The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-15
BULLER BEATS Beers
BADLY At BICCARSBERC
Turns the Flank of the TranSVaaIerS and CAPTURES
Their Position in Northern Natal.
Early Occupation Of Town of Dundee by the Onward Press
ing British Is Expected.

London, May 10, 3:45 a. m.-General
Butler has turned the Biggarsberg po-
sition of the Beers in northern Natal
by bold movement. The Beers had
evacuated Helpmaakar. but were max
ing a stanI Monday evening at Bles-
koplaagte, seven miles from Dundee.
The corps on the spot regarded this
as rear guard action intended to COW
er the retreat of the army.
At the same time General Hildyard
took Innoba, and it is reported that the
Beers withdrew in disorder. General
Butler, who seems to have been en-
ploying his full strength, is expected
to push on. His first marches were
forty miles in three days. He is thus
breaking into British territory which
the Transvaalers have administered for
six months as though it were part of
the republic, holding courts and levy
ing taxes His success, therefore, has
political as well as military conse-
quences.
A special dispatch from Stone Hill
farm, Natal, dated today, says:
General Buffers advance COM
menced Thursday, when he left Lady
smith in strength. Within two miles
of Helpmaakar the Beers opened a
heavy artillery fire and the British
guns replied, while a portion of Bull
ler's troops worked round the BOer
TANKS.
THE British attack was pressed
home Sunday. Bethune on the right
outfanked the Beers, whose splendid
defensive positions on the Biggarsberg
were practically taken.
General RUIIer'S march subsequent
to the attack was carried out without
hitch. The British are still push
ing on"
Expect to Occupy Dundee.
A dispatch received by the Associ-
ated Press from PietermaritZburg Ma
tai, timed 1905 p. m. today, brought
the first intimatiOn of the success at
tanned by General Butler. The sender
of this dispatch evidently assumed
that news of the conflict had been re-
ceived direct from the scene of hostili-
ties, for he merely said;
General Buffers official telegram
notifying of his success at the Biggars-
berg, received here an hour ago, has
given keen satisfaction. 1t is conf
IDENTIFY anticipated that Dundee viii be
occupied by the British today. The
residents of the north country are de-
lighted, as forcing the BiggaJsbe
means that they will speedily be en-
abled to return to their homes.
Another dispatch to the Associated
Press, dated Stone Hill farm at 500
o'clock this morning, says:
After four days march eastward at
the foot Of the Biggarsberg ridges, IN
the direction of Helpn.aakar, which
was occupied by the federals, the Sec
ond brigade Sunday led the attack.
IL Trrr ha ROnTCf
center and Bethune's cavalry advanced
on their extreme right. In the direction
of Pomeroy a small party of burghers
occupied a ridge overlooking Help
maakar, but they did not wait for the
assault.
Recent British scouting in the direc-
ton of the Dundee has shown that the
federaIs were in great force on the
Biggarsberg. So apparently, General
| Butler concluded it was necessary to
clear them from his rear Before COM
| mencing a movement in the direction
of the Drakensburg range. If that is
his plan. he has possibly divided his
/ forces, sending one column eastward
/ to threaten Vryheid and Utrecht and
! take LaingSnek in the rear, while a
westbOund column attempts to form a
! junction with the forces of Lord Rob
erts. via the Harrismith railroad. Tele-
grams from Kroonstad indicate that
! General French's cavalry is keeping IN
| touch with the Beers, but perhaps Lord
Roberts will be compelled to order a
| brief halt of his main body in order 10
| allow the troops TO recupeTate after the
exhausting marches of the past week.
| All the correspondents agree that to
] all intents and purposes the Free stat
ers have severed their military alliance
with the Transvaal, though scattered
! bodies. they say. will possibly hold out
: here and there for some time.
| At the same time a dispatch from
| Cape Town, dated today. says a procla-
nation will be published this week an
| nexing the Orange Free State. 1t Is
/ also said that General Botha. the COM
! mander in chief of the BOer forces
! threatens to resign if any preparations
are made for the wanton destruction OF
] property.