The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-23
BOERS WILL GIVE
BATTLE At lAINC'S

Zig Force Concentrated There
to Oppose Roberts.
LouDoN, May 16.-The war Office has
f1znished tardy confirmation of General
bunw's movement ON the Biggarsburg
he dispatch from General Butler at
xsmp's Farm - follows:
In accordance with instructions 3,
hssp the ensmy occupied at Biggarsburg
q Nay II, I concentrated the Third
eavalry brigade Of the Second division
ard some corps Of artillery at Sundays
rlver drift on the Helpmaalkr road and
o1Eeceod Colonel Bethueu to advance on
0eOyt0wn with the Bothuen mounted
tnehntry. the Umvod mounted rifles and
- Imperial Light infantry. On May
~ We moved to Waschbank and b.
0um, with General Rildyard from
1ndalAaSte, occupied Ipdoga moan-
ION May II sent General Hamilton
With three battalions mp the steep slope
q Withock hill The Third cavalry
trlgade crowned hill On each side Of
No main road and Bethuen attacked by
The Pomeroy road from three sides. The
enemy hurriedly abandoned the position
which they had strongly entrenohed
and retired to tho mex In front Of Help
maakr. whence we hope to dislodge
snem, 90 many Of them have retired.
We have gained the summit Of the Berg
w1sh the loss Of only . few men
wounded. am advancing ON Beth
enu hiidysrd moves O. Vessels mex.
Our small los. think. was certainly
oue TO tho excellcnt troop leading or
General Hamilton and Lord Dundonaid
End Colonel Bethuen."
A second dispatch says:
The enemy evacuated Helpmaakr
Mex during the night, leating a rear
guard Of about I 900 men in front of us.
These we have forced back throughout
the day under c,usiderable difficulties.
- Eey hred all the grass ON top Of the
narg g they retreated, and the wind be-
sn& unfavorable to Us, we were scarcely
able to see at all. halted the infantry
who marched very we'll through the hot
smoke at Beth.
I'VE havo taken a few prisoners. Our
casualties are small"
A third dispatch says:
Dundonald reported hate last night
No mad driven the rear guard ON to the
niain body OF toe enemy, near Buraltn-
icn. where they occupied in force n
arung position with three powerful
gunA Major Cough. with the compos.
ITO regiment. maneuvered to the right
around their left flank and they retired.
D1ndcuald then halted. He was 2S
niles - the crow dies from his previous
n1ghes bivouAc and had covered nearly
~ miles daring the day in a waterless
country. most Of the time being through
smoke. From prisoners learn that the
enetny numbered over 1900 at Help
nankr and being joined by those who
- Van Jonders pass they must total
nearly 5000 men.
sHeldyard reports the occupation of
Waeaab Mex and repairing the line"
interest Ceaters In Msfel<ing.
Judging from the above dispatches
she Brtttsh advance is little more than
IN arduous march. The Beers who
ysrO sctive at first later appear to have
saown the same readiness 10 retreat
which Is now marking the movements
OF shs federals In the Free State,
apparently the burghers are about to
evacuate Natal and concentrate for the
defense OF Laing's Mex. northward, and
Van Reenan's pass, westward
The reoccuparion of Dundee by the
British places the coal supplies there i'm
their hands. There Is little news of a
definite character. Interest for tho mo.
fnent IN almost entirely centcred i'm Mafe.
king. whence tho wife of the mayor has
reoeivei a cablegram setting forth that
al was well ON May 4.
Butler Occupies Dundee.
The war Office iias received the follow.
ing dispatch from General Butler at
Dundee:
1--WE have occupied Dundee. About
$500 oil the enemy have left for Glencoe,
where they arc entrcnched. Their wa
Rons left by DeJagers drift and the
Dai.nhauser road. Their Kaffrs said
they were going To- Laings Mex. Almost
every house in Dundee is completely
looted. The navigation collierv is all
right. The machinery of the Dundee
collieries Is destroyed. The houses of
the town are damaged, but arc struc.
tunlly intact"
Boers Lost ~ Men.
MArEKISo, May i6.-The Beers Sat.
urday opened fire on the Kaffir location
st Mafeking. They were i'm turn mt.
tackled during the night of Saturday
and on Sunday found themselves str.
rounded. The Beers lost seven killed
and 18 wounded. The British loss Ia re-
ported TO have bccn heavy.
Concentrating at the Vaal.
KKooSsrADr. May l6.-It Is reported
that the whole Of tho Boer forces are
coacsntrating ON the vaal, drawing
non BiRmxsburg and southwestern bor.