Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1900 — BOERS ARE BEATEN. [ARTICLE]

BOERS ARE BEATEN.

GEN. FRENCH CAPTURES COLESBURG BY STRATEGY. Transvaal Trqopa Surprised by Rapid Movement of English CommanderAdoption of Africander Tactics Breaks Long Series of Defeats -IzOM Is Slight.

Gen. French; acwrding to n Cape Town dispatch, occupied Sunday with very little fighting, what there \yas being confined to the- outposts. The British losses were only three men killed and eight wounded. The general's report of the occupation of the town was .received at the war’office in London: “At 3:30 o’clock Sunday morning, after a night’s march, I occupied a.Jiopjc overlooking West Colesburg. The enemy s ioutposts were completely suri»rised. I shelled the Boers’ laager,' t,he enemy plying vigorously, but Inter being silenced he retired northwaed, where he oecnpied a hill. The Boers also southeast of Coliesburg the junction. Our position cuts the enemy's line of retreat via the road bridge. A force of 1,000 Boers .with two' guns is reported to be returning to Nervals Pont on the Orange river. Our casualties were three killed and several wounded.” Gen. French’s victory causetl great satisfaction and fWfnishbd the London newspapers occasion to print more pleasing headlines than have been seen sot swyirye mouths. While it is recognized French's success is not’ one of Vital important’e materially, the cheering effect of it is salutary after the depression caused by a string of British- defeats. The military experts unite' in 'praising Freiidh'si operation, dwelling particularly on the rapidity with whieb he moved and the fact that he did not attempt to. storm an ipipregnable position. The success of the cavalry flanking movement is seized upon as illustrating the advantage Of a large mounted force with which to fight the Boers and wfhieh the Government' has been so slow to recognize. . Altogether, French's victory abd the methods by which he gained it are the first good fruits of the "eye-oiiener" the Boers have given Jingland, and the hope is expressed in Ixmdon. says a correspondent, that the other British commanders will profit by the example. Gen. Frcnd) is the one British commander who, thus far. has not received a cheek. He has beaten the Boer's by'outflanking them repeatedly. This is the first time in the South African war in which the Boers have been routed by a flank movement.. The force under Gen. French is 2,*MX) strong, and is composed of a cavalry brigade, one or two batteries of horse artillery, some infantry, one field battery and some colonial cavalry. On thi> “th of December his forces, having moved out of Nauuwport, dn?ve the Boers out of Arundel, since which time he has been maneuvering, which has resulted is dislodging the Boers flom Colesburg.