Show CAPE COLONY INVADED Large Force of Boers Three Thousand in Number Reported to Have Crossed the Orange River i i I A Story Current in London That Lord Kitchener Has DemandecTHeavy ReinforcementsGen Knox Has Been Forced to Abandon the Pursuit of Gen Dewet Boer General Is I Momentarily Expected to Make Attack an Atact Upon Winburg London Dec 20 Thc War office last evening could could no information i regarding i re-garding the reports of a Boer invasion c of Cape Colony The officials expressed the opinion however that the newspaper newspa-per accounts were exaggerated and that probably the troops who have been employed chasing Gen Dewet wi be diverted l to deal 1tl the invaders in-vaders Having regard to the customary custo-mary methods of the War office this can only be interpreted a confirming the reports WANTS REINFORCEMENTS 5 LorJ Kitchener In the meantime ke ptf a tight rein over the news which Increases the public disquietude There is a porsislent rumor that he has demanded de-manded heavy reinforcements According to the Daily Mall Accrding Dny MuI private telegrams received in London yesterday yester-day depict the situation in Cape Colony Col-ony as somewhat ominous BOERS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE I seems that the invading Boers are receiving considerable assistance from the 1 local Ditch and that the troops at 1 the disposal of the British authorities i are not sufficient to cope with any eLli eLl-i i OUH spread of the military operations It Is believed the Government has at last awakened to the seriousness of the situation and is making great efforts ef-forts to send Lord Kitchener horses S and mules PURSUIT IS ABANDONED I is reportb that Gen Knox has S been forced to abandon the pursuit of Gen Dewet owing to thp situation created in Cape Colony by the Boers crossing the Orange river I is said that 3000 republicans have entered Cape Colony and n similar number have reached Philipstown The report adds that Dewct with about 4500 men Is In norllieast oC Lady brand and that an attack Wlnburg is momentarily w momentarl expected PITCHED BATTLE IMMINENT A pitched battle Is Imminent between the British under Gen Clements who has been reinforced and the Boers un der Gen Delarey BRITISH LOSS HEAVY The British losses at Noltgedacht according to the official accounts were eightytwo killed and wounded with fortyfour counted for missing and still unac |