The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-09
THE BOERS
AGGRESSIVE
They Win Another Neat
Success.
ARE INVADING THE SOUTH
Kitchener not Winning LaureIs in His
Pursuit Of the Elusive
Burgher Chief.

| LONDON, Dec. 31.-The War Office
has received the following dispatch
from Lord Kitchener:
! PRETORIA, Dec. 80 Z P M-Gen-
eral Lyttleton reports that our post at
Helvetia was captured yesterday morn
ing by the Beers. About fifty were
killed and wounded and 200 taken pris-
oners. Colonel Kitchener reports that
he is following with a small force in
the track of the enemy, Helvetia being
reoccupied by Reeves, whoshas been re-
enforced from Belfast
! 'Helvetia was very strong position
on the Machadodorp- -Lydenburg rail-
way, and was held by detachment Of
the Liverpool regiment. Am asking for
further information
| Lord Kitchener, writing from Pre-
toria Saturday. December 29th says:
There is not much change in the situ-
alton in Cape Colony. The eastern
force of the enemy appears to have
broken up in small parties at Utrecht
and to be moving about rapidly in the
same district, evidently waiting for
support from the north. The last re-
port states that the western force is
moving to Carnarvon. De Lisle and
,Thornycroft are in close pursuit.
| French has occupied Ventorsdorp.
Clements reports that he is opposed on
the road to Rustenburg. The eastern
line was blown UP near Pan and train
was held up this morning on the
Standerton line.
General Knox's column and Boyes'
brigade are holding De Wet from
breaking south" I-s.,r--~4,4sY
While Lord Kitchener sends bad news
for England on the closing day of the
year, the press continues to take a
surprisingly hopeful view Of the grave
situation and Of revelations Of an enor-
mously wide field Of Boer activity
General De Wet is still at large. Kim
berley Is isolated. The Beers are in
force enough to have captured a strong
position at Helvetia, in the Lydenburg
Idistrict, while, Judging from Lord Kit
icheners very recent advices, no prog
iress is being made against the Boer in
vaders in Cape Colony.
According to further telegraphic ad-
vices received yesterday Zeerust is
[ practically besieged. but has provisions
sufficient for five months. The garri-
son at Ottoshoop has been withdrawn
to Lichtenburg. A dispatch from Car
navon. dated yesterday, reports that
the Beers who have been threatening
that point were driven off and are be-
ing pursued.
"It is evident" says a belated mes
sage from Krugersdorp, dated Decem-
ber 23d, that the Boer commissariat
in the direction of the MagieIsburg is
well supplied and that until the Cum
try between here and The Magielshurg
is properly cleared of Beers they will
continue to concentrate there, the
ri lorlv odo y,tc TO
!, their methods Of warfare"
To emphasize Lord Kitchener's COW
ert admission that no progress is be-
ing made against the invasion of Cape
Colony, correspondent at Burghers-
, dorp, writing Saturday, reports as fob
lows: 1.-TWO fresh commands are en-
tering the colony. One has already
crossed near Knaapdaar and the arriv-
! al of another Is momentarily expected
in the Steynsburg district. The Beers
are said to have two or three horses
each, though in bad condition. They
have no guns or transport, but are Well
supplied with Lee-Metford rifles and
ammunition. Captured Beers say that
the intention of these commandos is to
roam about and wait until De Wet ap-
: pears on the scene
. All dispatches arriving in London
agree that the Cape Dutch show no
. inclination to rise, but, on the contrary.
appear to be tired of the war and de-
sirous of peace. Many refuse 20 supply
the Beers with food and are willing to
give information to the British regard
q ing, Boer movements.
Details Of the Greylingstad affair
show that while Colville's column was
: pursuing the Beers a second force CT
$ a." q. tie enemy was sect. moving to-
ward the camp where the British trans
q port was inspanned. The small British
|, force made a plucky stand. Re-en-
: forcements arrived with artillery, and
s after a severe fight the Beers were de-
feated The British losses altogether
T were nine killed and sixty-three wound
: ed and missing. The Boers are said
8 to have had thirty-one killed. The
: Beers admit that in their fight with
% General Clements at Nooitgedacht they
r Iosl 1870 men.
y "It is understood that Lord Kitchen
= or cannot ask the colonies officially to
$ send troops" says Durham dispa-cf
: lated December 29th, but he desires
7. 1t to be known in Australia and Canada
o that Australians and Canadians .arriv-
s ing II. Natal viii be eiiFible for I'M
i mediate enlistment in the Irregular
70 c. rrs whicr is proceeding 10 Jonah
$ nesbu:-g for five months service"
r, Commenting upon the Helvetia DIS
: aster the Daily Mail calls upon the