The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-31

LONDON, March 31-The head Of +he
army Of Lord Roberts is now about
tWenty-one miles north of Bloemfontein.
IL occupies a cluster Of hills won from
the Boers after a stiff fight, In which the
British lost seven officers and 100 men.
The Beers had been using these kons as
base for marauding bands that have
been working on the country adjacent TO
Bloemfontein for supplies, driving off
cattle and forcing nonresident Free Stat
ers into their ranks again. The enemy
must have been in considerable force. as
Lord Roberts sent 5000 infantry and 5000
cavalry against them.
Lord Roberts progress to Pretoria will
probably consist of a series of short
forward movements in which Boer posi-
tlons will be attacked by a portion Of the
army, advancing rapidly without tran
sport the main army coming up as the
railway is repaired. Lord Roberts is
stripping the forces in the minor spheres
Of operations Of their wagons and tran
sport animals in order to hasten the ad-
vance. This is understood to be the rea-
son he recalled Lord Methuen from Bark
ly West to Kimberley. Lord Roberts had
10 have Lord Methuen's transport.
The reason why a hot chase was not
made after Commandant Olivier is that
Lord Roberts did not wish to wear out
the cavalry transport. Gen. French lost
5000 horses In the relief of Kimberley
and the pursuit of Gen. Cronje. Lord
Roberts lost 5000 transport cattle at Wa
tervale drift, and 1t is estimated that he
has lost 1900 other animals since the for
ward movement began on Feb 49,
The advance beyond Bloemfontein is
through bare country, and supply Off
GERS foresee an increasing difficulty in
providing for great army moving along
single line of railroad, even when the
latter is working smoothly and with am
pie rolling stock.
The Canadian mounted rifles were part
of the force that occupied Kenhard yes
terday.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Kof-
fyfontein, dated Thursday, March 29,
saws
Gen. Clements flying column, after a
forced march of thirty-seven miles yes
terday, arrived here unopposed."
DETAILS OF ATTACK.
BLOEMFONTEIN, March 30.-The at
tack upon the Beers holding the kopjez
near the Kare Siding station, few
miles south of Brandfcrt, was made by
fuckers Seventh division with the CO.
operation of French's cavalry. The at
tacking troops included a large force OF
Australians. Col. Knight, with 400
New South Wales mounted infantry, in
cluded in Legaillars brigade, attacked
the right flank A long chain of kopjes
was held by the Beers, and there was
severe firing all along the line Of attack
The approach was very steep, like a
fortress, and the troops were unable to
make headway until the infantry made
an attack upon the front. The cavalry
went round the right flank Of the Beers
and used their Vickers- Maxim freely.
An army hospital was established in a
cottage under the shelter of a large
kopJe The Boer shells came right over
the kopjes and landed near the hospital,
which it was found necessary to evac-
uate The Beers slowly retreated upon
Brandfort, taking their dead and wound
ed with them. Meanwhile the cavalry,
including the Australian horse and the
Sydney lancers, under Capt. Cary, brig
AIDED with Porter's brigade
The carbineers, Scots Greys and the In
niskilings received a severe shell fire
The Beers had evidently marked the
range, as, when the troops advanced. the
enemy's fire was less accurate. The col
onials displayed great GOODNESS under fire
Many horses were killed in the cavalry s
flank attack.
The Beers fled and all our troops push
ed forward, and now hold an excellent
position upon the large kopjes recently
held by the Beers
The farmers are in the laager fighting,
leaving the women and children upon the
farms which they are confident the Eng
lish will not touch. Many of these farm
ers would surrender their arms, but for
the fear that the Johannesburg police
would attack their farms in revenge for
their doing so.
The Beers are known to hold Brandfort
in some strength--probably 5000.
Reinforcements are afraid to move di-
rect to their support and are content
with holding their position, which Is
threatened by the cavalry advance
The whole action was rather insignif-
icant Many regiments received their
baptism of fire and showed splendid cool
ness. We have now secured a fine natural
position facing the huge plain before
Brandfort. Mr.. Rudy lrd Klpling was
present during the fight.
WINSTON CHURCEn. .L's PROTEST
LONDON, March 91.-Mr Winston
Churchill, in a long dispatch from Dur
ban, eXpTesses regret that the Morning
Post does not support his views regard
ing the treatment of rebels. lie says he
desires to give full explanation Of his
views hereafter but will not again allude
to the subject in the columns of the
Morning Post. He proceeds to say, how
ever that Sir Redvers Butler and most
of the officers of distinction share his
views, and then adds:
'It is strange that officers in the field
should hold more tolerant views than