The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-13
ROBERTS LOSES zoo MEN.
BOgRS CAPTURE A BRITISH CARR.
SON EAST or PRETORIA.

| Lasts All nay and Casualties Are Heavy
-simsltaaeoss Attack North Of Pretoria
Drives British Outpssts Back-Loss There.
sp.eia, CaSs Despatch 10 THE SUN.
LONDON. July i2.-The War once has re-
ceived the following from Gen. Roberts:
PRETORIA. July i2.-The enemy. having
failed In an attempt to get round our right and
in our rear. made q determined attack on our
right flank yesterday. l regret to say they
succeeded IN capturing Nitrals Mex, garri-
sonsd by . squadron OF the Scots Crews. two
guns Of The Royal Horse Artillery and Ave COM
paniss Of the Lincolnshire Regiment
The enemy In superior number attacked at
dawn. and. selling the hills which commanded
the Mex. brought Q heavy converging fire
upon the small garrison. Nitrals Mex Is about
eighteen miles from here and near where the
road crosses the Crocodile River. It was held
BY US In order to maintain road and telegraphic
communication with Rustenburs.
The fighting lasted more or less throughout
the day. Immediately on receiving informa-
ton early In the morning Of the enemy's
strength I despatched reinforcement from
here under Col. Godfrey. Before they reached
the spot, however. the garrison was over
powered.
THE two guns and the greater portion OF the
Scots Greys were captured. owing to their
horses being shot. and also about ninety Of the
Linoolnshires. A list Of the casualties has not
yet been received. but l fear they we're heavy.
simultaneously an attack was made on our
outposts near Derdedorp. northward Of the
town. in which the Seventh Dragon Guards
were engaged. The regiment. which was
handled with considerable skill by Lieut.. Col.
on his supports, We would probably have SUI
fered slight loss had not one troop mistaken
some Beers in the bushes for ours.
Smith Dorrien had q successful eng gemsnt
with tho enemy yesterday afternoon near
Krugersdorp. innicting heavy loss.
Butler reports that the Beers who we're de-
ohVytho tuo iSivoy hVoA nAu hto0i wCTC
driven of yesterday after q short sction.
Hart reports from Heidelberg that the
surrenderlng OF arms and ammunition continues
in that district"
This defeat is an UNPLEASANT check to the
recently growing optimism regarding the end
Of the war In South Africa. The correspondents
have been for days predicting the end.
declaring that Gen. De Wet and Presi-
dent Steyn were cornersd. and that their
capture or surrender was imminent.
The occupation Of Bethlehem by the
British seemed to justify this view. and 1t
was believed that Commandant-Genera Botha
and the Transvaal were prepared to accept the
inevitable a. soon ss the Free State Beers col
lapsed. Gen. Boths's operations have
evidently. however. been developing over
a wide area. leading to the belief that he
Is perhaps aiming to make good the threat
to ~recapture Pretoria. At any rate the Boer
activity promises to make considerable trouble
for Gen. Roberts, and their success at Nitrsl's
Mex will doubtless give heart to the fighting
burghsrs and lead them to ~prolong the strug-
gle.
II 10 concurrently reported from Greyliugstad
that Gen. Clery found it necessary to retire to
that place from vlakfontein owing to the great
activity OF the Beers in destroying the railway
and telegraphs between Greylingstad and
Standerton. The newspapers here express
considerable disappointment over the turn
affairs have taken.