The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-01
THEY CELEBRATE THE DAY BY At
TACKS ON THE BRITISH POSTS
SEVERAL SHARP SKIRMISHES.
The Beers Driver on In Each Case.
The British Continue Unsuccessful
In Their Attempts to Corner DeWet's
Eorces-The Boer Forces Divide Into
Several Columns and March In DIFF
TO Surrender by DeWet and Steyn

London, December 27.-The Evening
STANDARD today says it understands
that the squadron of Yeomanry which.
as in a dispatch from Cape
Town yesterday, was e~ntrapped and
captured by the Beers whom they were
following from Bristown, was released
after the men were relieved of their
horses and other equipment. Ten of
the Yeomanry, the paper adds, were
wounded.
Cape Town. December PA small
party of Beers attacked Burghersdorp
on December oath. They were repuls-
ed after heavy fighting. The Beers are
active, and skirmishes in several places
have been reported
New Castle, Natal, December 27.-The
Beers celebrated Christmas in the dis
trict between Standerton nj Ingogo
by more or less determined attack upon
every British garrison along the lines
of communication. These, however,
were in all cases successfully repulsed.
At Utrecht the Boer commandment sent
in a demand for whiskey, cigars and
Christmas luxuries, failing which he
threatened to attack the town. His de-
mand was ignored and the Beers at
tackled Utrecht in strong force Christ
mas morning. They were repulsed with
loss. the British casualties being but
slight.
London. December 27.-The following
dispatch has been received from Lord
Kitchener:
Pretoria, December 26.
Knox, with Barker, Pitcher and
White, is engaged with deWets force,
holding a position in the neighborhood
of Leuwkop. DeWet hopes to break
through and go south again.
THE Beers eastern column in Cape
Colony is apparently headed by our
troops about Reitport spruit. The
Beers western column is. reported to
have gone north in two portions, one
towards Prieska and the other through
Stridenberg. They are being followed
up"
London, December 27.-The following
dispatch from General Kitchener was
received from Pretoria under today's
date:
Yesterday 200 Beers attacked a
small police post near B~ocksbur@ The
police calamity drove them off before
reinforcements from johannesburg ar
rived. The Beers damaged the. mining
machinery III lie ISlS IIIOOu-
The Beers attacked Utrecht at z
O'Clock this morning and were driven
off.
THE Beers held up a train three
miles west of Pan and were driven off.
The eastern force of Beers in Cape
Colony was heade yesterday and driv-
en- in the direction of Venterstad. The
western force is still being driven north
through ~Stridenberg."
BIoemfontein, Orange River Colony.
Wednesday. December 26.-There are
renewed but unconfirmed rumors here
that General deWet, President Steyn
and General Haasbroeck AVE had a
conference and decided to offer to sur
render, provided the colonial rebels are
not punished and the leaders including
themselves, are not depOrted.
Burgherdorp. Cape Colony, Wednes-
lay, December 26.-Colonel Grenfell
continues in touch with Kruitzinger's
command of 700 men who are carrying
off the British prisoners. Kruitzinger
has abandoned his MaXims and carts.
An attempt of the Ninth Lancers to
turn Kruitzinger's flank at Plaster
heuvel. December Gath resulted in eight
casualties among the Lancers, includ-
ing Lord Frederick Blackwood, who
was
London, December 1S.-S a. m.-The
latest dispatches from South Africa
show that Lord Kitchener has succeed
~ liz u IN ~ C~OAA DONAS ~
check, but he has not yet been success
full in expelling them from Cape Colo
ny, while small commands continue to
display astonishing daring and activity
over an immensely wide field.
1t is questionable whether mis- proc
Etmation will have nue. effect until
General deWet has been captured. The
Beers are likely to regard it as a sign
of weakness and to lave a wholesome
dread of deTNet'S vengeance if they
surrender.
The proclamation is approved by the
party at home that favors conciliatory
terms to the Beers as a step in the
right direction.
Queen Victoria. it is said, has ap-
proved the proposal to institute a new
order of Knighthood to reward Officers
who have served in South Africa. This
order will probably be called the Stal
of Africa.
A dispatch from Vryburg. dated De
cember 10th says the Beers. in consid.
cradle numbers, We're then making al
unexpected movement westward. They
had 15O wagon The dispatch suggest:
that they were trekking to Damara
land, although the Beers themselve.
denied such an intention.
THE STRANDED STEAMER