until within
a thousand yards of the enemy's position,
when 1t opened Il hot fire upon the kopje
and completely subdued the Boer fire.
"The British artillery shellcd the posi-
ton with wonderful accuracy. while Lieut..
Ryan, with mounted infantry. worked
round and completely uncovered the fire
| of the Beers, who had been enSconccd In
the bushes.
| Meanwhile Col. Pitcher. with the Queens
landers, taking advantage of every cover
made direct attack. the Australians NOV
ing slowly but surely. and only shouting
when they saw the enemy retiring under
their steady fire. The Quecnslanders be-
| haved with great GOODNESS. laughing and
chatting even at the moment of greatest
peril.
During the advance the Boer fire sud
denly ceased. Thirty-five Beers hoist ed /,
white flag and SURRENDERED. portion OF
the Torontos moved across the front OF
the guns and entered the laager. The Beers
had fled. Fourteen tents, three wagons, Il
great store Of rifles. ammunition, forage
saddles and camp equipment and numer.
GUS discriminating papers were captured.
1.-THE Beers lost six killed and ~ wound
ed. The TorOntoS stood the CALLING fire
with admirable patience. never wasting 1
shot"
| French's Successful Fight.
! London, Jan. 1.-THE success of Cen
French's column is at length confirmed
officially, the war Office Tuesday after.
noon issuing dispatch from Cape
Town Monday, january /. as follows:
"French reports at two p. III. Tuesday
from Colcskop, by Photograph, as fol.
lows:
Leaving at Rcnsburg holding the en-
| envy in front. half of the First Suffolks
and section of the Royal horse artillery
I started thence at five in the afternoon
December 81, taking with me five squadrons
| of cavalry, half of The Second Hcrlts and
80 mounted infantry. infantry carried in
wagons, and ten guns. | halted for -four
hours at Maidor's farm and at $3.50 this
morning occupied the kopjr overlooking
and westward of Colcsburg. The cnemy's
outposts were taken completely by sur.
prise. AT daylight we Shcll,d the laagcl
and enflladcd the right of the cnemy's DO.
sition. The artillery fire in reply was very
hot from 15-pounder using royal labora
tory tory ammunitlon and othe.' guns. We
silenced the guns on the enemy's righ
| Hank, demonstrating with cavalry and
guns TO the north of Colo sburg, towards
the junction, where strong LANCER of the
| enemy was holding a hill. and Il position
southeast of Colcsberg, as far as the juno
ton. Some thousands Of Beers with two
guns are reported to be retiring towards
| Norvals Pont
! "All Remington's scouts proceeded to.
ward Achtcrland yesterday morning
Slight casualties, about three killed and
| few wounded. Details later"
Brief independent messages from
Rensberg, filed the evening of January
/, supplement Gen. Frcnch's dispatch
but slightly. According to them the
British were still Smelling the Boer po-
sition at five o'clock and expected to
enter Colesberg Tuesday.
The British losses were three men
killed and seven wounded. No officers
were killed or wounded. The Beers are
supposed to have suffered heavily from
the accuracy of the British artillery
fire. Gen. French's statement that the
Beers were using 15-pounder and
Woolwich ammunition evidently re-
fers to one of the British guns capt ured
at Stormberg.
The Boer strength in the engagement
with Gen. French was estimated at
from 5000 to 1000 men.
Generous Gifts.
| Chicago, Jan. 3.-Dr. Harper an