The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-06

London, April 2. 3 p. m.-The war
office reports that Colonel adv
lost seven guns and all his baggage in
the ambush laid for him by the Beers
on Saturday. The casualties
$50.
The war office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts
dated Bloemfontein, April LIST: 81 re-
ceiyed news late yesterday afternoon
from Colonel BrOadwood, who was at
Thasa, N'Chu, thirty-eight miles east
of here, that information had reached
him that the enemy was approaching
in two forces, from the north and the
east. He stated if the report received
was true he would retire toward the
WateTWOrks. seventeen miles nearer
BlOea1fontein, where we had a detach-
ment Of mounted infantry for the pro-
lection OF the works. Broadwood was
tod an reply that the Ninth division.
With Martyrs mounted infantry, will
march at daylight today to support
am ana that If he considers it neces-
sary, he should retire from the water
works. He moved there during the
night n biyOuacked. At dawn TODAY
he was shelled by the enemy, who at
tackled on three sides. He immediately
dispatched W horse artillery batteries
and his baggage toward Bloemfontein.
covering some of them with his cav-
airy.
IN ANOTHER BOER TRAP.
Some two miles from the water
works the road crosses a deep nullah.
or spruit, in which during the night a
force of Beers had concealed them
selves. So we'll were they bidder hat
our leading scouts passed over the
drift without discovering them, and it
was not until the wagons and NUM-
tons were entering the drift that the
Beers showed themselves and opened
ire Many of the drivers of the artil-
lery horses were Immediately shot
dow at short range and several of the
guns were captured. The remainder
galloped away, covered by Roberts
horse, which suffered heavily.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Chestermas-
ters, of R~imington's scouts, found a
passage across the spruit unoccupied
by the enemy, by which the remainder
of BrOadwoOd's f orce crossed. They
reformed with great steadiness, not
w~ithStanding all that had previously
occurred.
"~BrOadwOOd's report, which has just
reached me, and which contains no de-
tails, stated that he had lost seven
gums and all his baggage. He estimates
all his casualties at about $50, including
200 missing.
"On hearing this morning that
BroadwOod was hard pressed L imme-
diately ordered General French with
two remaining cavalry brigades to fol-
low in support of the Ninth division.
The latter, after a magnificent march.
arrived on the scene of action shortly
after > o'clock D.. n.
"BrOadwoOd's force consisted of the
Royal Household Cavalry, the Tenth
HussaTs. two batteries of the Royal
Hnrcn ArtilInrx- on6 DilahnrrC hat
TALON of mounted infantry. The
strength of the enemy is estimated at
from 5000 to 10. 600, with guns. the num-
Der of which is not yet reported"
THE SURPRISE COMPLETE.
ASS o. m.-The war office has re-
ceived another dispatch from Lord
Robert dated at Bloemfontein Sun
day, April 1, SIS p. m. After referring
to his previous telegram, he gives a
partial list of the missing British Off
GERS: OF 90 battery, four officers are
wounded, two of whom are missing.
One gunner was killed and forty nom
commissioned officers N men are
wounded or missing. Lord Roberts
then continues:
In " battery all are missing ex-
sept Major Taylor and a sergeant ma
jor. The two cavalry regiments did not
suffer so much.
"A report has just come in that the
enemy has retired toward Ladybrand,
leaving twelve wounded officers and
some seventy men at the waterworks.
We are now sending an ambulance for
them"
1t will be noticed that in the forego-
ing advices Lord Roberts says nothing
in regard to the British guns being re-
captured.
4 special dispatch from Bloemfon-
TEN, dated today, says: THE loss of
the guns was attended by incidents of
splendid heroism. The leading battery
was so nea the Beers ambuscaded in
the river bed hat the latter said: 1t
is useless your attempting to advance.
Throw down your arms The Sergeant
of the battery, fearing the other bat
terry would misunderstood the hin
drance. rushed through the convoy and
warned his comrades, enabling the
rearmost battery to save a portion of
the guns which came into action later.
The Lifeguardsmen and a gunner
got a gun out under a tremendous fire
and four others were saved by the men
dragging them off after their horses
had been shot"
LONDON SHOCKED AT THE NEWS.
The rumors of the re-capture by the
British of the seven guns taken from
Colonel ~Broadwood's force, based on a
dispatch to The Chronicle from Bloem-
fontein. which, it is said, in all proba-
biIity is correct, fails to compensate
London for the severe shock expe-
rieaced from the h~umiliating defeat
sustained within a few miles of the
headquarters of the British army of
occupation. The public is painfully sur
prsed to learn, after all that has come
and gone. that British officers of high
position can still neglect precautions
which the veriest tyro might be ex-
pected to observe, and blunder into
traps which the observance of elemen-
tary military rules would have re-
vealed. There is no attempt here to
miuimize the Observation-Disclosures of the
whole affair. so far as the British are
concerned, or detract from the dex-
tenty of the Beers who were apparent
" commanded by General Dewet. The
tactics of the burghers were evidently
exoeIIentIv conceived and boldly car.
ried out, and unless the reinforcement:
sent by Lord Roberts have turned tn
tide and recaptured the prisoners Z