The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-21
MACHADQDORP
Persistent Rumors of Battle Be-
tween Beers and British.
No Confirmation Contained in c.
ncinI Dcspntches-Detni1 of the
Three Days Engagement Last
Week Being Observation-Disclosures Es-
cape Disappointing to the English.

LONDON, June 21.-Again the persistent
rumor is circulated in Lourenco Marques
that there has been a big fight at Macha-
dodorp, which the Beers abandoned, retiring
to Lydenburg. There Is. however, no men
ton OF any such fight in the official des-
patches and there is nothing to indicate
that General Roberts has been engaged
since General Botha escaped from hin, on
June 10.
Correspondents reports of the fighting
on June II, IL, and Is east of Pretoria
are now arriving. They show that the
Beers fought with great vigor and perth
nacity. The British Horse Artillery was
at one time in considerable danger OF cap
ture. 1t was rescued by charge OF the
Lancers, in which the Earl OF Airlie was
killed. The Lancers, on this occasion,
killed twenty-three of the burghers The
immense area covered by the opera lions
and General Botha's skillful handling of
his force. which is said to consist mainly
Of foreigners and Cape rebels, prevented
a junction of the British cavalry on the
left with mounted infantry on the right,
and this allowed the Beers to retreat.
The correspondents claim that at least 200
Beers were killed. Forty bodies were
counted at Pienars Proof, the result Of the
Smelling Of the naval contingent.
General Bothas escape, according to
the Standards" correspondent, is great
disappointment. 1t had been hoped to
end the war by one staggering blow. Ae-
cording to a despatch to the Telegraph"
from Laurence Marques, dated June II,
an informal FIVE days armistice was then
in operation, but at the expiration of the
current week General Roberts is going to
take vigorous action.
The same despatch says that the lis
toric ground at Brorchorst Spruit was tbs
scene of gallant feat by the West
Australians, who, pursuing the retreat
ing Beers. stampeded them and killed
several by their rifle fire. There is no
report of any change in the Orange River
Colony. The Beers under Commandant
Steyn have been re-enforced by many Of
the burghers who withdrew from Laing's
Mex, and they have not yet been con-
quered.
A Boer report from Machadodorp. by way
Of Lourenco Marques, gives the burghers'
version of their success at Leeuw Spruit
on June A. 1t says that two British con-
voys were captured. A locomotive and
several carloads OF railway material were
destroyed. Three hurdred wogkmen AID
fifty soldiers were taken prisoners. Com
mandant Piet Viltaen reports that fifty
miles OF railway in the Orange River
Colony has been destroyed by his men.
Another engagement on June Is resulted
in the capture Of thirty-one British
soldiers.
Bloemfontein correspondent sends an
account of General Kitchener's escape
from capture last Thursday. He says that
General De Wet, who was in command of
the attacking force, suddenly opened rifle
and gun fire on the train In which General
Kitchener was sleeping. The latter has
tily left the train and mounting his horse
galloped to Rhenoster River, two miles
away. where there were 1900 British
troops. General De Wet meanwhile was
active. His men derailed the train and
destroyed culvert that had been recently
repaired.
Captain Leesberg, ar American, attached
to the Boer artillery. has arrived at Lour-
enco Marques He says that the Trans
vaal ammunition factory has been removed
to Lydenburg. He declares that General
De Wet has 5000 men in the Orange River
colony and General Botha $500 in the
Transvaal. Fifteen hundred men In small
bodies are elsewhere.
Transvaal agents In Lourenco Marques
are credited with admitting that Secre-
tary Reitz has gone to Europe on 4 Dutch
warship. This story, however, lacks con-
firmation.
1t is announced that the Malalane bridge
will be restored in two days. Evidently
the interruption in railway communication
between the Transvaal and Lourenco Mar
ques. caused by the destruction Of this
bridge, was not as important as the first
dispatches stated. Passengers have been
able to cross the spruit afoot and take
trains ON the eastern side