Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1899 — BATTLE AT GRAS PAN. [ARTICLE]

BATTLE AT GRAS PAN.

Gen. Methuen Meets Boer Force Ten Miles from Belmont. Gen. Lord Methuen’s force, advancing to the relief of Kimberley, again met the Boer army at Gras Pan, ten miles north of Belmont, Saturday, and a desperate battle, lasting many hours, ensued. The engagement was not ended when the official report was sent, but ft was construed as a British victory, despite heavy losses, in which the naval detachment stood more than its share. A recapitulation of the losses by Gen. Methuen’s forces at Gras Pan shows that fifty Boers were killed and twice as many wounded. The battle began at'6 a. m„ lasting until 10 a. m. Boer losses must have been much heavier than known. Fifty horses were found dead where the Boers withstood a steady rain of shrapnel. The British did not pursue the routed forces of the enemy, but halted one day to rest. The brunt of the fighting in both engagements was borne by the Ninth brigade, the naval brigade, the Second Yorkshire light infantry and First North Lancashire regiment. The Boer force was composed of Transvaal and Free State commandos. Its artillery was commanded by the Transvaal general, Delarraye. The artillery was carried off the field, despite the flanking attack of the British cavalry. Among the killed were Commander Alfred P. Ethelsten of the cruiser Powerful, Captain Guy Senior of the Royal marine artillery, attached to the battleship Monarch, and Maj. Plumbe of the Royal marines. Flag Captain R. C. Prathers was severely wounded. The Boers., shelled a camp of Rhodesian horse, north of Crocodile river, and captured the horses and mules of the squadron. Up to. date the Boers hold as prisoners thirty-nine officers, 1,237 men and sixtytwo political prisoners. The total British losses since the opening of the cam•paign on Oct. 15 are 222 killed, 881 wounded and 676 missing, making a total of 2,779. About 400 who are not accounted, it is feared, were killed. Gen. Methuen’s second battle foreshadows a hard campaign for the British. The information sent by correspondents concerning Gen. Joubert’s movements is not altogether reliable, and engagements may be looked for in unexpected places. Gen. Joubert, in an interview, declares the British wijl be greatly weakened by their losses, and that a defensive war by the Boers will result in guerrilla warfare the British could not long endure. A dispatch from Rome says many Italians are. leaving there to join the Boers. The Boers in their marches frequently halt their horses and dismount to pray for divine guidance and aid. As the second stand by the Boers at Gras Pan was only ten miles from -where the first engagement took place, another battle is expected as soon as the British again advance.