The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-07-19
ARE KEEPING IT Up.
Beers Fighting Ten Miles From Pre-
Pretoria,
THREATENING THE CAPITAL NOW
Lord Roberts is Forced to neet Blows
From Four Directions - Trying 10
Keep Railways Open.


cgraph has received the following dis
patch from South Africa:
Fridays fighting near Pretoria was
of a serious character. II Is believed
that parts of the Boer plan was an at
tempt to make an attack On the out
skirts Of Preoria.
Three commanders-those Of Della
rey. Erasmus and Miwers--with six
guns, took up position during the pre-
vious night facing the lesser kopjes
five miles from the Wonderboom
Range, north of Pretoria, but exten.
ding west to Ewart Koppies. At day
break yesterday C Squadron OF the
Seventh Dragon Guards advanced
from the regiments camp near Doom.
port. The scouting regiment had a
long line to watch. Captain Cholmly's
troop led.
When three miles out, nearing
farm, the British saw score OF kha-
ki-clad and helmeted men. One OF
these showed a flag which he after
ward dropped This became the Boer
signal fer fusilade at range OF 100
to 200 yards on the front, rear and
fianks of the dragooIs. who had suppo
sed the burghers to be the Fourteenth
HussarS.
Horses and men fell. Captain Cholm-
ly. though suffering from two flesh
wounds, with his clothes and saddle
riddled with bullets and his horse hit,
made a de:ou-, and halting his men
ani firing. regained the outpost with
eight troopers.
From their camp the dragons ad-
varced again and two guns shelled the
poers. checking them; but later, ow-
ing to the action breaking out further
west the whole OF the outpost line re-
tired to the main range OF hills.
It seems that while the dragons
fight was proceeding the Beers attack
ed the cutposts IS miles west OF Pre-
toria. held .by the Lincolnshire Regl-
ment. Scots Greys and a battery sec
ton of two guns The Beers finding
coed cover behind rocks and amid
me thick bush, surrounded and oVer>
whelmed three companies OF the Lin
colnshires and squadron OF the
Scots Greys. who strove to-. save the
guns. The cannons were both lost.
Colonel Robert, of the Lincolnshire
Regiment. was wounded in the arm.
The force surrendered when cut OIL
and it was found that the guns could
not be brought back. Some horses or
the Scots Greys got loose and escaped
to Pretoria. DetacEmentS OF the men
fought on until night, when they es-
capped.
Reinforcements arrived at O'Clock
the next afternoon, but 1t was then
too late to T.tack the Beers. A Major
OF the Scots Greys was taken prisoner
but escaped.
The Beers reappeared from kopJes
northeast of Durdepcort, 10 miles from
Pretoria. British guns opened fire and
several companies of the Warwick
shire Regiment and part Of Dicksons
Cavalry attacked. An action at long
range proceeded for hours. The in
:antry also engaged and the fighting
continues.
Cape Town, BY Cable.--Boer reports
of the fight at Nitrals neck place the
British loss at 200.
British prisoners who have escaped
to Kroonstad report that General De
Wet, with a force of 10000 men, who
were expelled from Bethlehem by Gen.
erals Clements and Paget, has taken
up a strong position Is miles to the
southwark to the hills around Retelf
mex. President Steyn is reported to
be with this army.
Another case Of the Beers wearing
khaki is reported to have happened at
Lindley June 26, when they surprised
a picket Of 25 men Of the YHkshire
Light Infantry. 16 of whom were kill
ed or wounded.