The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-03
BRAVERY OF THE BRITISH GUN
NERS PREVENTED ANNIHIIAA-
TIoN IN AMBUSCADE
HEMHGD IN ON ALL SIDES
KAFFIR DRIVERS FLED AT THE
FIRST FIRE, AND LEFT THE
SCENE OF FIGHTING
SLAUGHTER WAS APPALLING
Correspondent Gives a Pen Picture
Of What He Saw Where the
British Convoy Was Caught
in an Ambuscade.


LONDON, April 9.-The latest news
from the front adds little to the public
knowledge to the convoy disaster No
credence is given to reports that the
boers numbered between 5000 and II, 900
men. The general belief is that there
could not have been more than half
that number, but the mere fact that
even so many as half could have been
collected so near headquarters without
the knowledge of the British command
ers provokes much uneasy criticism
The disaster is regarded as direct
result of the inability of Gen. French
to cut off the commando of Gen Olivier.
and the other commanders, when es-
Gaping from the Orange river.
Lord Roberts dispatch, dated i've hours
later than that of the Daily Chronicle
says nothing Of the recapture of the guns,
so the story looks doubtful
There is no news from other points.
Kenhardt was reoccupied by the British
without opposition.
That the Beers are congregating In the
Vicinity Of Taungs is confirmed. Lord Nc
thuens difficulties are apparently inorsas-
ing. He has Boer laagers or guerrilla
bands ON three sides of him, and will be
obliged to watch carefully his conmurI
cations with the Orange river.
Inc Bloemfontein correspondent Of the
Daily Chronicle, telegraphing and de-
scribing the loss of the convoy. saws:
The Beers opened with murderous
IRE 1t was simply slaughter. The
hafiir drivers of the convoy ran away.
leaving their teams, and it was impos-
sibie for our men to hit the hidden en-
emy. Our gunners fought bravely, trying
to save the guns, but ran hither and
thither looking for cover from the fear
ful fire that poured in from all sides
Meanwhile the enemy were hotly press
ing Col. Broadwood, whose mounted
troops were completely surrounded. The
British showed magnificent bravery. The
officers we're quite cool and conposedIy
directed operations The opportune ar
rival of reinfoTcements saved Col. Broad
wood from annihilation.
The water supply was cut, and the
pumping gear destroyed, as well as the
heid telegraph. One hundred wagons
were lost through the cowardice of the
Kaffir drivers.
1T IS reported that two guns have
been recaptured. The whole force is
retiring on BloemfonteIn.''
The Bloemfontein correspondent of the
Standard says that the Prince of Teck
was IN charge of the transport but is
safe.
PRONOUNCED A FLASH
The Bloemfontein correspondent of the
Ilmes. telegraphing Sunday with refer
ence TO the capture of the convoy,
says:
The whole affair was flash. designed
to frighten Free Staters who are con-
tempiadng surrendering to Lord Roberts
When ColYille arrived at the mountain
his men having marched eighteen miles,
he determined to turn the river crossing
at some point lower down. Accordingly
Gen. Smith, with the Canadians at
tempted another drift, which turned the
enemys original position For some
reason Lieut. Col. Flint's artillery was
detached to the right, where 1t re-
mained for some time, shelling at 5000
yards range, shelling three OF the enc
my's guns which were placed in the
open, shelling Col Broadwood's> position
4. Accordingly a large force of Beers, visi-
bic on the other side of the Modder, es-
caped punishment and retired slowly as
our infantry advanced. Finally our guns
reached rising ground between both
= brigades and commanding the two drifts,
but their support was needed for the
covering of the advance Of the infantry
However, we could see the enemy in
force in a laager at the foot Of some
hills lying between the Modder and Tha-
ba NChu, and we could also see them
move off with the convoy to the rear,
Gen. Colville's division bivouacked on the
river bank Saturday night awaiting the
arrival of French's cavalry
COL. BROADWOOD's MIsHAP.
The war Office reports that Col. Broad
wood lost seven guns and all his bag
gage in the ambush laid for him by
the Beers on Saturday The casual
ties numbered $50. The war Office has
Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfontein,
April /:
'I received news late yesterday even
ing from Col. Broadwood, who was at
Thaba NChu, thirty-eight miles east of
here, that information had reached him
that the enemy was approaching in two
forces from the north and the east He
stated that if the report proved true, he
would retire towards the water works,
seventeen miles nearer Bloemfontein,
where we have had a detachment of
mounted infantry for the protection of
! the works
4 '.Broadwood was told in reply that
the Ninth division OF Martyrs mounted
Infantry will march at daylight. today
to support him, and that if he considers
It necessary he should retire from the
water works. He moved there during
the night and bivouacked. At dawn
today he was sheIled by the enemy who
attacked on three sides. He immediate
ly dispatched two horse artillery bat
teries and his baggage toward Bloem-
fontein. covering some of them with his
cavalry.
INTO THE AMBUSCADE.
Some two miles from the water
works the road crosses a deep nullah,
or spruit, in which during the night a
force of Beers had concealed them
selves. So well We're they hidden that
our leading scouts passed over the drift
without discovering them. and it was not
until the wagons and guns were entering
the drift that the Beers showed them
selves and opened fire Many of the
drivers of the artillery horses were inn
mediately shot down at short range
and several of the guns were captured.
The remainder galloped away, covered
by Roberts horse. which suffered
heavily.
Meanwhile Lieut.. Chester Masters, OF