The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-22
BRITISH REPULSE.
Gen. Olivier Beats Gen. Gatacre
at Bethulie.
English Lose Heavily in Killed
and Captured.
LONDON DOUBTS IT.
News Comes by Way of the Re-
publican Capitals.
Dutch Are Advancing in Force
on LObatSi.

Kroonstadt, Orange Free State. Tues |
day, March 90 via Pretoria.-The Beers |
commanded by General Olivier have en-
gagged the British troops under General
Gatacre in the vicinity of Bethulie, re-
pulsing the British with heavy loss and
capturing many Of them.
Burghers are arriving here in great
numbers Geenral De Witt arrived to-
day.
Desult5ry firing with Col Plummer's
column has occurred near Gaberones.
London, March 22-The report from
Kroonstadt, via Pretoria, that the
Beers under the command of General
Olivier had defeated the British troops
under Gen. Gatacre in the vicinity of
Bethulie, is not believed here. dis
patch to the Daily News from Spring
fontein dated Tuesday, March 20, says
Gen. Gatacre was AL we'll" and adds
that he and Gen Brabant had not lost
a dozen men in a fortnight. The latest
advices were that aGtacre was about
30 miles north of Bethulie, where the
BOer report says the defeat was infilct-
ed. This combined with the fact that
no mention of the affair was made by
Lord Roberts, in his dispatch of March
q, confirms the belief that the Kroon-
stadt adVices are erroneous.
The reports of slxirmishing near Lo-
batsi while apparently not inhictinS
any serious los son Col Plummers col
umn, cause grave anxiety in regard to
his ability to reach Mafeking. Further
news from that quarter is anXiOusly
awaited, for IS days have elapsed since
the last message were sent off, serious
engagement may have occurred, though
not of Col Plummer's seeking.
The Beers seem determined not to
give up their position at Mafeking
without a fierce struggle.
The Times in its second edition, pub
nShed a dispatch from Lorenzo Mart
queS which quotes President Steyn as
saying, at KrOOnstadt, that the Beers
could continue the struggle for six
months longer While the Beers and
British in the Orange Free State are
taking advantage of the period of mac
tlV1ty to enjoy a rest those on the bor-
ders of Natal are beginning to show
activity A special dispatch from Dur
pan says the town of POmeroy, 80 miles
east of Ladysmith, has been burned by
the Beers. A British detachment ar
irving at that place the Beers evacua.-
ted.
LONDON DOESN'T BELIEVE IT.
London, March 22.-Lord Roberts tel
eSraphs from RlOemfontein under date
of March 81 as follows:
so many burghers have expressed a
desire to surrender under the terms of
the last proclamation that I have sent
small columns in various directions to
register their names.
THE Scots guards are at Edenburg
and Reddersburg- General Clements
brigade is marching hither by way of
Philippolis and Fauresmith''
The report of General Gatacre's de-
feat by the Beers is not believed here
The last advices placed Gatacre about
thirty miles north of Bethulie where the
Boer report says he was defeated.
BOERS MOVE ON LOBATSI.
Lobatsi, March 16.-The Beers, under
Commandant Snyman, are advancing in
force from Mafeking toward Lobatsi.
Col. BOdle made a reconnaissance on
March 13, and found Pitzani and Poth-
luge occupied by the Beers. He re-
turned to GOOde Siding and made
demonstration on March Il. He found
the Beers in strength at a sharp curve
on the railroad. They had mounted a
gun on the line and were lying in wait
for the construction train.
A brisk firing occurred a. few miles
south of LObatsi on the morning of the
18th. 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 captured a few
boxes of ammunition and nearly Sc
cured Maxim Lieut. Tyler was killed
and Lieut. Chapman captured. Col.
Bodle coming up put the Beers to flight
The Beers yesterday We're within a
few miles of LObatsi. Yesterday af-
ternoon the Beers pressed closely on
Col. Plummer's main camp and kept up
a hot fire with a Maxim, killing one
white man and one native. They placed
the Maxim and 12-pounder on a hill
on the east side of the line, 1900 yards
from the camp.
The British right is protected by
Chief Bathion, who has warned the
Beers not to enter his territory.
Col. Plummer's present endeavor is
to insure the safety of the railway north
of Lobatsi and TO watch well the left
flank. 1t is probable that before the
Beers retire towards Pretoria they will
tackle the Rhodesians in force.