The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-12

the British troops. June {. at Roodeval.
where the Beers cut Lord Robertss line
OF communications. the fourth battalion
Of the Derbyshire Regiment were all killed,
wounded or made priSoners. except six en-
listed men. Two officers and fifteen, men
were killed and five officers and seventy
two men were wounded. many OF them
severely. The Beers returned the wounded
To the British. The officers killed were
Lieutenant Colonel Baird-Douglas and
Lieutenant Hawley. The wounded include
Colonel Wilkinson and Lieutenant Blanch-
ard. of the Canadian Infantry General
Forestier-Walker's dispatch in full Is as
follows:
acape Tsvn. June 10-The following
telegram has been received from Charles
Knox. dated Kroonstad:
The following casualties reported from
Roodeval. June Z, received from Stoneham.
commanding the Imperial Yeomanry Hos
pital. dated Rhenoster River. June s. re-
ceived here by flag of truce. June 10:
q Fourth battalion of the Derbyshire
Killed: Lieutenant Colonel Baird-D Douglass
and Lieutenant Hawley and fifteen of the
rank and file. Wounded--Colonel Wilkin-
son. Captain Bailey, Lieutenants Hall.
Lawder and Blanchard and fifty-nine OF
the rank and file.
shropshire Light Infantry-Wounded.
one.
Ammunition Park Royal Marines and
Imperial elegraphers-Wounded, one each.
'Stoneham reports that many were
severely wounded and the remainder OF the
Fourth Derbyshire and details of prisoners.
except six OF the rank and file. are In his
camp. All the wounded are I'm his camp,
lately occupied by the Fourth Derbyshire.
Inquiries are being made as TO the names.
1T Is inferred that the Beers captured
over SOC and as late as June 10 held posi-
tions cutting off the British forces north
of Kroonstad from reinforcements.
dispatch from General Forester
Walker says General Methuen was fight
Ing within ten miles OF Hebron on June b.
II follows:
Cape Town. June I0.-Kelly-Kenny re-
ports from Bloemfontein this morning that
Methuen. with the greater part Of his d.
vision. was fighting early in the morning of
June s. ten miles south of Hebron. where
Colville was reported 10 be with the High
land Brigade. Methuen left Lindley on
June 5. with ample supplies for himself and
Colville. leaving Paget to hold Lindley with
a sufficient force and supplies. Kelly
Kenny has ordered Knox to press in the
enemy's outpost. believing the enemy
strength TO be exaggerated. All is quiet
and there is no anxiety as regards the
district TO the south. Communications
north of Kroonstad have been cut since
June g..
The news that the shutting off of Lord
Roberts's communication with the outer
world was accompanied by such a serious
loss came like a bolt from comparatively
clear sky. In London. until the news came
IL was thought that the destruction OF the
railroad was accomplished by Free Staters
who were avoiding rather than annihilating
the British attachments stationed at the
point attacked. Nor are General Forester
Walkers vague statements regarding Me-
thuen and the situation at Hebron looked
upon as reassuring. The Beers appear to
be in sufficient strength TO completely
separate all the British forces north and
south of line stretching some fifty miles
between Roodeval and Hebron. Methuens
march upon the latter place seems some
what in the nature of a movement for the
relief of Colville. The only British officer
left at Roodeval appears to be the doctor in
charge of the hospital which is full or
wounded. What has happened to the
troops Immediately north of Roodeval is
still a matter for conjecture