Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1899 — BRITISH FORCES WIN. [ARTICLE]

BRITISH FORCES WIN.

BOERS MEET HEAVY REVERSE AT BELMONT. Both Sides Suffer Big Losses in Killed. Wounded and Miaeing—British Slightly,Superior to Enemy in NumbersForty Boers Taken Prisoners. A British victory in which the imperial army lost 225 officers and men in killed, wounded and missing is the first result of the beginning of the forward movement in South Africa. Gen. Methuen’s column, advancing to the relief of Kimberley, encountered a strong force of Boers near Belmont and drove them from their position after a fierce battle lasting many hours. The official report to the war office states that the republic’s forces were routed, but gives no estimate of the Boer losses. On the British side three oncers and fifty-five men were killed, twenty-one officers and 128 men woujided, while eighteen of the rank and hie are listed as missing. Gen. Methuen claims that the enemy carried away large numbers of dead and wopnded in the retreat. Forty prisoners were taken by the imperial forces. The fighting appears to have been almost a repetition of the battle of Elandslaagte. A dispatch of the previous day estimated that the Boers in that vicinity numbered 2,000 and that they had live guns, and, judging from the absence of any statement to the contrary in the official report, it is believed that the British were slightly superior in numbers to the enemy. The Boers had chosen a position with their customary skill and were strongly intrenched. The British were obliged to carry three ridges in succession. Apparently the guards bore the brunt in carrying the last ridge by a bayonet charge after its defenders had been shaken with shrapnel. Nothing is said as to whether the positions so gained were held,- and the destruction of ammunition seems to indicate that the contrary was the case. While Gon. Methuen can be congratulated upon a Brilliant victory, it is again at the cost of a heavy loss of officers and men. The secretary of war in London has received the following dispatch, through Gen. Forestier-Walker, from Gen. Methuen: “Attacked the enemy at daybreak. He was in a strong position. Three ridges were carried in succession, the last attack being covered by shrapnel. Infantry behaved splendidly and received support from the naval brigade and artillery. The enemy fought with courage and skill. Had I attacked later I should have had far heavier loss. Our victory was complete. Have taken forty prisoners. Am burying a good number of the Boers, but the greater part of the enemy’s killed and wounded w r ere removed by their comrades. Have captured a large number of horses and cows and destroyed a large quantity of ammunition.”