Gilpin observer., 1900-04-05

Il received news late yesterday
evening from Colonel Broadwood, who
was at 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 If
the report proved true. he would retire
towards the water works, seventeen
miles nearer Bloemfontein, where we
have had detachment of mounted in
fantry for the protection of the works.
General Roberts gave orders that a
brigade of infantry should march at
daylight to-day to support him, and
that if he considers it necessary he
should retire from the water works.
He moved there during the night and
bivouacked. At dawn to-day he was
shelled 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 deep nullah,
or spruit, in which. during the night,
force of Beers had concealed them
selves. So well We're they hidden that
our leading scouts passed over the drift
without discovering them, and it 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.
nyx-hi inpIfnnnnt ('hpstnr.,np 9
ters of Remington's Scouts found n
passage across the spruit unoccupied
by t6e enemy, by which the remainder
Of Bfoadwood'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 POO missing.
''On hearing this morning that Broad
wood was hard pressed l 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
H. III.
'Broadwood's force consisted of the
Royal Household cavalry. the Tenth
Hussars, the Q and U batteries of the
Royal Horse artillery and Pitchers
battalion of mounted infantry.
The strength of the enemy is esti-
mated at from 5000 to 10000, with
guns. the number of which is not yet
reported"
Lord Methuen's difficulties are appar-
entity increasing. He has Boer laagers
or guerrilla bands on three sides of
him. and he will be obliged to watch
carefully his communication with
Orange river. The activity of strong
Boer force in the vicinity of Paarde-
berg has already interrupted direct
communication between Lord Roberts
and Kimberley. But for the over
whelming numbers at the disposal of
Lord Roberts, the situation would Just
ly cause Great Britain greater anxiety.
AS ii is, the nation is beginning to real
izc from the nature of the guerrilla
warfare that 1t is liable to embarrass
the future movements of the British
troops.
LadySmith, April 2.-The Beers are
becoming daringly bold and are ap-
preaching within sight of Ladysmith.
while Buffers army lies apparently mo-
tionless. After the relief of Ladysmith
the Beers fell 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 IL
strong column came within eleven miles
of the town on Sunday. Their patrols
scour the country on all sides.
London. April "A special dispatch
from Bloemfontein this morning re-
ports that the water supply. of the
place has been cut of. This is the nat
ural sequence of the Boer success at
the water works.
TO lose guns has always been consid-
cred in military circles IL disgrace. In
the present war the British have been
particularly unfortunate in this re-
spect, their losses in guns having been
heavier than in any similar period of
their military history since the Ameri-
can Revolution.
The losses of guns up to date are:
Nicholson's Mex. four; Stormberg, two:
Colenso, ten; near Bloemfontein, sew
en-; total. twenty-threc. In exchange
they have captured only seven guns,
five taken with General Cronie at
i'aardeberg and two surrendered In the
Free State. This is not n very salts.
factory exchange for n great military
power to make.
What makes this loss of men and
guns more unpalatahlc to Englishmen
IL the evident fact that IL was due to
lack of prccaution such as any officer
Is naturally expected to take. The
scouts moving in advance of Colonel
Eroadwood's convoy ana the guns did
not think that any danger could posi-
bly, lurk in front of them. and did not
search the banks of the Moalic spruit
rs they should have done. The lesson
of the first battle of Colenso. of the
Stormbcrg route and of half II dozen
other engagements had been forgotten.
II lS stated In Lord ROBBERS report that
the Beers Were 20 well hidden that the
leading British scouts passed over the
drift without discovering them.
nj.