Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-02
WAR BULLETIN.

BULLETIN.
BUSHMAN KOP, Saturday, March 31-The British force commanded
by Col Broadwood, consisting of the Tenth Hussars, Household cavalry,
two horseb batteries and a force of mounted infantry, under Col Pitcher,
which had been garrsoning Thaba Nchu, was obliged in consequence of
the near approach of a large force of Beers, to leave last night
Col Broadwood marched to the Bloemfontein waterw works, south of
the Modder, where he encamped at four o'clock this morning.
At early dawn the camp "a shened by the enemy from a near point.
Col Broadwood sent off a convoy with the batteries, while the rest of
the force remained to act as a er guard.
The convoy arrived at a deep spruit where the Beers were concealed,
and the entire body walked into ambush and was captured, together with
The loss of life az not great, since most of the British had walked
into the trap before a shot was free.
Gen. colvnles division, which left Bloemfontein early this morning,
arrived here at noon and he is now Smelling the Beers.
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
LONDON, April q 43O a. m-Gen Buffers anxious inquiry whether
forced emphasis to the British public to-day on receipt of the tidings that
a convoy with guns has walked deliberately into a Boer ambush within
Lord Roberts own report of the affair, if yet received by the War Of
fee, has not been published, and no account of the affair is available to
the public except the dispatches from Bushman Kop.
Nothing can be said, therefore, regarding the exact extent of the Brit
ish misfortune. 1
considerable force OF the enemy. The convoy and the guns had to pass
through a deep spruit, which the Beers had occupied.
Six of twelve guns, comprising two batteries, all the wagons and it is
feared many men, fell into the hands of the Beers, whose daring, displayed
so near Boemfonten, shows that they are rapidly recovering heart after
their recent reverses. &
The hope is expressed here that Gen. Covile will recover the convoy
and guns, but this is hardly likely in such a difficult country, and it is
probable that the next ley will be that after a stiff fight Gen. Colvfle
has extricated Col BroadwoOd from his difficult position, but failed to re-
Severe criticisms are heard regarding the renewal of the. old mistake
of undertaking the Beers, and the absence of proper prcaution. No doubt
at a critical moment.
Great things are expected by the Beers of the new commander in
chief, Gen. Botha, who had made his reputation wholly during the present
campaign Foreign officers serving with the Beers have expressed surprise
at his clever tactics.
The proof of continuing Boer activity in the Free State will compel
great circumspecton on the part of the British, and will probably delay the
march of Lord Roberts norhward.
Detailed accounts of the fight at Karee Siding estimate the Boer forces
yariously from 5000 to 5000 men, Brabants horse occupied wepener last
Thursday unopposed.
Lord Mehuen has issued the following notification at Kimberley:
81 have received instructions that if any disturbance occurs west O" the
Vaal river my force is tic return and punish the rebels Immediately"