The state herald., 1900-04-06

AouuOn, April Z.-Ine war ONCE has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfontein
April LIST:
II received news late yesterday
evening from Colonel Broadwood, who
was at Thaban Chu, thirty-eight miles
east of here, that information had
reached him that the enemy was ap-
preaching In two forces, from the
north and the east. He stated that II
the report proved true, he would retire
towards the water. works, seventeen
miles nearer BlOemfontein, where we
have had n detachment of mounted In.
fantry for the protection of the works.
| General Roberts gave orders that n
brigade of infantry should march at
daylight to-day to support him, and
that II, he considers 1t necessary he
should retire from the water works.
He moved there during the night and
blvOuacked. AT dawn to-day he was
shelled by the enemy, who attacked on
three sides. He Immediately dis
patched two horse artillery batteries
and his baggage toward Bloemfontein,
covering some Of them with his cav
airy.
Some two miles from the water
works the road crosses n deep nullah,
or spruit, In which, during the night,
a force of Beers had concealed them
selves. So well were they hidden that
our leading scouts passed over the drift
without discovering them, and 1t was
not until the wagons and guns were
entering the drift that the Beers show
ed 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 galloped
away. covered by Roberts Horse,
which suffered heavily.
| Meanwhile Lieutenant Chestermas-
tiers of Remington's Scouts found n
passage across the spruit unoccupied
by the enemy, by which the remainder
Of Broadwood's force crossed. They
reformed with great steadiness, not
withstanding all that had previously
| occurred.
"Broadwood's report. which has Just
reached me, and which contains no de-
tails, stated that he had lost seven
guns and all his baggage. He estimates
nll his casualties ut about $50, includ-
ing 200 missing.
"On hearing this morning that Broad
wood was hard pressed Immediately
ordered General French with two re
naming cavalry brigades to follow in
support of the Ninth division. The lat
ter, after magnificent march. arrived
on the scene of action shortly after
9 p. m.
"Broadwood's force consisted of the
Royal Household cavalry. the Tenth
Hussars. the Q and u batteries of the
Royal Horse artillery and Pitchers
battalion of mounted infantry.
THE strength Of the enemy IL esti-
mated at from 5000 to 10000, with
guns, the number Of which Is not yet
reported"
Lord Methuen's difficulties are appar-
entity increasing. He has Boer langers
or guerrilla bands on three sides of
him. and he Will be obliged to watch
carefully his communication with
Orange river. The activity of n strong
Boer force In the vicinity of Paarde-
berg has already interrupted direct
communication between Lord Roberts
and Kimberley. But for the over
whelming numbers at the disposal of
Lord Roberts, the situation would just
ly cause Great Britain greater anxiety.
AS 1t Is. the nation Is beginning to real
izc from the nature OF the guerrilla
the future movements OF the British
troops.
Ladysmith, April 2.-The Beers are
becoming daringly bold and are an.
proaching within sight of LadysmItb.
while Bullers army lies apparently mo.
tlonless. After the relief OF I.adysmItlt
the Beers fell back to the mountain
passes, but finding they were not pur.
sued they have gradually drawn near
the town. north, east and west, and n
strong column came within eleven miles
OF the town on Sunday. Their patrols
scour the country on all sides.
London, April "A special dispatch
from Bloemfontein this morning re-
ports that the water supply OF the
place has been cut OF. This IL the nat.
ural sequence OF the Boer success Mt
the water works.
To lose guns has always been consid.
cred In military circles n disgrace. In
the present war the British have been
particularly unfortunate In this re-
spect. their losses In guns having been
heavier than In any similar period of
their military history since the Ameri.
can Revolution.
The losses OF guns up to date are;
Nicholson's Mex. four: Stormberg, two;
Colcnso. ten; near BlocmfonteIn. sew
en-: total. twenty-thrce. In exchange
4 they have captured only seven guns,
1--WE taken with General Cronje Mt
Pnnrdeberg and two surrendered In the
I Free State. This Is not n very salts.
factory exchange for u great military
power to make.
What makes this loss OF men md
guns more unpalatablc to Englshncn
Ii the evident fact that Il was due TO
lack of prccauiion such as any officer
is naturally expected TO take. The
scouts moving In advance Of Colonel
Brondwood's convoy and the guns did
not think tlnt nny danger could posi-.
bly, lufk In front OF them. and did not
search the banks Of the Mcallc sprult
ms they should have done. The lesson
OF the first battle OF coienso, of the
( stormbcrg route and OF haif n dozen
other engagements had been forgotten.
II IL stated In Lord I,obcrs' report that
the Beers were VI well hidden that the
leading British scouts passed over the
drift without discovering them.
This seems n sad commentary on
their intelligence. or on the superior
cunning OF the Beers. which carries
with II Its own moral