The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-08
Turned Beers Left and They Fled
In Confusion.
SENT OUT FORCE OF $4,000.
Cavalry Did Hard Work and Had
Most of the Losses.

With $4,000 Men, While Their
Force Is Estimated at From 1000
to 1O,OOO-EngIish Casualties Num-
bers 30, Including Several Officers.
Boer Prisoners, Including Gen.
Cronje, viii Be Sent to st. Helena.
There VIII Be no Exchange of
Prisoners.
London, March 7, Midnight.-The war
office has just posted the following advice
from Lord Roberts:
Poplar Grove, Wednesday, March T.
Evening.-We had a very successful day
and have completely routed the enemy
who are in full retreat
The position which they occupied is
extremely strong and cunningly arranged
with a second line of entertainments
which would have caused us heavy loss
had a direct attack been made.
The turning movement was necessa-
rily wide, owing to the nature of the
ground, apd the cavalry and artillery
horses are much done up.
The fighting was practically confined
to the cavalry division, which, as usual
did exceedingly well, and Gen. French re-
ports that the horse artillery batteries did
great execution among the enemy.
Our casualties were about fifty. 1 re-
gret to say that Lieut.. Keswick was killed
and Lieut.. Bailey severely wounded, both
of the Twelfth Lancers. Lieut.. DeCres-
pisny of the Second Life Guards was Sc
verey wounded. Remaining casualties
Will be telegraphed tomorrow
Gems. Dewet and Delarey commanded
the Boer forces
Making "a Strong Fight.
London, March Field Marshal Lord
Roberts has telegraphed as follows:
"Osfontein, March Z, 4:30 p. m-Our
operations to-day promise TO be a great
success. The enemy occupied a position
four miles north and eleven miles south
Of The Modder river. l placed Gen. Col
yille's division on the north bank, and
Gen. Kelly-Kenny's and fuckers divi-
sions, with cavalry on the south bank.
The cavalry division succeeded in
turning the enemys left flank,
opening road to the Sixth di-
vision which is advancing without having
been obliged TO hre a shot up to the pres
ent time.
The enemy are in full retreat towards
the north and east. They are being close
ly followed ty cavalry, horse artillery and
mounted infantry, while fuckers seventh
division, Colville's Ninth division and
Guards Brigade, under Pole-Carew, are
making their way across the river al Pop
lars Drift, where I propose to place my
headquarters this afternoon.
"Our casualties Will, l trust, be few as
the enemy were quite unprepared for be-
ing attacked by the flank and having their
communications with Bloemfontcin threat
oned"
How Roberts Did 1t.
London March s, 4 a. m.-Lord Roberts
wired yesterday morning from Osfontein
and in the evening from Popular Grove,
fourteen miles eastward.
BY an application of the elementary
principle of strategy, the Boer positions,
fifteen miles long across his path, have
been emptied and their holders have been
Obliged 10 retire in Confusion consequent
upon hasty withdrawal
Nothing was done by Lord Roberts to
disturb the symmetry and the deadly in
senuity of the Boer trenches in front of
HIM.
lie marched out infantry, estlma ated,
hom the commands named, at 5000 men,
and sent 10000 horsemen and horse ar
ulery in a bold sweep around the Boer
left whereupon the Boer center and right
became untenable.
Fifty British fell when the cavalry came
into contact with the Beers.
The correspondents differ as to the enc
my's strength. The Daily Mails repre-
sentative thinks the Beers number some
thing more than 4,000. The Daily News
man estimates them at 1000. AS these
figures como from observers at headquar-
ters it is clear THAT Lord Roberts force
was overwhelmingly superior He can
scarcely have fewer than 40 600 immediate
ly available, as the Guards Brigade
reached him from Lord Methuen Tues
day.
Lord Methuen now commands only vol.
unteers and the local forces at Kimber-
ley some Of whom have gone toward
Mafeking
Roberts Corps IL Mobile.
The Beers do not yet appear to appre-
cat' The mobility Of Lord Roberts corps,
which was able to strike so swiftly in this
affair that the enemy had to abandon a
gun, much forage and a large quantity
or camp equipment
The Standard cautions Englishmen
against rising TO hight of serene con-
lenlment which the actual position docs
not Justify"
II suggests that large number of the