The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-03-10
BOURS COMPLETELY ROUTED
WERE TAKEN BY SURPRISE.

1
WERE TAKEN BY SURPRISE,
Abandoned Their Positions Upon the
| Approach of the British and Are
| Flying Before Their Victorious
| Pursuers-Gen. Butler Advancing,
| London, March 8.-Lord Roberts has
telegraphed as follows:
| "Osfontein, March 7.-Our operations
today promise to be great success. The
enemy occupied position four miles
north and IL miles south Of the Moddel
river. placed General Colville's division
on the north bank and General Kelly.
Kenny's and fuckers divisions with the
cavalry on the south bank. The cavalry
division succeeded in turning the enemy's
left flank, opening the road for the Sixth
division, which is advancing without be.
ing obliged to fire shot up to the pres
ent time. The enemy are in full retreat
towards the north and east. They are be.
ing closely followed by the cavalry, horse
artillery and mounted infantry, while
| fuckers division, Colville's Ninth divis.
ion and the Guards brigade, under Pole.
Carew, are making their way across the
river at Poplars Drift, where propose to
place my headquarters this evening.
Have Entered the Trnnsvaal.
London, March ga dispatch from
Durham says that flying column Of
British troops from Zululand has entered
the Transvaal and has been daily skir-
mishing with small parties Of the Beers.
In the Natal.
1t is reported that Butler has pushed
forward his force along Harrismith line
of railroad toward Van Reenans pass,
using the railroad freely for all commu-
nications. 1t appears that the Beers in
tend to take up strong position in the
Biggersberg range and contest the Glen
coe passes, although it hardly seems likely
that Butler will attempt to force these for
the present His plans, however, are kept
almost as secret as those of Roberts.
Rumors of Peace.
London, March 8.-While waiting for
important developments which are daily
! expected to occur in the Free State, ru-
mors of peace reoccur. The second edi-
tion of the Times contains a dispatch
from Cape Town which says there is a
crying need for an explicit statement by
the British ministry that nothing short
of annexation is intended, Gin order to
dampen the mischievous agitation that is
going on under the pretext Of demand
for peace"
Cost of Relief.
Another list of casualties sustained by
Buffers forces from February IA to Feb
ruary 27 shows: Killed, 1873; wounded,
1853; missing, 81.
With the list of casualties issued this
makes the total cost to tue rank and file
in the final relief of Ladysmith 1859 men.
Beers in a Hurry.
London, March 9.--Following is the text
of Lord Roberts latest dispatch:
Poplar Grove, March 9.--Two brigades
of cavalry with horse artillery and Kelly
Kennys division marched today 10 miles
eastward. The Beers were taken by sur
prise yesterday. They moved off SO hur-
riedly that they left cooked dinners be-
hind. We captured Krupp gun and sew
eral tents and wagons Our total casual
ties were: Killed-Leutenant Keswick
and Frieslick. Wounded = Lieutenants
Bailey of the Twelfth Lancers and Decris-
pigne of the Second Life Guards, both Sc
verely, and Lieutenant Smith of the Snrop-
shires, who is believed to have been picked
up by the Boer ambulance. Two men
were killed, 46 wounded and one man
missing.
"Gatacre reports he intends occupying
Burghersdorp today.
nepairs to railroads toward both
Stormberg and Leynsberg are being
pushed.
elements now occupies Norvals Point,
on the south bank of Orange river. The
bridge was blown up March 6, and the
enemy is holding the north bank of the
river, but not, it is believed, in any great
strength"
Gatacre Was UnOpposed.
London, March lO.-A special dispatch
from Molteno says the British occupied
Burghersdorp unopposed last night.
Beers Fight TIL Death.
Pretoria, March 9.-Secretary of State
Reitz has issued war bulletin saying the
Beers are not discouraged by reverses and
and will fight to the death. General
Dewet is now in command of the Beers
north of the Modder river.
President Kruger has gone to Bloemfon-
tein, presumably to settle the differences
between the Transvaalers and Free Staters.
Sugar Goes Down.
New York, March THE American