Abilene weekly reflector., 1900-03-15
WHITE FLAG ABUSED
Lord Roberts Protests Against the
Boers' Action.
STUBBORN FIGHT WITH THE BO3RS.



TEN, Sunday, March II: "The follow
ing telegram has been addressed by
me to their honors, the state presi-
dents of the Orange Free State and
the South African republic:
"Another instance having occurred
OF gross abuse of the white flag and
of the signal of holding up hands in
token of surrender, it is my duty to
inform You that, if such abuse occurs
again shall most reluctantly be COM
PEELED to order my troops to disre-
gard the white flag entirely. The in
stance occurred on kopie east of
Driefontein farm yesterday evening
and was witnessed by several of my
own staff officers, as well as by myself,
and resulted in the wonnding of sew
eral Of my officers and men. A large
quantity Of explosive bullets of three
different kinds was found in Com
nlanldnt Cronie's lager and this has
been the case Of every engagement
with your honor's troops. Such
breaches of the recognized us;tges of
war and of the Geneva convention
are disgrace to any civilized power.
A copy OF this telegram has been sent
to my government with the request
that it may be communicated to all
neutral powers"
A Stubborn Fight with the Boers.
Drefontein, Orange Free State,
March 12.-Broadwood's cavalry bri-
gade, advancing on Bloemfontein, un-
expectedly found the Beers in
strong position in the Driefontein
kopies Saturday. Gen. Kelly-Kenny's
division arriving, severe fighting en-
sued. The Beers resisted stubbornly,
but were driven from their center
position, leaving number of dead
and 40 prisoners. The British force
is moving forward. During the fight
ing, In which nve regiments took
part, with artillery, the Beers, though
forced from their center position,
clung tenaciously to the other kopjes.
shelling the British freely with three
guns and two Vickers-Maxims. The
British cavalry began to turn the
Boer position, but night fell before
the movement was completed. The
Beers retired during the night.
Turned Out by the Bayonet.
London, March ia dispatch to
the war Office from Lord Roberts
dated Driefontein, March II, says:
"The enemy opposed us throughout
yesterdays march, and from their in
innate knowledge of the country
gave lis considerable trouble. Owing,
however, to the admirable conduct
of the troops, the enemy were unable
to prevent us reaching our destina-
ton. The brunt of the fighting fell
on Gen. Kelly-Kenny's divisions, two
battalions of which, the Welsh and
Essex, turned the Beers out of two
strong positions at the point of the
bayonet.'
Rebels Laying Down Their Arms.
Cape Town, March 12.-News from
Ladygrey, Herschel and Aliwal North
show that the rebels are laying down
their arms in large numbers, and that
the Beers all along the border are
in serious straits. The rebels assert
that the Beers are subsisting on
bread and water and so-called coffee,
made from rye. Other rebels are
leaving to fight in the Free State.
British rule has been restored in La
dygrey, where big fight is reported
to have occurred, many rebels being |
killed. It is reported that thousands
of rebels contemplate surrendering to
Gen. Brabant.
Peace Proposals Wired to England.
London, March 12.-The Daily Mail
has received the following dispatch
from Pretoria, dated Saturday, March
10, and censored by the Boer govern
ment: president Kruger and Pres
ident Steyn have wired to Lord Sal
isbnry peace proposals, on condition
that the independence Of the two re-
publics be respected and the rebel
colonials amnestied. Yesterday the |
foreign oonsuls were called into con-
ference and were requested to in
vite the intervention Of the powers
in order to prevent further blood
she'd"
MafskinR Likely to Fall.
London, March IA correspondent
of the Daily Mail at I2urenzo Mar
ques. teiegrapmng oaturuu,r sayr.
According to Boer reports the fall
Of Mafeking is certain. There has
been heavy fighting this week and the
Beers have been shelling the town
from all the outlying forts which they
have captured. Col. Baden-Powell
cleared all the natives out of town,