The Monte Vista journal., 1900-04-07
BOERS TROUBLING ROBERTS.
Enslsnd Greatly Hmiaed By the Latest Disaster Ae
tive Near Ladysnnith and Kimberly.

London, April 2.-The war ofiice has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated BloemfOntein,
April 1st:
Il received news late yesterday
evening from Colonel Broadwood. who
was Mt Thaban Chu, thirty-eight miles
east of here, that Information had
reached him that the enemy was ap-
preaching In two forces, from the
north and the east. He stated that II
the report proved true, he would retire
towards the water wOrks, seventeen
miles nearer Bloemfontein, where we
have had a detachment OF mounted in
fantry for the protection of the works.
General Roberts gave orders that
brigade OF Infantry should march at
| daylight to-day to support him, and
that IL he considers 1t necessary he
should retire from the water works.
He moved there during the night and
blvouacked. At dawn to-day he was
shclled by the enemy. who attacked ON
three sides. He Immediately dis
patched two horse artillery batteries
and his baggage toward Bloemfontein,
covering some OF them with his cav
airy.
Some two miles from the water
works the road crosses a deep nullat,
or spruit, in which. during the night,
force OF Beers had concealed them
selves. So well Were they hidden that
our leading scouts passed over the drift
without discovering them. and Ii was
not until the wagons and guns were
entering the drift that the Beers show
| ed themselves and opened fire. Many
| OF the drivers Of the artillery horses
were Immediately shot down at short
range, and several OF the guns were
| captured. The remainder galloped
away, covered by Roberts Horse,
which suffered heavily.
Meanwhile Lieutenant ChesterInas-
| ters OF Remington's Scouts found a
passage across the spruit unoccupied
by the enemy, by which the remainder
OF Broadwood's force crossed. They
reformed with great steadiness, not
withstanding all that had previously
occurred.
'BroadwOod's report, which has Just
reached me, and which contains no de-
tails, stated that he had lost seven
| guns and all his baggage. He estimates
| all his casualties at about $50. includ-
ing 200 missing.
ION hearing this morning that Broad
wood was hard pressed Immediately
ordered General French with two re-
naming cavalry brigades to follow In
support OF the Ninth division. The lat
ter. after magnificent march. arrived
on the scene OF action shortly after
. p. III.
| 'Broadwood's force consisted OF the
Royal Household cavalry. the Tenth
Hussars. the Y and L batteries OF the
Royal Horse artillery and Pitchers 4
battalion Of mounted infantry.
The strength Of the enemy Is esti-
mated mt from 5000 to 10000. with
guns. the number Of which Is not yet
reported"
Lord Methuen's difficulties are nppar-
entity increasing. He has Boer langerx
or guerrilla bands on three sides of
him. and he VIII be Obliged TO watch
carefully his communication with
Orange river. The activity OF u strong
Bocr force In the vicinity OF Paarde-
berg has already interrupted direct
communication between Lord Roberts
ana kimberley. But for the over
whelming numbers at the disposal OF
LORD Roberts. the situation would Just
" cause Great Britain greater anxiety.
As II Is. the milton IL beginning to real
izc from the nature OF the guerrilla
warfare that II IL liable To embarruss
.
troops.
Ladysmith. April 1.-The Beers nrc
becoming daripgly bold and are ap-
proaching within sight of Ladysmith.
while Buffers army lies apparently mo-
tionlcss. After the relief OF LadysmIth
the bocrs fcll back TO the mountain
passes, but finding they We're not pur.
sued they have gradually drawn near
the town, north, east and west, and n
strong column came within eleven miles
OF the town ON Sunday. Their patrols
scour the country on nil sides,
London, April "A special dispatch,
from Blocmfontein this morning re-
ports that the water supply OF the
place has been cut Of This is the nat.
urnl sequence OF the Boer success n
the water works.
To lose guns has always been consid.
cred In military circles "A disgrace. In
the present war the British have been
particularly unfortunate In this re-
spect. their losses In guns having been
hcarie- han In any similar period of
Their military history since the AmcrI.
can Revolution.
The losses OF guns up to date are:
Nichois"ns Mex. four; StormicrI. two;
Coienn". ten: near Blocmfontcin, scy.
| ~ sossss III eNrnunye
they have captured only seven guns.
I'VE taken with General Cronje nj
l'anrdeberg and two surrendered In the
Ere" State This II not n very sntis.
fnc'ory exchange for n great military
power 20 make.
What makes this loss Of mon and
guns more unpalatnblc To Engiishncp
Is the evident fact that Il wns due 10
lack OF prrcnuiion such ms any officer
Is naturally expected To take. The
scouts moving In advance OF Colonel
Itrondwooi's convoy aud III. guns did
not think TINT nny danger could i,o~ri.
bly, lurk In front Of them. and did no,
search the banks of the M.niic spruIt
n. they should have done. TIL. lesson
II the flrst battle Of Coicn.o, of tho
S'orfnbcrg route and of half n dozen
other engagement. Ind been forgotten.
u II stated In Lord Ito,s.rS' report that
the Rocrs were So well hidden TINT the
'.ndinH british scouts passed over the
irlft without discovering them.
This seems n sad commentary on
their Intelligence. or on the superior
cunning of the Bocrs. which carries
with II It's own moral.