Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-11
ONLY SIX ESCAPED
BoeTsKiN, Wound orCap-
tuTe Whole Battalion.
BRITISH LOSS IS ABOUT 500
Derbyshire Regiment the Suf-
ferer.
ROBERTS COMMUNICATIONS CUT OFF
London Thunderstruck at This
Daring Move of the Enemy.
ROBERTS COMMUNICATIONS CUT OFF
London Thunderstruck at This
Daring Move Of the Enemy.
BULLER PUSHES FORWARD

LoNDoN. June ll.-l<lententint General
Sir Frederick ForesterWalker in COM
mand of the lines of communication in
South Africa. reports that in the disaster
to the troops June { at Roodeval, where
the Beers cut Lord Roberts line of COM
munications. the 4th Battalion of the Der
byshire Regiment were all killed, wounded
or made prisoners, except six enlisted men.
Two officers and fifteen men were killed
and five officers and seventy-two men
wounded many of them severely.
The Beers returned the wounded to the
British. The officers killed We're Lieuten-
ant Colonel Baird-Douglas and Lieut. Haw-
ley. The wounded include Col. Wilkinson
and Lieut.. Blanchard of the Canadian In
fantry.
Gen. FOreStier-Walker's Dispatch.
Gen Forestier-Walker's dispatch in full
is as follows:
CAPE TOWN, June 10 tSunday).-The
following telegram has been received from
Charles Knox:
.kROONSTAD-Th following casual
ties reported from Roodeval June {, re-
ceived from Stonham. commanding the I'm
perial Yeomanry hospital, dated Rhenos-
ter river, June s, received here by flag of
truce June 10-The 4th Battalion of the
Derbyshre Regiment (the Sherwood For
esters)-killed. Lieutenant Colonel Baird
Douglas and Lieut. Hawley and fifteen Of
the rank and file; wonded-Col. Wilkinson.
Capt. Bailey. Lieuts Hall. Lawder and
Blanchard and ffty-nine of the rank and
file The Shropshire Light Infantry, one:
Cape Pioneer Railway Regiment. seven;
ammunition park. royal marines and i'm
perial telegraphs, one each; post office
corps, one.
Srnr O.
verely wounded, and the remaining of the
4th Derbyshire and details of prisoners.
cept six of the rank and file. are in his
camp. All the wounded in his camp,
lately occupied by the 4th Derbyshire. In
quiries are being made as to the names"
1t is inferred that the Beers captured over
500 men and as late as June 10 held posi-
tions cutting eff the British forces north
of K1oonstad from reinforcements.
Gen. Methuen Fighting.
Another dispatch from General Forester
Walker says General Methuen was fight
ing within ten miles of Hebron June g. as
follows:
CAPE TOWN, June 10, Sunday.-Kelly-
Kenny reports from Bloemfontein this
morning that Methuen with the greater
part of his division was fighting early in
the morning of June s. ten miles south of
be with the Highland Brigade. Methuen
left Lindley June . with ample supplies for
himself and Colville, leaving Paget to hold
Lindley with a sufficient force and sup
plies.
"Kelly-Kenny has ordered Knox to press
in the enemy's outpost, believing the
enemys strength to be exaggerated.
"An is quiet, and there is no anxiety as
regards the district to the south. Commu-
MICA tions north of Kroonstad have been cut
since June g.
News Shocks London.
The news that the shutting off of Roberts
communication with the outer world
accompanied by such serious loss came
like bolt from comparatively clear sky.
In London, until the news came, it was
thought that the destruction of the rail-
road was accomplished by Free Staters,
who were avoiding rather than annihilat-
ing the British detachments stationed at
the point attacked. Nor are General For
estier-W alker's vague statements regard
ing Methuen and the situation at He'll
bron looked upon as reassuring. The Beers
appear to be in sufficient strength to COM
pietely separate all the British forces north
and south of a line stretching some fifty
miles between Roodeval and Heilbron.
Methuen's march upon the latter place
seems somewhat in the nature of a move
ment for the relief of Colville. The only
British officer left at Roodeval appears to
be the doctor in charge of the hospital.
which is full of wounded.
What has happened to the troops imme-
diately north of Roodeval is still matter
for conjecture.
Todays dispatches reveal the situation is
far more serious than any enc imagined.
Premier Schreiner to Resign.
The ministerial caucus at Cape Town has
resulted unfavorably to Premier Schredner.
only ten supporting him, and Mr.. Schred-
ner has given notice of his intention to re-
sign.
The question at issue is that Mr.. Schrei-
ner shall reduce Immediately the punishtng
of the colonial rebels and indemnifying the
for acts committed under mar
tial law
A Cape Town dispatch to the Times says:
"It is impossible to say whether Mr..
Schreiner will manage to form coalition
with the cooperation of Mr.. Rose
Innes and possibly even Gordon Sprgg,
or whether Sir Alfred Miner will intrust
the task to Sprigg.
There is no further word of General Bull
ler's progress Reports from Maseru, Ba-
sutoland June 0, say: the Beers around
refuse to surrender, and severe
fighting is expected, though a dispatch OF
June from Hammonia, which is only .