The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-03
THE BOERS' WORK.
Lord Roberts Says They 0utwilted
Broadwood Easily and Well.
AMERICAN COMMANDED Beers.
Great BOer Activity Reported All Along
the Vaal River.
HEAVY FIGHTING AROUND MAFEklNG,
BrOadwood's Loss Was $50 and All His
Bag and Baggage.
GEN. CRONJE'S COMMAND TO ST. HELENA
MIR. Davis VIII Take the Platform on
Behalf of the south African
Heroes at Once.
BrOadwood's Loss Was $50 and All His
Bag and Baggage.
GEN. CROyJE'S COMMAND 70 ST. HELEN

London, April 2.-Ine war ONCE reports
that Colonel Broadwood lost seven guns
and all his baggage in the ambush laid
for him by the Beers on Saturday. The
casualties numbered $50.
The war office has received the follow
ing dispatch from Lord Roberts dated
Bloemfontein, April /:
II received news late yesterday evening
from Colonel Brondwood, who was a.
Thabanchu, thirty-eight miles east of
here. that information had reached him
that the enemy was approaching in two
forces from the north and east. He stated
that IL the report proved true he would
retire towards the water works, seven
teen miles nearer Bloemfontein, where we
have had detachment Of mounted in
fantry for the protection of the works
"Bruadwood was told in reply that the
Niuth division, with Martyrs mounted
infantry, will march at daylight to sup
mort him and that Il h. considers it necs-
sary would retire from the water WORKS.
He moved there during the night and DIV
ouacked. At dawn today he was snelea
by the enemy who attacked on three
s des. He dispatched two horse artillery
batteries
fonteln, covering some of them wlIh MS
cavalry.
Some Twelve miles from the water
works the road crosses a deep nullah or
spruit. in which during the night force
OF Beers had concealed themselves so
well we're they hidden that our leading
scouts passed over the drift witaout dis
covering them and it was not until the
wagons and guns were entering the drlie
That the Beers showed themselves ana
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 gal
loped daway, covered by Roberts, horse,
which suffered heavily.
MEANWHILE Lieutenant Chester Mas
ters of Demington's scouts, found pas
sage across the spruit unoccupied by the
enemy by which the remainder of Broad
woods force crossed. They reformed
with great steadiness, notwithstanding all
that had previously occurred.
"Broadwood's report which has Juss
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 including 200
missing.
ION hearing this morning thai Broad
wood was hard pressed ordered General
French, with two remaining cavalry bril-
gades, to follow in support OF the Ninth
division. The latter after a magnificent
march arrived on the scene of action
shortly after p NJ
| "Broadwoods force consisted of the
Royal Household cavalry, the Tenth Hus-
sars. Q and U batteries of the Royal Horse
artillery and Pitchers battalion OF mount
ed infantry
THE strength OF the enesny is eHl-
mated at from 5000 to 10000 with guns,
The number of which is not yet reported.
The loss of the guns was attended by
incidents Of special herosm. The lead
ing battery was so near the Beers ambush
in the river bed that the latter said: 1T
is useless your attempting to advance
Throw down your arms.
THE sergeant OF the battery. fearing
! the other battery would misunderstood
Z the hlndranee. rushed through the convoy
and warned his comrades. enabling the
rearmost battery to save a portion OF the
guns which came into action later.
Life Guardsmen and gunner got
gun out and started UP tremendous fire
and four others were saved by the men
dragging them of after their horses had
& been shot"
/ The war office has received another dis
patch from Lord Roberts dated Bloemfon-
TEN. Sunday, April /, in which after re-
ferrins TO his previous telegram he gives
a partial list OF the missing British off
GERS. OF 20" battery four officers were
wounded. two of whom are missing. one
gunner was killed and forty on-comlnis
stoned officers and men are wounded or
missing.
Lord Roberts then continues: The two
cavalry regiments did not suffer so much
4 report has just come in that the enemy
has retired toward Ladybrsnd. leaving
twelve wounded officers and some seventy
men at the water works.
eve are now sending an ambulance for
them"
il will be noticed in the foregoing Lord
Roberts says nothing In regard to the
British guns being recaptured.