Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-04-06
A WE'LL LAID TRAP.
Britons Walked Into 1t and Lost
Six Pieces of Artillery.
A Number of Soldiers In Charge OF tho
Big Guns Were Also Captured
An Ambush Near Bloem-
fontein-Cronje Sails
for Sc. Helena.


pies n cluster of hills won from the
Beers after a stiff fight Friday, in
which the British lost severn officers
and 100 men.
The Beers had been using these
kopjes as base for marauding bands
that have been beating up the coun-
try adjacent to Bloemfontein for sup
plies, driving off cattle and forcing
nonresident Free Staters into their
ranks again. The enemy must have
been in considerable force. as Lord
Roberts sent 5000 infantry and 1900
cavalry against them.
Bushman Kop April 2.-The British
force commanded by Col. Broadwood,
consisting of the Tenth Hussars,
household cavalry, two horse batteries
and force of mounted infantry under
Col. Pitcher, which had been garrison
ing Thaba Nchu, was obliged, in con-
sequence of the near approach of
large force of Beers, to leave ON FRI
day night.
Col. Broadwood marched to the
Bloemfontein waterworks, south of
the Modder, where he encamped. At
dawn Saturday the camp was shelled
by the enemy from n near point. Col.
Broadwood sent off n convoy with the
batteries, while the rest of the force
remained to act as rear guard.
The convoy arrived at n deep spruit,
where the Beers were concealed, and
the entire body walked into an ambush
and was captured, together with six
guns.
Pretoria, April 2.-President Kruger
says that the last expressed desire of
the late Gen. Joubert was that he
should be succeeded as commandant
/ general by Louis Botha.
| Maseru, Basutoland, April 2-Presi-
dent Steyn is reported to have gone
to Ladybrand to stir up the burghers
there to renewed resistance.
The Dutch who surrendered their
arms at Ladybrand are now suffering
/ seizures of their live stock.
! Great thing; are expected by the
Beers of the new commander-in-chief,
Gen. Botha, who has made his reputa-
ton wholly during the present cant
paign. Foreign officers serving with
the Beers have expressed surprise ut
his clever tactics.
London, April 3.-The latest news
from the front adds little to the public
knowledge of the convoy disaster. The
disaster is regarded as direct result
vi NhC mummy Va Otis w Cub
off the commando of Gen. Olivier and
the other commandos when escaping
from the Orange river.
The war Office has received n dis
patch from Lord Roberts in which he
gives partial list of the missing Brit
ish officers. OF 20" battery, four Off
GERS were wounded, two of whom are
missing. One gunner was killed and
AO non-nrrt1 N, csionar. nffiaat.c np1 r,,a1,
are wounded or missing.
The Bloemfontein correspondent of
the Daily Chronicle, describing the
loss of the convoy, says:
THE Beers opened with n murder
Gus fire. 1t was simply slaughter.
The Kaffir drivers of 1.-THE convoy ran
away, leaving their teams and it was
impossible for our men to hit the hid
den enemy.
Our gunners Fought bravely trying
to save the guns, but our people were
greatly hampered by the Kaffirs, who
ran hither and thither looking for
cover from the fearful fire that pour
ed in on all sides. Meanwhile the
enemy were hotly pressing Col. Broad
wood. whose mounted troops were
completely surrounded.
"The British showed magnificent
bravery. The opportune arrival of re-
inforcements saved Col. Broadwood
from annihilation. One hundred wag-
ons were lost through the cowardice
of the Kaffir drivers. 1t is reported
that two guns have been recaptured.
The whole force is retiring on Bloem-
fontein."
Cape Town, April 4.-Gen. Cronje
Col. Schiel and 1000 Boer prisoners
sailed for ST. Helena last night.
Two small parties of Beers escaped
from the Greenpoint track. One party
was traced to railway train, which
was stopped and searched near Cape
Town. The Beers jumped through
: one of the windows of the train an(
, got away.
: London, April 4.-No news has yet
been received of the expected battle
I between Gen. French and the Beers
, There is now burt a remote prospect o.
the reoapture of the guns. This, how
2 ever, is regarded as quite trifiing com
) pared with the political effects of th'
e disaster. AS the Bloeanfontein CORES
| pondent of the Times remarks, Com
mandant Olivier's strategy in re-occu
I pying Ladybrand and Thnba N'Ch,
: was bold and even brilliant. Most o
his force is composed of Free Staters
b and the advantage gained by Them will
!. have a disturbing effect ON the mint
: of the Free State population.
j The correspondent of the Times a
Lorenzo Marquee, telegraphing Tues
s day. says:
ut is reported here tihat all th
Rand mines closed down last Thurs
day British W-orl<mem and their coun
e trymen in other parts of the republi
: are being expelled wholesale from th
z Transvanl. On the other hand tlh
;. Beers are so dsmoraGzed that it
d impossible te induce many now o.
furlough to refurn TO tine 'front.'"
=. VIII spend 100000 "a Month.
A Washington, April 3.-Arrange
q ments have been made by the war ds
n partment for the transfer of $660,00
K, | ~ tD,a nn0 0On nrt.f-nDT-iafad for fh