Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-04-06
TRAPPED BY THE BOERS.
BRITISH TROOPS WAYLAID EAST
OF RLOEMFONTEIN.
Colonel Broad s O od's Command Near
Iy Annihflated by the Am bus AIDED
Boers-Seven Gums and All His
Baggage Fall Into the H Hands of the
Enemy-Only Two Men of One Bat
terry Saved.

public knowledge of the convoy disas-
ter. No credence is given to reports
that the Beers numbered between 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 collected so near head
quarters without the knowledge of the
British commanders provokes much
uneasy criticism.
The disaster is regarded as a direct
result of the inability of General
! French to cut off the commando of
General olivier and the other comman-
ders when escaping from the Orange
river.
| Little news has arrived from other
points. Kenhardt was formally re-
occupied Saturday. The report that
| the Beers are massing in the vicinity
of Taunga and Klpdam is confirmed.
| Lord Methuens difficulties are appa-
rently increasing. He has Boer laagers
or guerrilla bands on three sides of him
and he will be obliged to watch care
fully his communications with Orange
| river.
London, April 2-12:5O p. m.-The War
| Office reports that Colonel Broadwood
lost seven guns and all his baggage in
the ambush laid for him by the Beers
on Saturday. The casualties numbered
$780,
The War Office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts,
n of for al Arr 1Sf
ceived news late yesterday afternoon
from Colonel Broadwood, who was at
Thaba 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 proved true he
would retire towards the water works,
seventeen miles nearer BlOemfontein,
where we had d detachment 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 considers it necessary 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 attacked on
three sides. He Immediately dispatch
ed two horse artillery batteries and his
baggage towards Bloc n1fontein, cover
ing some of them with his cavalry.
Some two miles from the water
works the road crosses a deep nullah
or spruit, in which, during the night
q force of Beers had concealed them
selves. So Well were they hidden that
our leading scouts passed over the drift
without discovering them, and it was
not until the wagons and guns were en-
tering the drift that the Beers showed
themselves and opened fire. Many of
the drivers of the artillery horses were
Immediately shot down at short range
and several of the guns were captured.
The remainder ga1loped away, covered
by Roberts Horse, which suffered
heavily
Meanwhile Lieutenant Chestermas-
ters, of Riningtons Scouts, found a
passage across the spruit unoccupied
by the enemy, by which the remainder
of Broadwood's force crossed. They
reformed with great steadiness, not
withstanding all that had previously
occurred.
"BroadWood report which has just
reached me, and which contains no de-
tails, stated that he had lost seven guns
and all his baggage. He estimated all
his casualties at about $50, including 200
missing.
'On hearing this morning that Broad
wood was hard presse I Immediately
ordered General French, with two re-
naming cavalry brigades, to follow in
support of the Ninth Division. The
latter, after a magnificent march, ar
rived on the scene of action shortly af-
ter p. m.
'rBroadwood's force consisted of the
Royal Household Cavalry, the Tenth
Hussars, two batteries of the Royal
Horse Artillery and Pitchers Battalion
of Mounted Infantry.
'The strength Of the enemy is esti-
mated at from 5000 to TO- 900, with guns,
the number of which is not yet report
ed"
4:55 D. m.-The War Office has re-
ceived another dispatch from Lord Rob-
erts, dated at BloemfCntein, Sunday,
April 1st, 8:15 p. m, in which, after re-
ferring to his previous telegram, he
gives a partial lfss of the missing Brit
ish officers. Of . Battery four officers
were wounded, two of whom are miss
ing. One gunner was killed and forty
non-commissioned off GERS and men are
wounded or missing Lord Roberts
then continues:
% Battery all are missing except
Major Taylor and q sergeant major.
The two cavalry regiments did not suf-
fer so much. A report has just come
III Inat the enemy ndd retired towards
Ladybrand, leaving twelve wounded
officers and some seventy men at the
water works. We are now sending an
ambulance for them"
It will be 1aoticed that in the fore
going advices Lord Roberts says moth
ing in regard to the British guns being
recaptured.
A special dispatch from Bloemfon-
tein, dated to-day, says: The loss of
the guns was attended by incidents of
splendid heroism. The leading battery
was so near the Beers ambuscaded in
the river bed II lat the latter said: 1t
is useless your attempting to advance.
Throw down yo ur arms
THE sergeant of the battery, fearing
the other bate ~ would misunderstood
the hindrances rushed through the con-
voy and warne d his com rades, enabling
the rearmost battery to save a portion
of the guns, which came into action
later.
Life GuarT 4smeH and a gunner got a.
gun out und er a trement lous fire and
four others were. saved by the men
dragging the IN off after their horses
49, e1,<