Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-10
THE WAR In AFRICA.
A Dispatch from Lord Roberts at
Vet River.
ARTILLERY DUEL WITH The ENEMY.


barton Drove 1000 to 5000 B"~rs from
Hiliy Positions 1t koO,dsn- Windsor.
ton aud Kiipdxm Evacuated.
London, May THE war office has
published the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated Vet river, Satur-
day, May 5, 7:15 p. M: 81 marched
here to-day with Polo-Carew's d.
vision. Headquarters and Wavell's
brigade of the Seventh division, are
two miles in the rear. Maxwells
brigade, of the same division, is the
same distance to our right. The en-
envy are in considerable strength on
the opposite bank of the river. Our
guns engaged theirs for some three
hours without our being able to
force a passage of the river, but,
shortly before dusk, the mounted
infantry, under Gen. Hutton, turned
the enemy's right and in very dash
ing manner pushed across the river
under heavy shell and musketry fire
We are now bivouacking for the night |
within three miles of Vet river. Our
casualties, | hope, are not numerous.
Hamilton was in action yesterday
and succeeded in preventing a june
ton of two Boer forces by well exc
cuted movement by some of the
household cavalry, the Twelfth lane
ers and Kitchener's horse, who
charged a body of the enemy and in
flicted serious loss The enemy fled,
leaving their dead on the field and
their wounded to be attended by our
doctors. Hamilton was advancing
this morning to difficult drift over
the Klein Vet river.
Hunter reports that Barton's
brigade was heavily engaged this
morning two miles north of Rooidan.
The enemy's position was quite four
miles long and strongly held. He
states that our men marched magnif-
Gently and carried ridge after ridge
in grand style"
Artillery Duel with the Enemy.
Vet River, May 7.-Gen. Pole-Carew
started at daybreak Saturday on a
19-mile march. He first came into
contact with Beers holding the river
at 1 o'clock p. m. The British soon
had two batteries in action and later
they added two naval nine pound
ers, two AZ and 5-inch guns. The
Beers fired with great accuracy and
the duel continued unabated, with
terrible din, until sunset, and even
later there was desultory firing. 1t
is marvellous that nobody on the
British side was injured.
Gen. Hutton started early to find
the drift on the west. When this was
discovered it proved to be strongly
held and protected by two guns. The I
British speedily engaged the Beers,
who entiladed the dismounted firing {
line with Maxim, but Gen. Hutton I
pushed forward his own pompom and ]
a galloping Maxim and forced the 9
Beers to leave the river bed. The i
encounter was terribly hot. Later ]
the whole British force crossed the i
river, threatening the Boer right. The a
Beers must have received about the e
same time news of Gen. Hamiltons t
occupation of Winburg. a
The British discovered Saturday at 2
every hundred yards along the rail- a
road concealed small packets of high P
explosives. The Beers had destroyed t.
three bridges over spruits between V
here and Brandfort, but in every case
It was possible to make a detour. h
The Beers appear to be fighting with Il
much less spirit. 1t is reported that n
hey are commanded by Gen. Meyer. 81
The bridge over the Vet river is COM a
oletely destroyed. Gen. Hutton cap h
,ured Maxim and took IL prisoners. "
sklrmIshes Between the BslIigerenta II
Warrenton, May 7.-Saturday Gen. o
Barton drove from 1000 to 5000 Beers a
rom billy positions at Rooidan, o.
where they awaited them. They re- 81
reated after stiff fighting, leaving a m
number of dead on the field. The o.
British casualties were slight. Gen. 7
Barton is still pursuing. ri
Windsorton and Klipdam have been st
m
Gen. Paget's brigade attacked the ri
'oer position at Warrenton. The en-
Saturday was severe and
asted from nine in the morning until W
our in the afternoon. More than A
nee the British infantry were obliged is
o engage the Beers at close quarters pl
nd the Beers only retired when Ii,
heir retreat was nearly cut off. The pl
British losses were five killed and I'll
5 wounded-mostly Welsh fusiliers. Of
he British took batch of prisoners, a
the Swedish ambulance, fo
which they allowed to return. The
'oers, in their hurried retreat, left 10
cad. va
London, May s.-The Beers are -