The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-21
Lord Kitchener Hopeful of Driving
De Wet and His Band North In
to Their Former Republic.
FIGHTING NEAR KRUGERSDORP
HEAVY CANNONADING HEARD BY
RESIDENTS OF JOHANNESBURG.
De Wet Determined Not to Surrender
without Pardon-Return OF
Consul General stowe.

LONDON, Dec. 20.-The following dis
patch has been received from General
Kitchener, dated Pretoria, Dec. 10:
"a party of Beers. estimated at from 500
To 500 crossed the Orange river at Rheones-
ter Hoek. A second band is reported to
have crossed near San Drift They have
been followed. L have sent a considerable
body OF mounted men, who are getting
around them. The Beers from Rheonester
Hoek are being followed closely from
Venterstadt, which they left at O'Clock
yesterday evening, going in the direction
of Steinsburg: The important points on n,1 ane
railway and in the neighborhood are well
guarded hope the band will soon be driv-
en- north again.
A special from johannesburg, dated Dec.
10, says that heavy cannonading was heard
the morning of that date, north of Krugers-
dorp.
According to the Cape Town correspond
ent of the Daily Mali, wiring yesterday,
the treason court, sitting in Colesberg, was
Obliged hurriedly to remove to Cape Town
with the records and documents. owing to
the vicinity of the invading Beers. "The
Colesberg district says the correspondent,
lis seething with anti-British excitement.
A recrudescence of rebellion is perceptible
in the district Immediately south of the
was proceeding at Phillipstown, presuma-
bly, with a commando which crossed at
Sand Drift"
A government memorandum issued at
Cape Town this evening makes the follow
ing announcement: ''The principal seat OF
action has been transferred to the northern
part of Cape Colony. Early Dec. 1e a large
body of Beers crossed the Orange river to-
wards Burgherdorp. A British force fol-
lowed, to avoid which the Beers turned
westward and occupied Venterstadt. Dec.
is, but they evacuated the town the same
day on the approach of the British and
marched in the direction of Steynsburg.
The Beers, however, have been intercepted
and find difficulty in moving in any direc-
ton, as Steynsburg, Burghersdorp, Storm
berg, Rosmead and Nauwpoort are all
strongly held by the British and the
Orange river has risen considerably in their
rear.
Another 1000 Beers crossed at Sand drift,
making for Colesburg, but on the dispatch
OF a British force they diverged and oc-
cupied Philipstown Dec. 10, cutting the tele-
graph wires between Philipstown and
Houkt kraal Early this morning portion
tion and cut the line there.
considerable reinforcements have been
sent to De Aar and Hanover, and ii is ex-
peeted that further invasion will now be
stopped except in the case Of scouting
parties which may slip through to raid cat
tie and to obtain much-needed supplies.
Hitherto there has been very little fighting,
as the enemy in every instance have retired
before the British. They took our garrison
of twenty men at Venterstadt prisoners;
but the Magersfontein repulsed their at
tacks. inficting heavy loss, after some
hours fighting and refusal of a demand
to surrender. 1t is probable that of the
two invading forces the former is a part
OF De Vets commando and the latter con-
sists of several small commanders hitherto
operating in the west of Orange River
Colony and number OF rebels"
Considerable activity is now manifested
at Aldershot. A large draft of mounted
troops will be ready to start from England
for South Africa Jan. 6, while others have
been notified to hold themselves in readi-
ness for the same destination.
Martial law has been proclaimed in the
following additional districts: Britstown
Victoria West, Richmond, Hanover, Muir
raysburg, Graaf Reinet, Aberdeen Middle
burg. Steynsburg, Craddock. Tarka and
Molteno.