The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-02-23

Wednesday. Feb. 2L-Oue ~ the costliest
actions Of the war occurred at I'aarIeherE
Drift Sunday. February Is General Kelly
Kenny. IN his pursuit of General Cron!e,
caught his rear guard a. Kip Drift on the
Noddcr River. and followed the Beers 10
th"ir camp at Koodoo's Rand.
The drift action began n daybrrak. the
mounted infantry driving tn, Horr rear
giarl up the river toward the main body.
while another body Of mounted infantry
:na.g,uver"d on the right front and tauk
ot The Eoc:s.
Tie Erif!sa main body advanced TO out
tlaEk the i;ocrs nT the uurlh bank q: the
rlN.r
General k"Ey-K'ruv. having seized two
drifts or fo.ds. found the I:ocrs strongly
posted urj ordered an attack with tn,
Highland brigade. G. neral Hector MJcDou-
AID. on Fue icf; and General kuox's hriEaG.
on the center and right. while General
Smith pcrrisu's hris.H" crossed the river
and advanced along the north haEk
ON both the uor1h and south banks the
gru.Id T.. level aud the advance across this
y,;S irado under a deadly lire from Bosr
rifles ana artillery. aud ;he british losses
were h-aVv.
The battle was al exact repetition OF the
thucn.
The soldiers were under fire all day. and
all the fighting had no definite result. -
The Rc"rs were wen harric.Id.d and held
;he!r positions. The British guns shelle.I
vigorously and the Ho-r prisoners estimate.
their loss "a. over $40 men
The terrific sh"!l,ng VAS resumed Monday.
" hen General Cronie asked for an arrnls-
tire
The ehcillrg was continued Tuesday. oyer
fifty British cannon pouring lead into the
Euer intreuchmen's.
General CroHjes magnificent nigh: march
from Nlagersfouteln now appears likely 10
end in disaster. The main body OF IN,
Beers is iuClosei in a terrible death tr.I;.
The errmy are hiding IN tho he'd OF ia.
Modd"r. commanded hy the British artillery
and inclosed on the east and west by the
British infan.ry.
Sunday witnessed gallant stand on the
part Of the retreating foe. Tired hsr-
assed, they stNl maintained a bold front
Il Is SOMEWHAT difficult 20 explain the sun
day action. in which all the British force
was engaged and IN which General Croaie
under different conditions. manage. 10 hold
his own. on Saturday night the British
Cromje's rear guard. driving them back uI,-
on the main body. On sunday morning the
action was renewed. but the Boors. who
had intrenohei the river bed during II.
night. prevented q further advance %:
mounted infantry in this direction.
Aeanw hile, the Highland Brigade con
s.stirg Of the SeafOrths. the Black Watch
and the A-cyus. advanced :rom the south
shi-cs formed long line on the left. which
rested on the rivsr. the extreme right be
:ns the WeIch.
The whole line was ordered 10 envclOp the
Beers. who lined both banks of the river.
The firing SOON became heavy. The Roers.
holding a splendid position. covered the
left of the Highland Brigade. which al
vanced partly up the river bed and partly
in the open. while the rest Of the brigade
with the other regiments swung round be-
fore tho Highland Brigade on the level,
coyerIess ground. exposed to a terrible fire
which Obliged the men % lie upon the
ground. as they did :or the remainder Of
the day
This began az half-past o'clock in the
morning Through the dreadful heat and
a terrible thunderstorm. our men hung 70
shooting steadily.
In the meantime, the res; OF the infantry
completed the enveloping movement. the
Weich regiment having succeeded In seizing
the drift. thus closing in the Beers. who
had fought throughout with splendid cour-
age. General Cronte's laager. fun o: carts.
ammunition and stores. could be plainly
seen rear the north bank.
n Ill
body Of men. Including the Canadians. and
crossed the river by aaTleherG Drift, ad-
vancing toward the Iaager. which was being
vigorously sheIed This force made gall
liant attempt TO charge into the laager. but
failed.
Before securing TIE western drifts. the
Beers occupied a kopie on the south bank.
running down the :Iver. Therefore their
force is cut in two. The Beers hold the
kopje and have one Vickers-Maxi;n and
probably one or two other guns.
Toward evening the battery on the south
side opened. cooperating with the battery
on the north side wonderful sight fol
lowed. The shells fell with amazing pre-
cision along the river bed. opposite the
laager. which was sheilod thoroughly, gall
ing everything +; contained one shell set
on fire a small ammunition wagon. wIi.h
burned nearly ali dag. Many other wagons
were set on fire and ;Hr glare vas visible
At a considerable li.tauc" far into the
night. The infantry also maintained a
terrible rra which was answered vigorous
ly. The scene toward uiEhtfaH was ter
ri5iy picturesque. with the blazing wagons.
the roaring artillery and tie cracking
rife fire.