The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-03
dispatch from LORD Roberts. dated BIoem.

Nic'dNAu liOii l<DIu Odteu
fontein. April l. was received to-day:
Il received news late yesterday evening
from Colonel Broadwood. who was at
Thabanchu. thirty-eight miles east of here.
that information had reached him that the
enemy was approaching in two forces,
from the north and east. He stated that II
the report proved true. he would retire
towards the water works. seventeen miles
nearer Bloemfontein where we have had
a detachment of mounted infantry. for the
protection of the works.
"Broadwood was told. in reply. that the
Ninth Division with Martyrs Mounted In
fantry. will march at daylight to-day 70
support him, and that If he considers il
necessary he should retire from the water
works He moved there during the night
and bivouacked. At dawn to-day he was
shelled by the enemy. who attacked on
three sides He Immediately dispatched
two horse artillery batteries and his bag
gage toward Bloemfontein. covering some
of them with his cavalry. Some two miles
from the water works the road crosses a
deep nullah. or spruit, in which, during
the night, force of Beers had concealed
themselves. So we'll were they hidden that
our leading scouts passed over the drift
without discovering them and it was not
until the wagons and guns were entering
the drift that the Beers showed themselves
and opened fire. Many of the drivers of the
artillery horses were Immediately shot
down at short range and several of the
guns were captured. The remainder gal
loped away. covered by Robertss horse.
xybie Maanwhilp
Chestermasters. of Remingtons Scouts.
found passage across the spruit unoccu-
pied by the enemy, by which the remainder
of Broadwood's force crossed. They re-
formed with great steadiness, notwith-
standing all that had previously occurred
"Broadwoods report, which has just
reached me, and which contains no details,
stated that he had lost seven guns and all
his baggage. He estimates all his casual
ties at about $50 including 200 missing. On
hearing. this morning. that Broadwood
was hard pressed, | Immediately ordered
General French. with two remaining cav
airy brigades To follow in support of the
Ninth Division. The latter. after a magnifi-
cent march, arrived on the scene of action
shortly after D. m.
.Broadwood's force consisted of the
Royal Household Cavalry. the Tenth Hus-
sars. III and L batteries of the Royal Horse
Artillery and Pitchers battalion of
mounted infantry. The strength of the en-
emy is estimated at from eight thousand
to ten thousand. with guns, the number of
which is not yet reported
The War Office received another report
from Lord Roberts, this afternoon, dated
at Bloemfontein. April 1, Sis p. m, in
which, after referring TO his previous tele-
gram. he gives e. partial list of the missing
British officers. OF ii Battery, four Off
GERS were wounded, two of whom are miss
ing. One gunner was killed and forty nom
commissioned officers and men are
wounded or missing. Lord Roberts then
continues: 'In u Battery all are missing
except Major Taylor and a sergeant major.
The two cavalry regiments did not suffer
so much. A report has just come in that
the enemy has retired towards Ladybrand,
leaving twelve wounded officers and some
seventy men at the water works. 1--WE are
now sending an ambulance for them"
1t will be noticed that in the foregoing
advices Lord Roberts says nothing In re-
gard to the British guns being recaptured.