The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-04-11

Bethany.
London, April IA dispatch :
was received at the war office
announcing that Gen. Methuen
had fought battle with Gen.
Mareuil and body of Beers
near Boshof; that Gen. Mareuil
and seven Beers were killed.
eight were wounded and fifty
taken prisoners.
81 s. - =
London, April 6.-4:09 p. m.-The fol-
lowing is the text of Lord Roberts dis
patch to the war office announcing the
capture of five companies Of his troops
1t is dated Bloemfontein, Thursday,
April 5:
Another unfortunate occurrence has
occurred. resulting, | fear, in the capture
of party of infantry consisting of three
companies of the Royal Irish fusiliers and
two companies of the Ninth regiment Of
mounted infantry, near Reddersburg,
little eastward of Bethany railway sta
ton, within few miles Of this place
They were surrounded by stronger
force of the enemy with four Or hive guns
Oruers to Gatacre.
The detachment held out from noon,
April 3, until April 4, 8 a. M, and then,
apparently, surrendered, for it is report
Ell that the firing ceased at that time
Immediately after | heard the news.
during the afternoon of April 3, | ordered
Gatacre to proceed from Sprngfontein,
his present headquarters, to Redders-
burg. with all possible speed. and | DIS
patched the Cameron Highianders hence
10 Bethany. He arriy 81 at Reddersburg
at 1920 yesterday me- ming without OPP
position, but got no news of the missing
detachment There can be no doubt the
whole party has been made prisoners.
Gen. NIareuii Killed.
London, April 6.--The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfontein,
Thursday, April 5:
"Methuen telegraphs from Boshof Gin
the Orange Free State, a little north .g
rounded Gen. Viiebois Mareuil and a
body of Beers today. None escaped.
Villebois and seven Beers killed, eight
wounded. Fifty prisoners. Our losses
were: Killed-Capts. Boyle and Will
liams, both Of the yeomanry, and two
men OF the yeomanry. Wounded,About
hours. The corps behaved very well. Our
force was composed OF yeomanry, the
Kimberley mounted corps and the
Fourth battery Of artillery"
The News in London.
London, April THE war office, about
4 p. M, posted d dispatch from
Lord Roberts announcing Lord Methu-
ems capture of tifty-four Beers and the
killing of Gen. Nillebois Mareuil, the
chief of staff of the Boer army. This
news had been judiciously started few
minutes when a SECOND telegram was
bulletined reporting the loss of five com
panies OF British infantry. Both dis
patches were issued in time TO be printed
in the last editions of all the evening
The lost companies are
probably part of the force guarding the
railroad at Bethany, thirty miles south
of Bloemfontein. The Beers are evil
road and there is a possibility of the
line being interrupted for a brief period
at any time.
The Beers Great Loss.
In the death of Gen Xillebois Marenl
the Beers lose their best-instructed sol
der in continental methods of warfare.
As the late Gen. .Joubert's chief of staff,
his brain devised the Boo" defenses
against Gen. Buffers advance 10 the
relief of Ladysmith. He is supposed TO
have chosen the gun positions and TO
He disposed the Beers at the centers.
from which they were sent massed to the
defense of any part of a wide arc. Gen.
Villebois Mareuil was the most notable
Of all the soldiers of fortune serving
with the Beers. He had written occa-
sional interesting letters to French cor
as the captured British sol
diers were i'll a position to defend them
selves for nearly twenty-fOur hours and
were then forced to surrender the fight.
ing must have been severe.
The Beers were also in force yesterday
five miles from Jaegersfontein, situated
sixty miles south of BloemfOnteil. They
Il l. IL l.
AdVlceS from SpringfOntein, dated u D.
m, April D, announce that the Beers
have been sighted west of the railroad.
Brouwood's Losses Still Grow.
1T is officially announced that the Brit
ish casualties in the BOer ambush near
Sannas post total up 400, including 1863
S3 wounded, killed. The miss
ing include 1874 artillerists, % life
guards, % men of the Tenth Hussars
and 81 of Roberts Horse. The: others
are divided among numerous regiments.
Roberts is Taking Steps.
Bloemfontein, April 5.-Small bodies of
Beers can be seen in the vicinity Of this
town but the Beers are still in the neigh
borhOod Of the WaterworkS. Lord Rob
ertS is taking steps to meet the activity
Of the Beers.
Advised to Keep Quiet.
London, April Cecil Rhodes arrived
in this city today. He is well and cheer
full, but is much more exclusive than he
was on his previous trip home. This
is doubtless owing to the fact that DIR.
Rutherford Harris, the former secretary
of the British South Africa company,
and Alfred Belt, the South African finan-
cier, met Mr.. Rhodes at Funchal, Island
Of Madeira, and advised him to observe
OH South African affairs, especially as
to his alleged differences with Col Keke-
WITCH at Kimberley.
Mr.. Rhodes reception was in marked
contrast to his former ovations. The
public did not show the slightest interest
in him. From the time of his arrival he
was surrounded by a bodyguard com
posed Of Messrs. Belt. Harris, Hawkes.
ley and Rochefort Mcguire and other
henchmen, who hurried him from the
boat to the train and from the train to
a cab without permitting him to speak
to anyone.