The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-06-15
Battalion Of Derbyshire Regiment
Killed, Wounded or Prisoners,
Except Six PrivateS.
COL. DOUGLASS AMONG TEE DEAD.
Beers Held Positions Cutting OFF the
English Forces North of Kroon-
stad From ReinfOrcementS,
Gen. Methuen's Division Was Fight
ing within Ten Miles of He'll
brOn She 9th and Sth
of June.

London. June 12.-Lieut. Gen. Sir
Frederick Foretier-Walker. in com
mand of the lines of communication
in South Africa. reports that in the
disaster to the British troops, June 5,
at Roodeval where the Beers cut
Lord Roberts line of communications
the 4th battalion of the Derbyshire
regiment were all killed, wounded or
made prisoners, except six enlisted
men. Two officers and Is men were
killed and 5 officers and ~ men were
wounded, many of them severely.
The Beers returned the wounded
to the British. The officers killed
were Lieut. Col. Baird-Douglas and
Lieut.. Hawley.
The wounded include Col. wilkins
and Lieut.. Blanchard, of the Cana
dian infantry.
Gen. Forestier-Walker's dispatch is
as follows:
"Cape Town, June 10 (Sunday).-
The following telegram has been re-
ceived from Charles Knox: Kroon-
stad-The following casualties, re-
ported from Rodevaal, June Z, re-
ceived from Stonham, commanding
the Imperial yeomanry hospital,
dated Rhenoster River, June s, re-
ceived here by flag of truce June 10:
1.-THE 4th battalion of the Derby
shire regiment (the Sherwood Fores-
tiers), killed: Lieut.. Col. Baird.
Douglas and Lieut.. Hawley and Is
of the rank and file. Wounded, Col.
Wilkinson, Capt. Bailey, Lieuts. Hall
and Blanchard, and SO of the rank
and file; the Shropshire light infan-
try, one; Cape Pioneer railroad regi-
ment, seven; ammunition park, Royal
marines and imperial telegraphers,
one each; post Office corps, one.
"'Stonham reports that many were
severely wounded and the remaining
of the 4th Derbyshire and details of
prisoners, except six of the rank and
file. are in his camp. All the wound
ed are in his camp, lately occupied by
the 4th Derbyshire. Inquiries are
being made as to the names'"
1t is inferred that the Beers cap
tured over 500 men, and as late as
June 10 held positions cutting off the
British forces north of Kroonstad
from reinforeements.
The news that the shutting off OF
Lord Roberts communication with
the outer world was accompanied by
such a serious loss comes like bolt
from a comparatively clear sky. In
London, until the news came, it was
thought that destruction of the rail
road was accomplished by Free
Skaters, who were avoiding, rather
than annihilatipg, the British de.
tachments stationed at the point at
tackled. Nor are Gen. Forestier-Wal
ker's vague statements regarding Me
thuen and the situation at Heilbror
looked upon as reassuring. The Beers
appear to be in sufficient strength tc
completely separate all the British
forces north and south of lin,
stretching some so miles between
Roodeval and Hebron. Methuen,
march upon the latter place seem!
somewhat in the nature of a move
ment for the relief of Colville. TIL,
only British officer left at Roodeva
appears to be the doctor in charge
of the hospital, which is full o
wounded.
What has happened to the troop
Immediately north of Roodeval is still
a matter for conjecture.
All in all Mondays dispatches re
veal that the situation is far NOR
serious than anyone imagined.