Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-06-13
BOBRS SCATTERED
The Lines of Communication of Lord
Roberts With the South Have
Been Restored.
A SANGUINARY ENGAGEMENT
Lord Roberts Forces and Botha's Troops
Fought a Fierce Battle Near Pretoria
Without Decisive Results-Gen-
eral DeWet Defeated.

London, June 13.-Lord Roberts line
of communications practically has been
restored by the complete victory gained
by Generals Methuen and Kitchener
over General DeWet yesterday. The
Boer camp was captured and the
burghers were scattered.
A SANGUINARY BATTLE.
Lord Roberts fought battle with
Gcn..al Botha at the end OF which,
though the British gained considerable
ground, the Beers were not beaten. All
Is quiet at Pretoria and Johannesburg.
BRITISH OPERATIONS.
London, June 13.-A lengthy dispatch
from Lord Roberts has been forwarded
to the war Office by Major General
Knox from Kroonstad, presumably sent
there by messenger. 1t says: After
surrendering the city, Botha retired to
q place about Is miles east Of the Mid
dleburg road. He had small force,
but during the last few days his num-
bers increased. He held a strong posi-
tion, practically unassaiable in front,
which enabled him to place the main
portion of his troops on his TANKS which
he knew from former experience were
his vulnerable parts. l sent French
with Porter's and Dixon's cavalry
brigades and Hutton's mounted in
fantry round by our left, and Ian
Hamilton with Broadwood and Gordon's
cavalry brigade round by our right.
Both columns met great opposition.
About in the afternoon, | saw two
of Hamilton's infantry battalions ad-
vancing to what appeared to be the
key OF the enemys defence on their left
flank. This was almost gained before
dark and ordered the force to bivouac
on the ground they won. Pole-Carew,
with his division, occupied our center.
He gradually advanced SO as to support
Ian Hamilton, and when / left the field
he was on the line held by the enemy's
outposts this morning. l hurried back
to get news of Methuen's movement. On
hearing that the Free Staters had taken
advantage of our crossing the Naal to
interrupt our line of communication
sent Kitchener with such troops as
| could then spare to Vredefort with or.
ders to push south and communicate
with Methuen who knew had a very
compact force in the vicinity Of He'll
brun. also despatched special mes
senger to Methuen instructing him to
push on at full speed to the main line OF
The railway. These two officers met at
Vredefort road station on"the evening
of June 10. They marched yesterday
to Rhenoster river, where Methuen
gained complete victory over DeWet
af
scattered his troops in all directions.
lie and Kitchener marched today to-
ward Kroonstad. Her majesty's gov
ernment need have no apprehension as
to the security of the army in South
Africa. The enemy gained a slight sue
cess, which was unfortunate, but which
will be remedied very shortly. 1t will
not take long to repair the damage done
to the railway. As these diversions are
all in existence, am now able to hold
the line between this and Rhenoster in
strength. Methuen will arrange to
guard it onward as he advances. Hun.
ter should be at Poatchefstrom today.
He will then move on to johannesburg.
We have communicated with Butler
who will no doubt soon make the pres
ence of his force in the field felt. Our
losses Yesterday were not, l trust, seri-
Gus, but deplore the death OF that gal
liant soldier, the Earl of Airlie. The
only other casualties reported asyet are:
Seventeenth Lancers, Major Hon. Lion
el .Fortesque and Lieutenant Hon. G.
Cavendish, both killed"
BULLER'S TRIUMPHANT MARCH.
London, June ia dispatch from
Joubert's farm, under date of today, an
nounces the continuation OF Buffers
successful march, the occupation of
volksrust without opposition and the
capture of u number of prisoners while
the Boer casualties are reported to have
been very heavy.
BRITISH CASUALTIES.
London, June l3.-The following dis.
patch was received at the war office
from Roberts: "Katsbosch, June 18th,
In yesterdays engagement Methuen had
one killed, and 1S wounded. Among
the latter is Lieutenant Cearle, of the
18th battalion of Yeomanry. On June
7th the Derbyshire militia lost 26 killed,
and 1O4 wounded, all of whom were In
the Yeomanry hospital, which was cap
tured by the Beers and re-taken by
Methuen."