Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-04-06

EASsDu DlecONeflnK
London, April s.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from Lord Roberts, dated BlOemfon-
.tein, April 1:
I received news late yesterday evening
from Col Broadwood. who was at Thaba
N'Chu. = miles east of here. that infor-
nation had reached him that the enemy
was approaching in two forces. from the
north and the east. He stated that IL the
report proved true he would retire to-
wards the waterworks. Il miles nearer
BlOemfontein. where we have had, n de-
tachment of mounted infantry for the
protection OF the works. Broadwood told
tyrs mounted infantry will march to-day
10 support him. and that IL he considers
il necessary he should retire from the
wa1erWorls. He moved there during the
night and bivouaced. At dawn he was
Shelled by the enemy. who attacked on
two horse artillery batteries and his bag
gage toward Bloemfontein. covering some
OF them with his cavalry.
Some two miles from the waterworkS
the road crosses q deep nullah or Sprllit.
in which during the night a force of
Beers had concealed themselves. So well
were they hidden that our leading scouts
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, ar
,tillery horses were Immediately shot
down at short range and several of the
guns were captured. The remainder gal
loped away. covered by Roberts horse,
which suffered heavily.
Meanwhile. Lieut.. CheStermasterS. oof
Remington'S scouts. found n passage
across the Spruit unoccupied by the en-
envy. by which the remainder of Broad
woods force crossed. They reformed
with great SteadinesS. Notwithstanding
all that had previously occurred. Broad
woods 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 casualties
at about SO. including 800 missing. On
hearing this morning that Broadwood was
hard pressed. I Immediately ORDERED Gen.
French with two remaining brigades to
follow In support OF the Ninth division,
The latter. after magnificent march, ar
rived on the scene OF action shortly after
D m The strength OF the enemy is
estimated at from 500 to 1o.0oO. with
guns. the number OF which is not yet re-
ported
Deep ChasrIa In London.
London, April 3.-The .rumors. OF
the re-capture by the British of the
seven guns taken from Col. Broad
woods force. which in all probability
is correct, fails to compensate London
from the severe shock experienced by
the humiliating defeat sustained
within 4 few miles of the headquar-
tiers of the British army of Occupa-
ton The public is painfully sur
prised to learn after all that has come
and gone that British officers of
high position can still neglect pre-
cautions which the veriest tyro might
observe, and blunder into traps
which the observance of the element
airy military rules would have re
vealed- Unless the reinforcements
sent by Lord Roberts have turned. the
tide and recaptured the prisoners zoe
men from two crack corps of the
Household cavalry and the Tenth
hussars are now on their way to
swell the growing deposit of British
prisoners at Pretoria. President
Kruger is said to have promised to
re-occupy Bloemfontein this week, and
the stubborn. burghers seem to be
closing around the place in such force
as promises to be troublesome.
a special dispatch from 'BlOemfOn-
TEN reports that the water supply OF
the place has been cut of This is
the natural consequence of the BOeT
success at the waterworks. But the
authorities are hopeful that the
strong .reinforcements sent by the
cOmmander-in-chief will promptly
remedy this. 1t is evident from Lord
Roberts dispatch that big engage
ment is in progress Although it is
difficult to estimate the number OF
British engaged, they probably ex-
coed even the 5000 or 10000 men
which the Beers are estimated to
number.
Boer Activity Along vsal River.
Kimberley, April 3.-There is great
BOer activity along the Vaal river
About 6.OOO burghers have assembled
at various points between Fourteen
Streams and Christiana. About .OC
men are occupying Witrand, north OF
KIipdam. and 400 men are laagered al
BOetsap.