Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-22
CLAIMS OF VICTORY
Beers Declare Gen. Gatacre Was Re-
pulsed With Heavy Loss.
REPORT DISCREDIfED At. LONDON
Anxiety Prevails, However, Regard
ing Col. Plumer's Command.


REPORTS FROM ROBERTS
KROONSTADT. Orange Free State, Tues
day, March 20 (via Pretoria, March CD
The Beers. commanded by Gen Olivier,
have engaged the British troops under Gen.
Gatacre in the vicinity of Bethulie, repuls-
ing the British with heavy loss and captur-
ing many of them
Burghers arc arriving here in great num-
bers.sS. Gen. Dewet arrived today.
Desultery fighting with Col. Plumer's
column has occurred near Gaberones.
Boers Advancing Toward Labntsi.
LOBATSI, Friday, March 16.-The Beers,
under Commandant Snyman. are advancing
in force from Mafeking toward LObatsf.
Col. Bodle made a reconnaissance on
March Is and found Pitsani and Pothlugo
occupied by the Beers. He returned to
GOode Siding and made demonstration on
March H. He found the Beers in strength
at a sharp curve on the railway. They had
mounted a gun on the line and were lying
in wait for the construction train.
A brisk firing occurred few miles south
of Lobatsi on the morning of the 10TH The
Beers Maxim was freely used. Col. Bodle
came in touch with the Beers just in time
TO prevent the camp being surprised. The
Beers attacked the advance party and cap
tured few boxes of ammunition and near
ly secured Maxim. Lieut.. Tyler was
killed and Lieut. Chapman captured. Col.
Bodle, coming up, put the Beers to flight
with heavy loss.
The Beers yesterday were within few
miles of Lobatsi.
Pressing Col. PIumer.
Yesterday afternoon the Beers pressed
closely on Col. Plumer's main camp and
kept up hot fire with a Maxim killing
one white man and one native. They placed
The Maxim and a 1212-pounder on a hill on
the east side OF the line, 1000 yards from
the camp.
The British right is protected by Chief
Bathcon, who has warned the Beers not to
enter his territory.
Col Plumer's present endeavor is to in
sure the safety Of the railway north of Lo-
batsi and to watch well the left flank 1t
is probable that before the Beers retire
toward Pretoria they will tackle the
Rhodesians in force.
1t IS reported that the burgh,rs are aban-
doning the environs- of AIafeking. leaving
only sufficient number of artillerists to
man the big guns. There are none at Ra-
mathlabaua. where they were supposed 10
have their base Col Plumer's scouts were
az Ramathlabama yesterday. The usual
Mafeking dispatches are overdue but no
anxiety is felt on that score.
Dynamite explosions. wrecking the rail-
way, are proceeding south of IobatSi.
GHtacre's Defeat Discredited.
LONDON. March 22-The report from
kroonstadt. Orange Free State via Pre-
ma 'iie noefs' und+r the command
of Gen Olivier. had defeated the British
troops under Gen Gataere in the vicinity of
- -, ~ Gu i'e. u oiSpa'ch
TO the Daily News from Springfon:ein,
- : -n@, eA ~ saSS Gen Ha'-
) ., anu "''s 'iidt he ana
a forrn5s,br ,Tbs ias, o5,;o :. uozIl I men @ II,
cen Gatacre about thirty miles norm Of
Be-hnulie where the Boer report says the
defeat was inflicted This combined with
The fact that no mention Of the affair was
made by Lord Roberts in his disnatch of
March 81 confirms the belief that the
kroonstadt adyices are erroneous
,,x;.,,- A.. -,
W.
Ihe reports Of skirmishing near Lohatsi.
A1'e "Pp1i eii''E MOI iAiAclhs any serious
- -''-+e' Oo."iiiiS, cause grave
- So '' MS .'"'h'F 70 feach
~ tHs' ii+"s from that quar-
- 'i'N1'uSAS awaited l"r IN ihe SIX days
'i'''' Ia eiI'seu since thc last messages
sH' Oh d serious engagement may
'N' '"'"s" iA'' o' N"l- runner ;
'h'iis- ne boers seem determined not 10
sFrTyc-
In reply to the ruavor If Cane -ro,,.,.s ,.e-
quest to make ..NI.fekina r.I5sf H., .
public holiday Premier Scbreinr- -,
May the holiday come soon ana mav a
spirit Of general good will and kiriJI, -,
sideratiUn prevail later
p,
S"rrehdering.
nai'h L--i'ord ROBERTS tele-
80 ~, '-'- ii-i '''4i4' uHusr d4te pi
Il "S iolo"s-
=" 4ii''"S "uL shtrS nave expressed de-
70 uhuer the terms OF the
~ ''iaf,A1"H that have sent small
their names and take over their arms.
cavalry brigade has gone to the cast
S Lu 60 ,+ihu; ltilaiichu; ana 4 detachment
field wber,. sGrne ,rr1nsya'Ier smith
rOn with arms and ammunition we're can
Iured- The Scots Guards are at Edenhury
and ReddCryburg. Gen Clements brigade
- In1, i,,smSi "a ny "dy "i Fhlilppoils