The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-24
HEAVY BRITISH LOSSES
Further Details of the Hattle With
General De Wet.
DAMANT'S ADVANCE GUARD SURPRISED
Desperate Struggle With Two Hundred N united
British infantry, Results Of Which are
Not Given. Beers, Futile Attack
on Eland Spuitt.
(By the Associated Press. J


London, Dec. 23-Lord Kitchener N a
dispatch from johannesburg dated Satur-
day, December 21st, sends reports of
sharp fighting in the Orange River and
Transvaal colonies. The engagements oc-
Cured December 18th, 10Th and 20th at
points widely apart. The casualties, so
far as known, aggregate about $50, equa.-
ly divided; but heavy British losses, the
totals of which have not yet been re-
ported, have occurred in the Transvaal.
In this last mentioned fighting two nun
dred mounted infantry, in the neighbor-
hood of Beginderyn, were divided into
PARTIES and were searching farms when
they were attacked by three hundred
Beers and forty armed natives under
Commandant BrtZ. The Beers charged
determinedly in overwhelming numbers.
Beyond the fact that the British casual
ties were severe, no details have been
/ re ceived.
Lord Kitchener also reports that dur
ing General De Vets attack on the Brit
ish force, commanded by Generals Dart
nell and Campbell, at Langberg, Decem-
peI IcIi, tllc bOGLS Shc4t ecu Dl0Ntly eiAo
fought desperately for several hours. De
Wet was driven off with the loss Of
twenty men. There were twelve casual
ties on the side of the British On De-
cember Goth NJ. Botha, with eight hun
dred Beers, surprised Colonel DamanI :
advance guard at Tafelkop, Orange River
Colony The Beers rushed kopje com.
manding the main body and the guns, but
Damant rallied his men and drove the
Beers from the kopje. The British cas-
ualties were heavy. Damant was dan
gerously wounded, two officers and TWEEN
ty men were killed and three officers and
seventeen men were wounded. The Beers
left six dead on the field and dispersed.
The British pursued the enemy and cap
tured a number of prisoners including
Commandant Keyter.
Later, the Beers, under a flag of truce,
asked permission to remove their dead.
They are said to have buried twenty
seven men.
In the fight at Tafelkop, the Beers.
dressed as British yeomen, engaged in a
splendid race with the British in the at
tempt to be first in gaining the crest OF
the kopje. The Beers gained the summit
first and opened a heavy fire on the sin
gle troop of Damants horse which took
part in the race for the kopje. These
troopers took advantage of all little cover
available Immediately below the Beers,
and fought until all but four of them
were killed and wounded. By that time
reinforcements of Damant's horse came
up and charged and captured the korje.
In the eastern part of the TransVaai
Colony, Colonel Mackenzie attacked Com
mandant Smit's force of Beers, at Lake
Banagher, December goth, killing six and
capturing sixteen of them. Commandant
Smit escaped.
A force of Beers, during the night of
December 18th attacked the British post
at Eland Spruitt but, they were driven
off, leaving eight men killed, including
Commandant KrieZe. Field Cornet Ma
hon. who was wounded, and three other
wounded men, were also left on the field.
Other wounded Beers were carried off in
blankets. The British casualties were
seven men killed and six officers and
eighteen men wounded.