Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-02
A BRITISH DISASTER
The Willy Beers Surprise a Large
British Force ar Capture
Sew. Guns.
BRITISH CASUALTIES ARE $50
Two Forces of Beers Numbering 10000
Men Are Marching On Bloemfontein-
All the Baggage Of British
Division Taken.

London, April 2.-The war Office re-
ceived the following from Lord Roberts,
dated Bloemfontein, April /: II re-
ceived news late yesterday evening
from Colonel Broadwood, who was at
Thaban .Ch,l. thirty eight In lies east of
here, thS INFORMATION reached him
that the enemy was approaching in two
forces from the north and the east. He
stated that if the report proved true he
would retire toward the water works
seventeen miles nearer Bloemfontein,
where we had a detachment of mounted
infantry for the protection Of the works.
Braadwood was told in reply that the
9th division, with Martyrs mounted in
fantry, will march at daylight to-day to
support him, and if he considers it nee
essary 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 at
tackled him on three sides. He immedi-
ately dispatched two horse artillery bat
teries and his baggage toward Bloem-
fontein covering some of them with his
cavalry. Some two miles from the wa
ter works road he crossed a deep mullah
or spruit, in which during the night a
force of Beers concealed themselves. So
we'll were they hidden that our leading
scouts passed over the drift without dis
covering them, and it was not until the
u ont f1a
drift that the Beers showed themselves
and opened fire. Many drivers of the
artillery horses were Immediately shot
down at short range and several guns
captured. The remainder galloped away,
covered by Roberts horse, which suf-
fered heavily.
A GREAT DISASTER.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Chestermas-
ters, of the Remingtons scouts, found
the passage across the spruit unoccu-
pied by the enemy, by which the re-
] mainder of Broadwood's force crossed
! They reformed with great steadiness,
notwithstanding all that had previously
occurred. Broadwoods report, which
just reached me, and which contains no
details, stated that he lost seven guns
and all his baggage. He estimates all
casualties at about $50, including 200
missing. on hearing this morning that
Broadwood was hard pressed immedi-
ately ordered General French, with two
remaining cavalry brigades, to follow
in support of the ninth division. The
latter, after magnificent march, ar
rived on the scene Of action shortly aft
er p. m. Broadwood's fnrce consisted
of the Royal Household cavalry, 10th
Hussars, G and U batteries, Royal
Horse artillery and Pitchers battalion
of mounted infantry. The strength of
the enemy Is estimated at from 5000 to
10000, with guns, the number of which
is not yet reported.
BOERS ACTIVE.
Kimberley, April There is great
Boer activity along the Vaal river.
About 5000 burghers are assembled at
various points between Fourteen
Streams and Christiana. About 700 men
are occupying the Witrand, north Of
Klipdam, and 400 men are in laager at
Boetsap.
THE CASUALTIES.
London, April 2, 4:55 p. m.-The war
office received another dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfontein,
April /, S:15 p. M, in which he gives
partial list of the missing British Off
GERS. OF 20" battery four officers were
wounded, two of whom are missing;
one gunner was killed. forty non-com-
missioned officers and men are wounded
or missing.
THE BOERS RETIRE.
Lord Roberts continues "In 'U' bat
terry all are missing except Major Tay-
lor and Sergeant Major. The two caval-
ry regiments did not suffer so much. A
report has just come in that the enemy
retired toward Ladybrand, leaving
twelve wounded officers and some sew
enty men at the water works. We are
sending an ambulance for them"
1t will be noticed that Roberts says
nothing regarding the British guns be-