Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-01-03
Serious Situation Confronts British
Army in South Africa,
THE BoERs NEAR GRAAF REINET.

This Is in the Heart of the DisaRect-
ed Portion of Cape CoIony-The
Dutch Favorable to the Beers and
"a General Uprising Is Quite Likely.
Cape Town, Jan. 3.-The British bat
tleship Monarch will land guns today
as a precautionary measure. The sit
uation is undoubtedly serious
1t is true that the Dutch have not
joined the invaders in any consider
able numbers, but lack of arms is be-
lieved to be true reason for absentation
In many places horses are freely Of
fered and information readily supplied
to the Beers.
The early proclamation of martial
law in Cape Town division is expected
This division does not include Cape
Town itself.
The latest reports show the situation
to be generally as follows:
Thurman, if still uninyested, prob
ably soon will be.
Griqualand West is filled with small
parties of Beers who are working south
toward Prieska, for the purpose of CO.
operating with or supporting Com
mandant Hertzog, whose advance par
ties are in the neighborhood of Frazer
burg.
The Beers have reached Glenharry,
few miles north of GRAF Reinet, in
the heart of the disaffected portion of
the colony.
In the eastern part of the colony the
advance guard of the Beers is close to
harrisburg, about rs miles northeast
Of Cradock
The general opinion here is that the
position is not properly appreciated in
England. The Worcester conference
excited the Dutch throughout the col
ony. Many old residents, who are by
no means alarmists, regard a general
uprising of the Dutch as quite likely.
Martial law has been proclaimed in
the Worcestershire, Ceres, Prince AL
bert, Fraserburg and Sutherland di-l
visions. The enlistment of volunteers
is active, and the best authorities an
ticipate favorable developments soon,
The great trouble is the scarcity of
horses. Seven hundred Beers have
broken through the Gordon at Suurberg
and are advancing upon Richmond.
The magistrate there reports that they
are burning and lootiDg few miles
from the town.
Lord Methuen is concentrating a.
force at Vryburg, whittier a thousand
troops have been sent from Kimberley,
and others from more northern towns,
to deal with a commando that is raid
ing around Ixuruman.
The Beers have re0ccupied Jagers-
fontein which, together with Faure-
smith, the British evacuated on Christ
mas day The convoy of retiring in
habitants, with hundreds of wagons,
extended for seven miles It was
mournful spectacle. Camp was pitched
at Edinb,Rg The motive for the
evacuation was the difieulty Of mains
tanning food supplies so far from the
railway.
The Beers commanded BY Hertzog,
Vessels, Preterius and Nieuwenhaut
are continuing their march on Frazer
burg. 1t is reported that they have
arrived at Spionberg.
L0oting continues. The Boer horses
are footsore, and there is great want
Of fodder, as the country is barren
Communication with Fraserburg is
and it is doubtful when this
viii be restored, inasmuch as the Beers
are travelling along the line Col.
Tborneycroft and Col De I.isIe are
continuing the chase, but their horses
and mules are very tired
Many Dutch residents attended the
funeral of Boer killed III action aud |
placed Nreaths Upon his ofIin
The Beers captured and destroyed
The mills due Dee. 3d.