New-York tribune., 1900-04-11

cahercnes April yesterday Colonel Plu-
,er with 270 mounted and few dismounted
neantrv and one Maxim gun, arrived at
pa-natbIabara. where he left the dismounted
=, and proceeded along the railroad to within
.,e,r a Mafeking. The advance guard, under
colonel White. encountered a large body Of
-7,ers and almost simultaneously the left and
-,pn- fanks were attacked, and sharp fighting
soIlovved The Beers were in crescent forma-
t,on. and outnumbered the British two to one.
--,.v advanced with skill and stubbornness, and
,srsfste-tlv erdeavored TO encircle the British
Af-e- holding mis- ground for an hour Colonel
E7l,,r,e- retired with the Beers slowly following
him up
The fighting continued through the ten miles
retreat 10 Ramathlabama. where the British
MAXIM, was brought into play. After a stiff
3z,+ Colonel PIumer reached his camp. The
british casualties were: Killed. 3 officers and
u7en: wounded, 3 officers and - men; missing,
II The Boer loss was serious
The fight was conducted on Colonel PIurner's
size under great difficulties. being in the neigh
bo-hood Of the Boer Iaagers, whence reinforce
-,s,+s could be promptly sent TO the burghers.
e,6 there was little cover available for the
British when the fight began, the plain being
sua-sely wooded. and the railroad embankment
the chief protection, being only two feet high
officers we're unexceptionalIy conspicuous.
With the exception Of a few rounds fired by
-be British Maxim at Ramathlabama. the fire
IN both sides was entirely by rife Half of the
British officers were more or less seriously
wounded.
At the conclusion Of the fight General snyman
Informed Colonel Baden-Powen that he had
some British wounded. and both Colonels Baden
Powell and Plurer sent ambulances. The Beers
we're also busy on Sunday collecting their dead
and wounded. Most OF the British wounded
were only slightly hurt. Colonel Pluuer was
wounded. but was able 10 carry out his duties.
Colonel Plumer's wound was in his right
a-m. His horse was shot. Colonel Bodle and
Captain Rolt were wounded. Colonel Plumer's
orderly is missing Sergeant-AIajor Manning. Of
the 9TH Dragon Guards. who took up the
duties Of orderly. did excellent work. Captain
Frederick Crewe was shot dead while covering
the retreat Of others Captain Macaren was
severely wounded. and Lieutenant MilIigan. the
famous Yorkshire cricketer, fatally. While ten
sctousIy holding an assigned position. Lieu
tenant 8IiIligan rode Unassisted to Ramathla-
bana. Medical Orderly Waneford worked
pluckily on the field. which afforded little cover.
While the ambulance was still al Ramathla-
hama. on April ., General snyran, with eight
hundred men and three guns. arrived there. and
finding no British troops in the vicinity, re-
turned 70 Mafeking
Z Is reported here that the advance guard Of
Lord AIethuen's relief force has left Vryburg
for Mafeklng.
The above dispatch is probably a British version
O. the defeat Of Colonel Piumer's force first Il
rourced on April 5 in dispatch from Lourenco
Marques which said thar sharp fighting occurred
or April : II the neighborhood OF Mafeking It
vas added that the garrison made sortie. while
Colonel PIuuer's cavalry attacked the Beers at
Rana-hla5ana. Both attacks, il was asserted
repUlsed. Twenty OF Colonel Plumer's men
were found dead on the field and six others were