Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-05-04
PROTEST
Asked to Explain the Sea
Witch Affair.
BOARDED OFF EAST AFRICA.
On the statement of Her Commander
1t Js Alleged That British Conn
mitted an Abuse of In
ternatiOnal Right.

London, May At has been learned
that the United States ambassador, Mr..
j. Joseph II. ChOatc has asked Lord Sal
Y isbury for explanations as to the alleged
2 abuse of international right in the case
of the American ship Sea Witch, which,
according to the statement of her COM
mander. Captain Howe, was boarded by
the British warship Wasp within the
three mile limit of Portuguese territory in
, east Africa.
The American ship Sea Witch left
3 Walleroo Dee 3 and arrived ut Delagoa
3 Bay Feb. II. She sailed March for
} Port Natal lDurban) and arrived there
March 8.
The war Office has received the follow
( ing report from Lord Roberts under date
of Bloemfontein, May =:
General Hamilton met considerable
success yesterday and drove the enemy
out of the strong position they had taken
up at Houtnck, with comparatively small
loss to MS. The Beers dispersed in sew
! eral directions. mainly to the east and
north. leaving 2G prisoners in our hands,
including one commandant and III other
wounded men. General Hamilton is
now in camp at Jacobsrust. AS the men
needed rest after fighting seven out Of
the last ten days, ordered them to halt
for today. General Broadwood's brigade
Of cavalry arrived upon the scene in
time to afford valuable assistance by
threatening the cnemy's rear. During
the afternoon General Ian Hamilton was
/ Joined by General Bruce IIamilton's bri-
gade of infantry.
"rhe enemy admit having IL killed and
40 wounded yesterday Among the for
mer was Lieutenant Gunther, n German
officer belonging to the Fifty-fifth reg-
! ment and among the latter was Maxi
moff, the Russian commander Of the for
egn legion. Twenty-one out of 90 of the
enemy's casualties occurred among the
members of that legion Two Frenchmen
were among the killed.
! Praised by Hamilton.
General Hamilton speaks in high
terms of the good service performed by
the Eighth hussars under Colonel Gloves
and made up into regiment of lancers,
which came into General Broadwood's
brigade and assisted in making the Beers
vacate their position. The final stroke to
the enemy's rout was given by the Cor
dOns and two companies of the ShrOp-
shire light infantry. who cheered loudly
when they got within 200 yards of the
position. Ktchener's horse is also spo-
ken of in terms of praise"
Lord Roberts latest dispatch throws
no light on the object and possibilities Of
the extensive operations in the neighbour
hood of Thabanchu. One military critic
believes he is justified in infcrring that
Lord Roberts successful attack at
Houtnek threatens the Boer center
and puts the British in a favorable
position to crush the Boer left, which is
still facing General Rumble at Thabanchu,
or their right. which is somewhere be-
tween Brantlfort and Winberg.
General Ian Hamlton's success at
Houtnek ELECTS little enthusiasm. as the
critics unanimously pointed out some
time ago that the policy of the Beers
would be one of slow retirement
Colonel Baden-Powell reports officially
from Mafeking. under date of April 20
that all was we'll there. lie adds:
"Thirteen native women tried to get
out during the night of April Is. The
enemy opened fire on them and killed
nine and wounded two. ! wrote to Sny
man, pointing out that he shells the ma
tive stadt, which is full of women and
children, and that when they are trying
to escape by day the Beers have captur
cd and toggcd them and sent them back
and by night they shoot them down, pre-
tending to mistake them for night at
tacks. Snyman has not replied. The
proportion of killed and wounded above
speaks for itself"
Other news from Mafcking details the
careful saving of the provisions and says
there are diminished rations for 5000
persons within the beleagucred town.
The News From Pretoria.
A Pretoria dispatch says:
"An official war bulletin issued here
reports that April % the fetlerals cap
tured nine prisoners and ten horses east
ward of Thabanchu, and that April 30
a British mounted corps appeared near
Brandfort. The federals attacked them
on two sides, and the British retired
| Two federals were wounded and II Dris-
| oners We're taken.
Another account, semiofiicial, of this
affair says that the Wekkerstroom and
Ernelo commands had Il skrmish with
the British near Brandfort After sharp
fight II prisoners We're taken and 10 Brit
ish were left dead on the field, including
Captain Liddy. A few federals were
wounded.
"The heavy bombardment by the Brit
ish has been resumed at Fourteen
| Streams.
'Thc correspondent of Reuters tele-
gram agency in the Boer camp at Brand
fort wires that when the British appear
ed ten miles east of Brandfort General
Delarcy ordered Il charge, and 800 Beers
drove them back to their intrenchments.
The federals found four dead and took II
prisoners, mostly wounded, including
| Lieutenant Crane.
Later in the afternoon General De-
| larey learned that the British had forced
heir way 90 miles east of Brandfort and
| seven miles north Of the Modder river.
! With 80 men Delarey set out in pursuit
( of the British, who numbered 1900. The
forces met in the open country, a sharp
engagement followed, and the British re-
tired. As the Beers had Il heavy day
they were not pursued. The federals had
five men wounded"