The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-03-16
FOUGHT ALL DAY.
Beers Make Stand at Driefontein-
Retreat Under Cover of Darkness
After Losing Heavily.

Retreat Under Cover of Darkness
After Losing Heavily.
Driefontein, Orange Free State,
March a. Brcadwood's cavalry brig
ade, advancing on Bloemfontein, unex-
pectedly found the Beers in a strong
position in the Driefontein kopjes Sat-
urday. Gen. Kelly-Kenny's division ar.
irving, severe fighting ensued. The
Beers resisted stubbornly, but were
driven from their center position, leav-
ing number of dead and 40 prisoners.
During the fighting, in which five regi-
ments took part, with artillery, the
Beers, though forced from their center
position, chung tenaciously to the other
kopjes, she ling the British freely with
three guns and two vicker-maxims.
The British cavalry be gan to turn the
Boer position, but night fell before the
movement was completed. The Beers
retired during the night.
London. March IA dispatch to
the war office from Lord Roberts dated
Driefontein. March II. says:
1.-The enemy opposed us throughout yes-
terday's march, and from their intimate
knowledge of the country, gave us con-
siderable trouble. Owing, however, to the
admirable conduct of the troops, the enemy
were unable to prevent us reaching our des-
t1nation. The brunt Of the fighting fell or
Gen. kelly-Kenny's divisions, two bat
talions of which. the Welsh and Essex,
turned the Beers out of two strong posi-
tions at the point of the bayonet.
Il cannot get the precise number of cas-
Fualties before l march, but will communi-
cate it as soon as possible. The Beers suf-
fered heavily, 102 of their dead being left
on the ground. We captured about 20 pris-
Oners."
London, March 12.-The Daily News
has the following from Asvogel kop.
dated March IL:
THE march was continued to-day to this
point. No Beers were seen on the way.
The British are now only Is miles from
Bloemfontein. One of the Boer prisoners
says the siege of Mafeking has been
raised"
London, March lathe British re.
ported casualties up TO this date are
as follows: Killed, 2.41s; wounded.
STAT; died of disease, 1929; missing,
3.4s3: total, 1867.
London, March 12.-The Daily Mail
has received the following dispatch
from Pretoria, dated Saturday, March
10, and censored by the Boer govern
ment:
president Kruger and President Steyn
have wired to Lord Salisbury peace pro-
posals, OH condition that the independence
of the two republics be respected and the
rebel cOlOnials amncstied. Yesterday the
foreign consuls were called into confer
ence, and were requested to invite the in
PREVENTION of the powers they represented,
in order to prevent further bloodshed."
London, March 12.-The govern
ments' views are probably enunciated
in the following semi-otficial state
ment. issued Saturday night:
1T is understood that the government
does not consider that the time has yet
come for any authoritative statement as to
ultimate terms of peace, and no member
of the cabinet has authorized any published
statement on the subject. 1t is, of course,
generally understood among all political
parties In this country that so far as the
South African republics are concerned the
status quo ante-bellum cannot remain un-
altered after the close of hostilities. Their
part IN the system, which involved large
measure of political and military indie
pendence, will, of course, be material,
| modified as result of the war, but the
growing prospects Of restored peace must
be further advanced before her majesty:
government can either finally formulat t.
proposed terms OF settlement or make an,
announcement of their plan,"
London, March PA correspondent
of the Daily Mail at Lourenzo Marques
telegraphing Saturday, says:
According to Boer reports, the fall of
Mafeking Is certain. There has been heavy
fighting this week. and the Beers have
been Smelling the town from all the outly-
ing forts which they have captured. Col
Baden-Powell cleared all the natives out
of town. but the Beers drove them back.
The Beers are preparing for a final as
sault, with the idea that the capture of
Mafeking will raise the dropping spirits o.
the burghers.
Durham, March l2.-The Natal Mer-
curry has the following dispatch from
Greytown, dated Sunday:
"A force composed of Bethune's mounted
infantry, the Umveti mounted rifles and
the Natal police, with three ma xims. under
Col. Bethune. reached Pomeroy Thursday,
March 8. The following morning the Boer
pickets opened fire. A general engage
ment soon ensued, the Beers using pom
po,ns and two big guns. There was heavy
firing on both sides. Col. Bethune seeing
the impossibility of dislodging the Beers
without artillery, retired south of the
Tugela. with one man wounded. The
Boer loss is said to be considerable"
Cape Town, March 12.-News from
Lady Grey, Herschel and Aliwalnorth
show that the rebels are laying down
their arms in large numbers, and that
the Beers all along the border are in
serious straits. The rebels assert that
the Beers are subsisting on bread and
water and so-called coffee, made from
rye. Other rebels are leaving to fight
In the Free State, British rule has been
restored at Lady Grey, where big
fight is reported to have occurred,
many rebels being killed. It is report
ed that thousands of rebels contem-
plate surrendering to Gen, Rrabant.
Strike III on,
St. Louis, March 1e.-The threat
ened strike of the. employees of the St.
Louis Transit company is Off. An
agreement perfectly satisfactory to
kNNf h H.