Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-13

LONDON. July 12.-Lord Roberts re-
ports to the war ONCE under date Of
Pretoria, July IL. as follows:
THE enemy, having failed in their
attack upon our right rear. as men
toned in my telegram of July Q, made
determined attack upon our right
flank yesterday, and. regret to say,
succeeded in capturing Nitral's Mex,
which was garrisoned by squadron
of the Scots Grays. with two guns Of
battery of the royal artillery and five
companies of the Lincolnshire regi-
ment
The enemy attacked in superior
numbers at dawn, and. Selling the
hills commanding the mex, brought a
heavy gun fire to bear upon the small
garrison.
"Nitrals Mex is about eighteen miles
from here, near where the road crosses
the Crocodile river. 1t was held by us
in order to maintain road and tele-
graphic communication with Rusten-
berg.
THE fighting lasted, more or less,
throughout the day, and Immediately
on receiving notice this morning OF
the enemy's strength, dispatched re-
Inducements from here, under Col.
Godfrey, of the Kings Own Scottish
borderers. Before, however, they
reached the spot the garrison had been
overpowered and the guns and a
greater portion of the squadron of the
Grays had been captured, owing to the
horses being shot; also about ninety
men of the Lincolnshire regiment.
"A list of the casualties has not been
received, but fear they are heavy.
simultaneously an attack was made
on our outposts near bridgeport, north
of the town in watch the SeFEnEh IJfR.
goons were engaged. The regiment
was handled with considerable skill BY
Lieut.. Col Low. and kept the enemy in
check until they retired on their sup
porters. and would probably have suf-
fered but slight loss had not our troops
mistaken some Beers in the bushes for
our men.
"Smith-Dorrien had successful en-
gagement with the enemy yesterday
near Krugersdorp and inflicted heavy
loss on them.
Butler reports that the Beers who
were destroying his line of railway
near Paardekraal were driven of yes
terday after a short action.
Hart reports from Heidelberg the
surrendering OF Boer arms and ammu-
milton to the authorities In that dis
trict"
Lord Roberts dispatch reporting still
an unfortunate occurrence throws d
serious light upon the state Of affairs
in South Africa. There has been soma
comment recently regarding the virtual
absence of progress by the immense
army under the command OF Lord
Roberts, but few could be found to TO-
lieve that the scattered Beers were Ab1e
to infict such defeat so near Pretoria.
Instead OF the surrender OF all the re-
manning Beers being imminent. as re-
cent kilograms had limited, 1t seens
that they have been making con-
certed attempt to surround or recap
ture Pretoria with so much success
that In the region which was supposed
TO be pacified and in which no attack
was expected, they succeeded in In
flicting serious defeat and capturing
two guns and 200 men.
1t is evident that Gen. Botha has
considerable force. seeing that he Is
able TO press Lord Roberts lines at q
half dozen points around Pretoria from
the Springs to the southeast OK the
city northward to Middleburg and
Durde Poort and thence southwark to
Nitral's Mex and Krugersdorp.
Lord Roberts omits 10 give the name
Of the commander concerned, yssng
rise to the belief that worse remains
to be told. Even II the mishap be not
more grave than his Information az
present implies 1t proves that the situ-
alton is still serious and that there IL
no possibility Of any troops being
spared from South Africa for China.
but, on the contrary that it win stilI
take long time TO clear the country
o. the Beers.
News has reached London that Lord
Roberts has been suffering from seri-
GUS bowel complaint and that Lady
Roberts was hurriedly summoned from
Bloemfontein. Lord Roberts. though
now better IS stiIl weak.