The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-03-10

W
paign, Abandoning the Offensive.
Dordrecht, Cape Colony, March g.
Gen. Brabant's colonial division, after
a nights march, is now attacking b
Beers in a strong position at La Bus
changnes Mex, on the road from Dor
drecht to jamestown.
Later--The engagement is proceeding
with great vigor and the Beers are
gradually retiring before the British
shell fire from three positions. A
heavy rifle fire is Being exchanged
where the British are engaging the
Beers OF the right flank. So far the
Beers have brought no big guns into
action.
Evening-Gen. Brabant's advance
was most satisfactory. After march
Ing and ~bivouacking over night the
force reached the strong ~intrenched
positions which they occupied and now,
hold, the Beers being on the opposite
hill.
The British will remain over night
in the captured positions, although the
Beers brought two guns into action
and made determined efforts to retake
them. The British losses are six killed
and eighteen wounded.
n-~o- ArNo,rInrs uor Halliday.
London, March 6.-Her majesty has
abandoned her intended visit to the
Italian Rivera and has decided to re-
main at home. Her decision to give
up her customary spring holiday is ac-
counted another proof Of her deep In
terest in and devotion to the welfare
Of her people. On Thursday she Will
come to London for q brief visit, ere
naming until Saturday, and she will
undoubtedly receive q splendid ova-
ton. Her heartfelt, homely dispatches
to the generals in the field and her visit
to Nettley hospital have greatly en-
deared her to her people.
Beyond the signs of a general retreat
of the Beers throughout Cape Colony
there is little news from the front.
Lord Roberts, in his dispatches to the
war Office thus far published, says 1T
tie, but he is undoubtedly active In
some direction.
The Onsland, the organ Of the Al
rikander. bund, says: 1.-The Beers will
now confine themselves to the de-
fensive, abandoning the offensive pol
ICY"
Abraham Kraal, as shown in the war
office maps, is q group Of three kop1es;
situated at the junction Of. Kraal
sprint and Modder river. It is q nat
ural point Of concentration which the
Beers could make exceedingly strong,
but, after the proofs Of the mobility
of the army of Lord Roberts, 1t may
be doubted whether they will make a
really serious attempt to bar his ad-
vance there. A noticeable feature OF
all the recent operations at the theater
of war has been the active employment
of colonial forces, which is in marked
contrast with the policy adopted at the
beginning Of the war. The Australian
colonies have decided to provide the
$500 men MI. Chamberlain recently
asked for.
It Is now seen how near Ladysmith
was to starvation and the exhaustion
of ammunition. The town could hard
" have withstood another Boer as
sault or have held: out much longer.
The Daily News has a dispatch from
Ladysmith which says that the sup
plies on hand were only enough to pro-
vide full rations for four days. The
town might have held out another
week, but scarcely beyond that.
Beers Were Surprise.
Colesberg, Cape Colony, March g.
A reconnaissance with two troops OF
Australians and two guns found the
wagon bridge over the Orange river in
tact. Fifty Beers on the other side
were taken by surprise and the Brit
ish galloped to their lager some miles
on the Free State side. Prices COM
mand has moved seven miles north OF
Colesberg. The Boer during their oc-
cupation denied themselves rather than
see the British wounded suffer.
Ovation for Canadians.
Cape Town, March 6.-The Canadian
artillery has just started for the front.
The loyalists gave them an ovation. At
Graaf Reinet, about 200 miles north OF
Port Elizabeth, some seventy Dutch
men, melted by Bondites, attacked
with sticks and stones a body Of loyal
lists who were celebrating the relief
Of Ladysmith. Many persons were in
jured. The loyalists demand military
protection.
Beers Attempted to Escape.
Cape Town, March Cit is reported
that the Boer prisoners, while on the
way from Paardeberg, unsuccessfully
attempted to escape from the train.
Eleven hundred of Cronje's men have
been placed temporarily on board the
British steamers Mongolian and Ma
nila in Table bay.
Encountered Beers in Force.
London. March 6.-The Morning Post
has the following dispatch from Os-
fontein, dated March 8: "Gen. French
MADE a reconnaissance and encountered
the enemy in force. They were occu-
plying a ~table-shaped kopje. Shots were
exchanged, q Boer gun replying"
NO PLACE FOR BUFFALoEs.