The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-12
FOUGHT ALL DAY SATURDAY.
bOERS MADE HEROIC STAND BUT
HAD A WEAK CENTER.

the Beers and Warned Them
Against It-TotnI British Casualties
to Date Are 1867.
Driefontein, March I.-All of yesterday
was occupied in fighting. The Beers main
tained a stubborn rear guard action along
a running front of twelve miles on a very
difficult ground The British were ad-
vancing in three columns
Gen. Tucker, to the southwark, occupied
Petrusberg unopposed Gen. Kelly Kenny,
after following the river bank, moved in
the direction of Abraham 5 Krsal.
AT Driefontein about eight miles south
of Abrahams Kraal, the Beers were found
posted in considerable strength On .he
ridges connecting several kopjes where
they had mounted guns.
The action began at o'clock in he
morning with an artillery duel. Gen.
French's cavalry and Gen Porter's brig
ade supported our guns. The Boer artillery
was accurately handled and the British
cavalry found the task harder than they
had expected.
Gen. Broadwood With dogged persever-
ance, moved altogether six miles south
ward, trying to find a means to get
around, but the Beers followed behind rs-
ing ground and even attempted to out
flank chem.
Ah6dli W llllS lIie oIAtH uiNlSlON OIL lilI9HlfN,
advancing on the Boer left, slowly forced
the enemy to retire. Had the infantry
been able to move faster, The Beers would
have been enVelOped.
The last shot was fired at 7:30 u. M
This morning not a Boer was to be seen
The prisoners belonged 90 President Kru-
gers own commando.
Beers Gave Much Trouble.
London, March ia dispatch to the
ux-a I9r1,
fontein, March II, 7:15 a. m; says:
The enemy opposed us throughout yes
terdays march, and from their intimate
knowledge Of the country, gave US consid-
cradle trouble. Owing, however, to the
admirable conduct of the troops, the en-
envy were unable to prevent US reaching
our destination
The brunt of the fighting fell on Gen.
kelly-Kennys division, two battalions of
which, the Welsh and Essex turned the
Boers out of two strong positions at the
point of the bayonet"
Gen. Roberts Casualties.
A dispatch 10 the war office from Lord
Roberts, dated Driefontein, March II, 9:55
a. M, says:
q cannot get the precise number of cas-
ualties before [ march, but win communal
cate it as soon as possible. The Beers
suffered heavily, 102 of their dead being
left on the ground. We captured about
twenty prisoners.
Among the killed are Capt Eustace of
the Bluffs, Capt. Lomax of the Welsh reg
iment, and Mr. McKartie, a retired Indian
civilian attached to Kitchener's Horse.
Among the wounded are: Bluffs, Col.
Hickson, leg, severe; Lieut.. Ronald.
Welsh regiment, Lieuts. Torkington,
Pope Wimberly.
Essex regiment, Capt Broadwocd
Field Artillery. Lieut. Devenish.
Medical corps, Maj Waite, Lieut.
Berne.
Australian artillery, Col Umphely, alb
domen, dangerous"
Abuse of White Flag.
The war office has received the follow
ing advices from lord Roberts, dated
Driefonte.n, Sunday, March II, 9:45 a. m:
The following telegram has been ad-
dressed by me 10 their honors, the state
Presidents of the Orange Free State and
the South African Republic:
Another instance having occurred of
gross abuse of the white flag and of the
signal of ho.6ing mp hands in taken of
surrender, it is my duty to inform you,
if such abuse occurs again, l shall most
reluctantly be compelled to order my
troops 10 disregard the white flag entirely.
This instance occurred on kopje
east of Dnefoptein farm yesterday even
ing and was witnessed by several of my
own staff officers as wen as by myself.
anu ItS ltA III i4iI NCbAAN"hS III sSN NSie'
of my olicers and men.
"a large quantity of explosive bullets
Cf three different kinds was found in
Commandant Cronie's laager, and this
has been The case after every engage
ment with your honors' trOc-ss. Such
breaches Of the recognized usages of war
and of The Geneva convention are dis
grace to any civilized power. \ copy Of
this te.egT1m has been sent to my gov
ernment, with the request that it may he
communicated TO all neutral Powers
Opposition Not Expected.
London March p. AS a. m.-The war
office maps show a group of kopjes end
a large water pan at Driefontein, a posi-
tion which has apparently considerable
defensive advantages.
The Beers. who Fetreated 10 Abraham 5
krna from Poplar Grove, must have NOV
ell southwark, or else a fresh force must
have come from Bloemfontein, or the Or
ange river.
The opposition met at Driefontein was
somewhat unexpected the idea being that
if there was any resistance, il would be
at Petrusborg. Prohting by their expert
ence. the Beers were prepared for Brit
ish fankng movement. but in extending
their position. in order to avoid being out
nanked they probably weakened their
center. thus making it possible for the
British infantry to carry this with bay
Onet charge.
Lord Roberts dgnided protest against
the abuse of the white nag Is regarded as
the most important fact of the situation.
According to the accounts supplied by the
correspondents. the instance appears TO
have been most fragrant and there is no
doubt that Lord Roberts will carry his
threat into execution.
At Other Points.
The dispatch from Durham, as to the en-
gagement near Pomeroy, seems 10 explain
The Boer accounts of slSirmishing in the
Tlelpnak district and although Col.
Bethune's force numbered only a few
hundred, the news shows that the Beers
are in considerable numbers on the Big
garsberg.
There is no confirma tion OF the runors
of the raising of the siege Of MafelQing,
concerning whfch the grdyest anxiety con-
tinues 10 be- fat .s., HfffsH
The Brltish3 p6rtM casualties up to
This date are as follows; Kflled, 2.418:
wounded, s.747; died of disease. 1,029; miss
ing 4S3. total, 1851