The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-23

Big Force Concentrated There
to Oppose Roberts.
LONDON, May 16.-The war Office has
furnished tardy confirmation of General
Buffers movement on the Biggarsburg
in dispatch from General Butler at
Kenap's Farm as follows:
~In accordance with instructions to
keep the enemy occupied at Biggarsburg
ON May II, I concentrated the Third
cavalry brigade of the Second division
and some corps of artillery at Sunday S
river drift on the Helpmaar road and
directed Colonel Bethuen to advance On
Greytown with the Bethuen mounted
infantry, the Umvoti mounted rifles and
the Imperial Light infantry. On May
u we moved to Waschbank and Be-
&huen, with General Hildyard from
Elandslaagte, occupied dndoga noun
tain.
: esOn May 1S sent General Hamilton
with three battahons up the steep slope
of Withock hill. The Third cavalry
brigade crowned hill On each side Of
the main road and Bethuen attacked by
the Pomeroy road FROM three sides. The
enemy hurriedly abandoned the position
which they had strongly eEtrenched
and retired to the mex ia front Of Help
maah, whence we hope to dislodge
them, as many OF them have retired.
We have gained the summit of the Berg
with the loss of only a few men
wounded. [ am advancing on Beth
and Hildyard moves an Vessels mex.
"Our small loss, think, was certainly
due to the excellent troop leading of
General Hamilton and Lord Dundonald
and Colonel Bethuen. .
a second dispatch says:
s'The enemy evacuated Helpmaakr
Mex during the night, leaving a rear
guard of about 900 men in front OF Us.
These we have forced back throughout
the day under considerable difficulties,
as tihey frel all the grass on top OF the
berg as they retreated. and the wind be-
ing unfavorable to US. we were scarcely
able to see at all. I halted the infantry
who marched very well through the not
smoke at Beth.
1--WE have taken q few prisoners. Ou:
casualties are small .
a third dispatch says:
..Dundonald reported late last night
he had driven the rear guard on to the
main body Of the enemy, near Buraltn-
den, where they occupied In force 8
strong position with three powerful
guns. Major Cough, with the compos-
ite regiment, maneuverad to the r1gnt
around their left flank and they retired.
Dundonald then halted. He was %
miles as the crow flies from MS previous
nights biyouac and had covered nearly
20 miles during the day In a waterless
country, most of the time being through
smoke. From prisoners I learn that the
enemy numbered over 1000 at Help
,naaK and being joined by those who
left Van Jonders pass they must total
nearly 5000 men.
"Heldyard reports the occupation OF
Wassals Mex and repairing the line
Interest Centers In MafelSing-
Judging from the above dispatches
the British advance is little more than
an arduous march. The Beers who
were active at first later appear to have
shown the same readiness to retreat
which is now marking the movements
Of the federals IL the Free State.
Apparently the bucghers are about to
evacuate Natal and concentrate for the
defense Of Laing's Mex. northward, and
Van Reenans pass, westward.
The reoccupatlo1 Of Dundee by the
British places the coal supplies there III
their hands There Is little news of &
definite character Interest for the mo-
ment is almost entirely centered III Mafe-
king. whence the wife Of the mayor has
received a cablegrani setting forth that
all was well on May i.
Butler Cccap;cs Dundee.
The war Office has received ;he follow
ing dispatch fro,s General Butler at
Dundee:
..N;ie have occupied Dundee. About
$500 OF the enemy have left for Glencoe,
where they are ensrenched. Their wa
CONS left by DeJ&2ers drift and the
Dannaaaser road. rneir kafIirs said
they We're going TO Laings Mex. Almost
every house IN Dundee is completely
looted. The navigation coliery Is all
right The machinery of the Dundee
collieries is DESTROYED The houses OF
the town are damaged, but are struc-
turally intact.
Beers Lost % Men.
MAFEKING, May 16.-Tne Beers Sat
urday opened IRE on the hafflr location
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