The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-07
PUSH THE D|ERS BACK
BRITISH FIGHT THEIR WAY TO
THE VET RIVER AND
CROSS 1T
SOME HARD FIGHTING THERE
GEN. HUTTON GIVEN CREDIT FOR
"A DAsHING AND SUCCESSFUL
MOVEMENT
B0ERs LEAVE THEIR DEAD
Lord Roberts Seem to Have His
Whole Force on the Move and
Following Up Every
Advantage.

LONDON, May g. g p. m.-The war
office has published the following dispatch
from Lord Roberts, dated Vet River,
Saturday May 5, 7:15 p. m:
Il marched here today with Pole
Carew's division. Headquarters and
Wagell's brigade of the Seventh division
are two miles in the rear Maxwell's
brigade Of the same division is the same
distance to our right.
THE enemy is in considerable strength
ON the opposite bank of the river. Our
guns engaged theirs for some three hours
without being able to force a passage of
the river, but shortly before dusk the
mounted infantry, under Gen. Hutton,
turned the enemy's right, and, in very
dashing manner, pushed across the river
under heavy shell and musketry fire
We are now bivouacking for the night
within three miles of Vet river. Our cas-
ualties, l hope, are not numerous
Hamilton was in action yesterday and
succeeded in preventing a junction of
two Boer forces by well executed move
ment by some of the household cavalry.
The Twelfth lancers and Kitchener's
horse charged a body of the enemy and
inflicted serious loss. The enemy fled,
leaving their dead on the field and their
wounded to be attended by our doctors.
''MacDonalds Highlander brigade dis
lodged the enemy on the right flank under
cover of the naval guns, in which opera
ton the Black Watch distinguished them
selves and were very skillfully led.
Hamilton was advancing this morning
to difficult drift over the Kleinoet river.
Hunter reports that Bartons brigade
was heavily engaged this morning two
miles north of Rudam (RooidanO. The
enemy's position was quite four miles
long and strongly held. He states that
our men marched magnificent.y and car
ried ridge after ridge in grand style.
Casualties in this force, in Hamilton S
and Hunters viii be reported as soon as
possible.
Capt. Miller, who was taken prisoner
near Thaba NChu, has been sent to
Rundle's camp by the enemy with a Sc
we're wound in the abdomen.
''Brabant reports that one sergeant and
three men were captured on May 2 while
on patrol, and that one of them, who had
been brutaily i'll treated and left for dead
by the Beers, was found the following
day
Lieut.. Lilly, Victoria mounted rifles,
reported missing, was found at Brand
fort dangerously wounded, and has been
most carefully attended by the Neither
lands ambulance"
=. BRITISH CROSS THE VET.
VET RIVER, Sunday, May 6-Yester-
day the British, after long march, en-
countered the Beers holding Vet river
with six guns, two being of long range.
An artillery duel ensued. Gen. Hutton
crossed the river on the left.
Gen. Pole-Carew started at daybreak
yesterday on a nineteen-mile march. He
first came into contact with Beers hold
ing the river at l o'clock o. m. The
British soon had two batteries in action
and later they added two naval nine
FOUNDERS. two Al and 5-inch siege guns.
The Beers fired with great accuracy,
and the duel continued unabated until
sunset and even later there was desul-
tory firing. 1t is marvellous that nobody
on the British side was injured. Gen.
Hutton started early to find the drift on
the west When this was discovered it
proved to be strongly held and protected
by two guns. The British speedily en-
gagged the Beers, who enfiladed the dis
mounted firing line with a Maxim, but
Gen. Hutton pushed forward his own
pom-pom and a galloping Maxim and
forced the Beers to leave the river bed.
the whole British force crossed the river
threatening the Boer right. The Beers
must have received about the same time
news of Gen. Hamilton's occupation of
Winburg. About sunset a detachment of
twenty-six Australians, who crept for
ward toward the river bed, found them
selves near a kopje occupied by the Beers.
After firing they
FIXED BAYONETS AND CHARGED,
capturing the kopje. All was done on
their own initiative. Thus night fell
Early this morning it was discovered
that the whole Boer force had fed.
Gen. Hutton during the night got two
squadrons to blow up the line near Swals-
del The British discovered yesterday at
every hundred yards along the railway
concealed pockets of high explosives. The
Beers had destroyed three bridges over
spruits between here and Brandfort, but
in every case it was thought best to
make detour. The Beers appeared to
be fighting with much less spirit. 1t is
rumored they are commanded by Gen.
Lucius Meyer The bridge over the Vet
river is completely destroyed.
Gen. Hutton captured a Maxim and
took twelve prisoners.
GOLD COAST NEEDS TROOPS.