Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-03
They Lose Seven Guns and
Three Hundred and Fifty Men.
LORD ROBERTS ADMITS IT
Tho Wiley Doors Resort to their Old Tricks
and tho Advance Guard of tho Army
Marching on Pretoria is Taken ina
Germnn-Amorican Was in Command of
!. the victors Colonel Plumer's nIafolsing
Relief Party Again Compelled TO Retro
Boer Activity.

London, April $3.50 a. m.-The
latest news from the front adds little
to the public knowledge OF the convoy
disaster. No credence is given to re-
ports that the Beers numbered be-
tween eight and ten thousand men,
The general belief is that there could
not have been more than half that
number, but the mere fact that even
so many as half could have been col
lected so near headquarters without
the knowledge of the British command
ers provokes much uneasy criticism.
The disaster is regarded as direct
result of the inability of General
French to cut off the commando Of
General Olivier and the other COM
Orange river.
Little news has arrived from other
points. Kenhardt was formally re- &C.
cuped Saturday The report that the
Beers are massing in the vicinity of
Taunga and Klipdam is confirmed.
Lord Nfethuen's difficulties are ap-
parcntly increasing. He has Boer
hangers or guerilla bands on three sides
of him, and he will be obliged to watch
carefully his communications with
Orange river.
THE NEWS IN DETAIL.
London. April 2.-12:50 D. m.-The
War Office reports that Colonel Broad
wood lost seven guns and oil his bag
gage in the ambush laid for him by
the Beers on Sunday. The casualties
numbered $50.
The War Office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts,
dated Bloemfonteln, April 1:
~ received news late yesterday after
noon from Colonel Broadwood, who was
at Thaba Menu. 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 If the report
proved true he would retire towards
the water-worls. seventeen miles near
er Bloemfontein, where We had a de-
tachment of mounted infantry for the
protection OF the works.
"Broadwood was told in reply that
the Ninth Division with Martyrs
mounted infantry, will march at day
light to-day to support him, and that
If he considered 1t necessary he should
retire from the water-worlSs 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 dispatched two Horse
Artillery batteries and his baggage to-
ward Bloemfontein, covering some of
them with his cavalry.
IN A TRAP.
Some two miles from the water
works the road crosses q deep nullah
or spruit, In which during the night
force OF Beers had concealed them
selves. So we'll were they hidden that
our leading scouts passed over the drift
without discovering them, and 1t 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 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.
Meanwhile lieutenant Chestermas-
tiers. of Remingtons Scouts, found q
passage across the spruit unoccupled
by the enemy, by which the remainder
of Broadwood's force crossed. They
reformed with great steadiness, not
understanding all that had previously
occurred.
CONFIRMATION.
"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 esti-
mates all his casualties at about $780,
+ including IUU missing.
"On hearing this morning that Broad
wood was hard pressed, / immediately
'ordered General French, with two re-
naming cavalry brigades, to follow in
: support of the Ninth Division The lat
fter, after magnificent march. arrived
Ion the scene OF action shortly after Q
p. m.
"Broadwood's force consisted of the
Royal Household Cavalry, the Tenth
Huzzars, two batteries OF the Royal
Horse Artillery and Pitchers battalion
OF mounted infantry.
1.-THE strength of the enemy is esti-
mated at from 5000 to 10000, with guns
the number of which is not yet report
ed.''
A SECOND REPORT.
London, April (I:55 p. m.)-The War
Office has received another dispatch
from Lord Roberts. dated at Bioemz
fontein, Sunday. April I. S:15 p. m, in
which, after referring to his previous
telegram, he gives q partial list OF the
missing British officers. or &c" Bat
@tery four officers were wounded, two OF
WHOM are missing. One gunner was
killed and forty non-commissioned Off
GERS and men are wounded or missing.
Lord Roberts then continues:
go Battery are all missing except
. Major Taylor and a sergeant major.
The two cavalry regiments did not suf-
y fer much.
a "a report has Just come in that the
enemy has retired towards Ladyprand,
+. 10 to- Ia u