Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-31
ANOTHER BRITISH DEFEAT
THE BOERs CAPTURE HELvETIA
WITH 200 PRISONERS.
British Also Lose Fifty Killed and
WOunded-TOwn Was ReOc-
cupied Later.

LONDON, December 31.-The war office
has received the following dispatch from
Lord Kitchener:
PRETORIA, December 80, $50 pm
Gen. Lyttleton reports that our post at
Helvetia was captured yesterday morning
by the Beers. About fifty were killed and
wounded and 200 taken prisoners.
Col Kitchener reports that he is follow
ing with small force in the track of the
enemy, Helvetia being reoccupied by Reeves,
who has been reinforced from Belfast.
"Helvetia was very strong position on
the Machadodorp-Lyd railway, and
was held by detachment of the Liverpool
regiment Am asking for further informa-
ton.
While Lord Kitchener sends bad news for
England on the closing day of the year,
the press continues to take surprisingly
hopeful view of grave situation and of
revelations of an enormously wide field of
Boer activity. Gen. De Wet is still at large.
Kimberley is isolated. The Beers are in
force enough to have captured strong
position at Helvetia, in the Lydenburg dis
| trict, while, judging from Lord Kitcheners
very recent advices, progress is being
made against the Boer invaders in Cape
Colony.
According to further kilograms received
yesterday, Zeerust is practically besieged
but has provisions sufficient for five months.
The garrison at OttoShoop has been with
drawn to Lichtenburg.
A dispatch from Carnarvon, dated yester-
day, reports that the Beers who have been
threatening that point were driven off and
are being pursued.
ut is evident" says a belated message
from krugersdorp, dated December 3d.
that the Boer commissariat in the direc-
ton of the Magaiiesberg is we'll supplied
and that until the country between here
and the Magaliesberg is properly cleared of
Beers. they will continue to concentrate
| there, the ground being particularly adapt
| ed to their methods of warfare"
The Beers admit that in their fight with
Gen. Clements at Nooitgedacht they lost
| 100 men.
ut is understood that Lord Kitchener
cannot ask the colonies officially to send
| troops. says Durham dispatch dated De-
| cember 20, but he desires it to be known
| In Australasia and Canada that Australians
ana canadians serving in Natal will be
| eligible for immediate enlistment in an ir-
regular corps, which is proceeding to Jo-
| hannesburg for five months service"
10 emphasize Lord Kitcheners covert ad-
mission that no progress is being made
| against the invasion of Cape Colony a cor
respondent at Burghersdorp, wiring Satur-
| day, reports as follows:
Two fresh commanders entering the
colony. One has already crossed near
| momentarily expected in the Steynsburg
| district. The Beers are said to have two
| or three horses each, though in bad con-
h h,'t Ihey nave no guns or transport
|
rines and ammunition. Captured Beers say
| that the intention of these commanders
IS to roam about and wait until General
DE wet appears upon the scene''
All dispatches arriving in London agree
| that the Cape Dutch show no inclination
| TO rise, but, on the contrary, appear to be
tired OF the war and DESTROYS of peace
| Many refuse to supply the Beers with food
and are willing to give information to the
| British regarding Boer movements.
Details of the Greylingstad affair show
| NJ lIn,-
the Beers a second force of 400 of the
| enemy was seen moving toward the camp
| where the British transport was inspan-
ned. The small British force made pIucky
| stand until renforcements arrived with
| artillery, and, after a severe fight. the
Beers were defeated. The British losses
| altogether were nine killed and sixty-three
| wounded and missing. The Beers are said
to have had thirty-one killed.
| Lord Kitchener, wiring from Pretoria,
| Saturday, December 20, says:
There is not much change in the situa-
ton 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 support from the
| north.
The last report states that the western
| force Is moving to Carnarvon. DE Isle
| and Thorneycroft are in close pursuit
| French has occupied Ventersdorp. Glenn
| ents reports that he is opposed on the road
to Rustenburg. The eastern line was
| blown up near Pan, and train held
up this morning on the Standerton line near
| Vaal station.
Whites column has arrived at Senekal.
Knox's column and Boyes' brigade are
holding De Wet from breaking SOUTH
| Commenting upon the Helvetia disaster.
| the Daily Mail calls upon the government
| to send out at least $1,000 additional men.
Mr.: Chamberlain, according to a dispatch
| from Wellington, New Zealand, has de-
cMned the services of Maoris for South Az
| RIGA.