Daily inter mountain., 1900-01-03

LONDON, Jan. S.-LaCKlnS news from
the main British camps in South Africa.
whose future action can alone have an
important effect on the larger issues Of
the campaign, the British public is maxi
ing the most of Colonel Pitchers minia-
ture battle. Unbounded tribute is paid
to the prowess of the Canadians and
Australians. and telegraphic accounts
are published of scenes at Douglas as
the victorious troops entered that place.
A representative of the Associated
Press, with flaring headlines, says:
1.-THE immediate result Of Pitchers sue
cess is the entire dispersal of the rebels
who have been governing the court for
the past six weeks"
Torontos occupied the laager for the
night and joined the main body the fol-
lowing morning, bringing the whole Of
the Boer tents, wagons and loot and
leaving the Cornwalls in garrison at
Sunnyside.
The British force then started for
Douglas the Torontos bringing up the
rear in wagons. In the afternoon the
troops entered the town unopposed and
amid extraordinary scenes. The inhab-
itants were overjoyed, and crowded
about the soldiers, shaking hands with
them, and when they learned that their
deliverers were Canadians and Austria
lians the enthusiasm became frenzied.
There were deafening cheers as the
troops traversed the main street. and it
was almost impossible for them to make
progress, the crowds being so eager to
oh l<o hor with
1t appears the land drost and all
mounted rebels evacuated the place on
the previous night. Unmounted rebels
are reported intrenched in the vicinity.
Quantities of ammunitions were captured
and destroyed.
A dispatch from Modder river inti-
mates that the Sunnyside prisoners will
not be treated as prisoners of war. but
as British subjects caught in open re-
bellion. At Modder river camp the con-
duct of the colonials is greatly admired
and all are delighted that they have
struck the first blow on the western
frontier since the battle of Magersfon-
tein. It is believed the relief of Kur-
muran will quickly follow.
Latest advices from Colesburg district
tend to modify the estimate of General
Frenchs success. The predicted occupa-
ton of Colesburg had not been accom-
plished last evening, while the Boer guns
announced to have been silenced were
still active.
The war Office this afternoon issued
dispatch received from French under
yesterdays date, stating his position was
the same as on the previous day; that
with small reinforcements he could dis
lodge the Beers from Colesburg, and in
the meantime he continued maneuver-
ing.
Butler continues his night lombard
ments and patrol surprises AS the
Tugela river is again fordable. and
stretcher bearers have again been requi-
sitioned at Durham and Pietermaritz-
burg, there is a disposition to believe the
British advance will not be long delayed.
It is reported at Durham that the cap
tured German steamer Bundesrath had
on board five big guns, so tons Of shells
and 180 trained artillerymen.
Nothing further has been heard from
Molteno, which was reported from Sterk-
strom to have been attacked by the Beers
this morning. So far as known here,
there is only a small force there. The
dispatch from Sterkstrom announces
that Swanelef. the Boer .commandant at
Stormberg. has died Of his wounds.
A special dispatch from Rensberg,
dated January 2. says a supply train
without a locomotive was set in motion
within the British lines near Colesburg,
and proceeded so near the Boer position
that 1t was impossible to recover it. and
the British guns therefore destroyed the