Holbrook argus., 1901-01-19
DARING TACTICS OF BOERS.
Plan to Sever Kitchener's
Communications.

London, Jan. 12.-Appalling develop
ments in the South African situation
are causing deepest CONSERVATION here
It is now nearly three months since
the British army has found it possible
to act on the offensive, while every
day there are fresh accounts of daring
tactics of the Beers, who are acting
upon a plan conceived with consum-
mate skill and executed with amazing
and resource, to cut off
Lord Kitchener's communications with
both the Cape and Natal.
The paralysis of Kitchener's vast
army is apparently complete and In
gloomy contrast to the incessant and
unchecked activity of the Beers.
Soldiers letters have been stopped
to their home folks and officers let
tiers are vigorously censured owing to
the strong opposition created by their
sriritless, depressed tenor.
1t is officially rumored that Kitch-
ener is developing a scheme for crush
ing the Boer commanders in Cape Col
ony but confidence has been shaken in
the efficacy of his tactics.
A perfect stampede of wealthy South
Africans is taking place from Cape
Town, where enormous premiums are
offered for passages home not only on
liners but even on cargo steamers.
Pretoria, Jan. 13.-A commando 1000
strong attacked Kaalfontein at Z
o'clock this morning. The garrison,
numbering lis men, mostly Cheshire
mounted infantry, made plucky and
scientific defense, Lieut.. VIM. Free
man in command. The British sus-
tanned a six hours bombardment from
two guns and a Maxim rapid fire gun,
and repulsed the determined onslaught
by the Boer rifiemen without sustain
ing a casualty. The Beers lost heavily.
They crept in the long grass to with
in forty yards of the British trenches,
but were driven back by the accurate
and heavy rife fire of the defenders.
Numbers of Beers were seen to fall,
and were carried to q farm house
later.
London, Jan. 13.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Kitchener:
Pretoria, Sunday, Jan. 13.-About
fourteen hundred Beers crossed the
line, attacking both Zuurfontein and
Kaalfontein stations, but were driven
off. They are being pursued by a COW
airy brigade"
Lord Kitchener reports also several
sk;rmishes at different points with
trifiing British losses and adds:
"Threo agents of the peace commits
sioners were taken as prisoners to
Dewet's lager, near Lindloy, January
10. One, who was a British subject,
was flogged and then shot The other
two burghers were logged by Dewet's
orders" ..
The brief report of the fate of the
three members of the peace commits
sion who were sent to see General
Dewot eXcites the deepest indignation
on all sides. One or two papers ex=
press a hope that Lord Kitchener has
been misled by false rports. but it is
generally felt that he would not have
reported the matter to the war Office
without undoubted evidence.
A Murraysburg telegram this morn
inc says the Dutch there received the
British troops sullenly, and it reports
that there are rumors that the colonial
rebels of the neighborhood are join
ing the invaders.
The Pretoria correspondent of the
Morning Post wires that a member of
the burgher peach commission whom
Re interviewed frankly confessed that
there was no hope of many burghers