Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-03-22
FIGHT AT BETHULIE
The Beers Under General Olivier
Claim to Have Defeated Gen.
eral Gatacre.
BRITISH DO NOT BELIEVE 1T
General Gatacre Was Reported Thirty Miles
North of the Scene Of the Fight-A
Number Of British Prisoners
Taken.
Taken.

Kronstaadt, Orange Free State.
March co. via Pretoria, March 22-The
Beers commanded by General Olivier
engaged the British troops under Cen
eral Gatacre in the vicinity of Bethulie,
repulsing the British with heavy loss
and capturing many. The burghers are
arriving here in great numbers. General
Dewett arrived here to-day. Desultory
fighting with Colonel Plumers- column
occurred near Gaberdones.
REPORT NOT BELIEVED.
London, March 22.-The report of Gen
Gatacre's defeat by the Beers Is not be-
lieved here. The last advices placed
Gatacre about thirty miles north Of
Bethulie, where the Boer report says he
was defeated.
FREE SKATERS DESERT OLIVIER
Aliwal North. Cape Colony, March %.
-Commandant Olivier left Smithfield
two hours before the British scouts ar
rived. He only succeeded in getting
about l50 men to accompany him. most
ly insurgent colonists. The Free staters
refused to go with him, returning to
their farms.
MAFEKING RELIEF DAY.
London, March 22.-In reply to the
mayor of Cape Towns request to make
"Mafeking relief day. a public holiday,
Premier Schreiner wrote: May the hol-
iday come soon, and may the spirit of
general good will and kindly considera-
ton prevail on the latter"
BOERS BURN A TOWN.
London, March 22-The Times pub
lished dispatch from Lorenzo Mar
cues which quotes President Steyn as
saying that the Beers could continue
the struggle for six months longer. A
special dispatch from Durham says that
the town of Pomeroy, thirty miles east
of Ladysmith, had been burned by the
Beers, who took up strong position in
the hills with force estimated to num-
Der 5000 men.
MOVEMENT OF TROOPS.
London, March 22.-Lord Roberts tel
egraphed from Bloemfontein under date
of March 81: $50 many burghers ex-
pressed a desire to surrender under the
terms of the last proclamation that I
sent some columns in various directions
to register their names and take over
their arms A cavalry brigade has gone
to the eastward to Thahanchu, de-
tachment from Springfontein occupied
Smithf1eld, where some Transva alers
and yva popo with ry,oc arl o,,,v,,rn{%{ov,
were captured. The SCOTS Guards are
at Edneburg and Reddersburg. Gener-
al Clements brigade is marching hither
by way Of Phliopolis and Fauresmith."
FIGHTING AROUND MAFEKING.
Lobatsi. March 16. The Beers under
Commandant Snyman are advancing in
force from Mafeking toward Lobatsl
Colonel Bodle made a reconnaissance
March 13 and found Pitsani and Poth-
lugo occupied by the Beers. He made a
demonstration on March IA, and found
the Beers in strength at a sharp curve
of the railroad. They had mounted a
gun on the line, and were lying in wait
for construction train. Brisk firing
occurred few miles south of Lobatsi
the morning of the 18th, and the Beers
maxim was freely used. Colonel Bodle
came in touch with the Beers just In
time to prevent the camp being sur
prised. The Beers attacked the advance
party and captured few boxes of am
munition and nearly secured a maxim
Lieutenant Tyler was killed and Lieu
tenant Chapman captured Colonel Bo-
die, coming up, put the Beers to flight
with heavy loss. The Beers yesterday
were within a few miles of Lobatsi
Yesterday afternoon the Beers pressed
closely on Colonel Plumer's main camp
and kept up hot fire with maxim,
killing one white man and one native.
They placed the maxim and 121s-
FOUNDER on hill on the east side of the
line, 1000 yards from the camp. The
British right Is protected by Chief Ba-
THEN, who warned the Beers not to en-
ter his territory. Colonel Plumer's pres
ent endeavor Is to insure the safety of
the railway north Of Lobatsi and watch
we'll the left flank. 1t is probable before
the Beers trek toward Pretoria that
they will tackle the Rhodesians in force.
1t is reported that the burghers are
abandoning the environs of Mafeking,
leaving only sufficient number Of ar
tillerists to man the big guns There
are none at Ramathlabam, where they
were supposed to have base. Plumer's
scouts were at Ramathlabam yesterday.
As usual, Mafeking dispatches are over
due, but no anxiety is felt on that
score. Dynamite explosions wrecking
the railway are proceeding south Of Lo-
batsi.
WITH REGRETS.
The Hague, March 22.-After mature
elaboration the government dispatched
reply to Presidents Steyn and Kruger
regretting that it is unable to comply
with the request for intervention in the
South African war after the formal dec.
laration Of the British government thai
Intervention would not be accepted. II
was added, however, that the govern
ment of the Netherlands would alway.
support steps tending to o restoration
Of peace.
NO MORE PEACE OvERTUREs.
London, March 22.-It is learned tha
no new peace overtures have been mad,
to Lord Salisbury. nor are any expected
at present. Telegraphic correspondent,
has been confined to the treatment o
British prisoners, Lord Salisbury hold
ing the presidents Of both South African
vaD,,H,1toa v,Anvnvs alhfa