Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-04-02
BRITISH DEFEAT!
Beers Surprise Col.
BroadWOOd's Force.
The British Loss is About
$50 Men.
Boer Attacking Force Estimated at
Ten thousand Men.
SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION.

London, April 2.-The war office re-
ceived the following from Lord Rob-
erts dated Bloemfontein, April /: II
received late yesterday evening from
Col. Broadwood. who was at Thaban
Chu, thirty-eight miles east of here,
that information had reached him that
the enemy was approaching in two
forces from the north and east. He
stated IL the report proved true he
would retire towards the waterworks,
seventeen miles nearer Bloemfontein,
where we had a detachment of mount
ed infantry for the protection OF the
works. Broadwood was told in reply
that the Ninth division of Martyrs
mounted infantry will march at day
light to-day to support him and IL he
considers II necessary he would retire
from the waterworks He moved there
during the night and bivouacked. At
dawn to-day he was shelled by the enc
my who attacked on three sides. He
Immediately dispatched two horse at
tlllery batteries and his baggage to-
ward Bloemfontein. covering some of
them with his cavalry. Some two
miles from the waterworks the road
crosses deep nullah or spruit in
which during the night force OF
Beers had concealed themselves. So
well were they hidden that our leading
scouts passed over the drift without
discovering them, and itw as not until
wagons and guns were entering the
drift that the Beers showed themselves
and opened fire. Many drivers of the
artillery horses were Immediately shot
down at short range and several guns
wer captured. The remainder gallop
ed away. covered by Roberts horse
which suffered heavily. Meanwhile
Lieut.. Chestermasters, of Remington,
scouts, found a passage across tn.
spruit unoccupied by the enemy, by
which the remainder of the Broad
woods force crossed. They reformed
with great steadiness. notwithstand.
ing all that had previously occurred
Broadwood's report which has jus
reached me and which contains no de
tails stated that he lost seven gun
and all his baggage. He estimates al
casualties at obout $780, including 20
missing. on hearing this morning tina
Broadwood was hard pressed immed
lately ordered General French will
the two remaining cavalry brigades
to follow in support of the Ninth di
vision. The latter. after a magnin
cent march, arrived at the scene of ac
ton shortly after 2 p. m. Broadwood'
force consisted of the Royal House
hould cavalry, Tenth Huzzars G an
u. batteries of the Royal Horse artll
lery and Pitchers battalion OF mounte
infantry. The strength of the enem,
Is estimated from 5000 to 10000 wit
guns. the number OF which is not We
reported.
London, April 2--The rumor OF tn
recapture by the British of the seve
guns taken from Col. BroadwooC
based on a dispatch to the Chronicl
from Bloemfontein, fail to compensat
London for the severe shock experien
ced by the humiliating defeat sustain
ed within a few miles of the head
quarters by the British army OF occu
patton. The public is painfully sur
prised to learn that British officers {
high position can still neglect precau
tions which the veriest tyro might b
expected to observe and blunder int
traps which observance of eleminar
military rules would have revealed.
President Kruger In said to haN
promised to re-Occupy Bloemfontei
this week and the stubborn burghei
seem to be closing around the plaC
In such force as promises to
troublesome, especially when 1t is rea
lied that the activity OF the stron
Boer forces in the vicinity OF Paard,
berg have already interrupted dire
communication between Lord Rober
and Kimberly But for the overwheln
ing numbers at the disposal of Rol
erts the situation would justly cau'
Great Britain greater anxiety. As
is the nation Is beginning to realii