The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-17

leading to the drift. The lighting lasted
all day long. and the Beers disappeared
during the night Thirteen men report
ed missing from Hannay's force are
prisoners. They were captured treach-
cro,1sly during the fight. They were in
formed that an agreement had beer,
REACHED between the British officer com
man1ing the extreme left and the com
mandant of the Boer ambulance that
half q company Of the British should be
permitted to fetch water from neigh
hong farm house The ambulance then
retired and the Beers rushed out OF
.cncealment and cut off the water party.
The prisoners included an officer.
General French now holds both the
Aoddpr and Riet Rivers between the
Beers at MagersfGntein and their base
at Rlocmfontein Throughout the march
Inc Free State farms were respected but
the;. owners almost invariably fed. TAX
ing their effects.
The health OF the troops is excellent
but sickness is prevalent among the
Beers and a plentiful supply of re-
mounts will be required
FIERCE FIGHTING.
London. Feb 17-The Daily Tele-
graph has the following dispatch from
Naauwpoort, dated February 18th. and
delayed in transmission:
Very severe fighting occurred on both
our TANKS near Rensburg. The enemy
greatly outnumbered our troops. being
about 1000 in number. They attacked
the Worcestershire regiment on their
Hill and with desperate determination.
charged home, only to experience such
a heavy Maxim and rifle fire from our
men that the death roll of the aSsall-
ants must have been considera bic.
~ patrol of the Inn.skilling Dragons
was surrounded by some 800 Beers and
CALAMITY cut its way through without
losing a man. but a company of New
South Wales mounted infantry was I'M
fortunately annihilated, most of the
mems bayoneIts, however bearing the
impress of sanguinary conflict with their
foes.
Colonel Conyngham was shot through
the heart at the outset of the engage
ment. The enemy chose the time of the
moons setting for their onslaught Out
of five colonial officers only one return
ed to camp.
"A strategic and Commemorative move
back TO Arundel has been decided upon.
Our guns from Coles Kop have been
safely reached. one Maxim being de-
stroyed to prevent its falling into the
hands of The enemy Nine wounded
officers and thirty-five men were brought
into the NaauwpOort field hospital.
Our death roll at present is not known.
TWO COMPANIES LOST.
London. Feb. ia correspondent of
the Daily Mail at NaauwpOrt, telegraph
ing Wednesday and describing the evac-
uation OF Rensburg says:
Two companies of the Wiltshire regi-
ment, in withdrawing from Klcof Camp.
lost their way and are missing. Their
whereabouts. however, is pretty well
known, and they will probably be reliev-
ed tonight.
The Beers losses around Colesberg on
Monday are reported extremely heavy"
MAGAZINE BLOWN UP.
London, Feb. 17-The Pietermaritz-
burg correspondent of the Daily Mail
under date of February 10th says:
There are indications of decisive
movement at ColeneO. | hear that the
Beers rely on their entertainments and
barbed Wire entanglements along the
principal roads TO check LORD RobertS
progress into the Free State. The roads
to Ladysnlith are studded with these
formidable barriers.
"A British scouting column blew UP
the contents Of the magazine at Nkalid-
kla. Zululand, to prevent its falling INTO
the hands OF the Beers. The magazine
contained a large supply of dynamite and
ammunition
ALARM AT NAAUWPOORT.
Game Town Feb 16-There is conSid-