Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-03-06
BRITISH BUOYANT
General Gatacre Takes Stormberg
WithoutResistancean Thereby
Gains An Advantage,
SHOCKING SIGHTS OF WAR
The Beers Have Pretty Good Position
Four Miles From the British Front and
Are Intreuching In Readiness
for An Attack.

~S A~sASASAA~AS - ~SSS"~"~~"~
for An Attack. So
Sterkstroom, March 5.-General CAT
acre entered Stormberg unopposed to-
day. The Beers destroyed the railway
approaches. but the station is intact:
BRABANT BEAT THE BOERS.
Dordrecht, March 5.-General Bra.
bant engaged the Bocrs to-day with ad.
vantage. There was some smart fight.
ing this morning, the British losing five
or six men and capturing Boer fort
thus vastly improving their position
The Beers fought tenaciously, contest
ing every inch of ground, but ultimately
retreated suddenly carrying off their
guns and wagons. A mounted force
pursued them, but the result Is not yet
known. The British casualties during
the two days were twelve or fourteen
killed and thirty wounded. The Boer
losses are unknown. Throughout severe
fatigue the colonials have behaved
splendidly.
FROM GENERAL ROBERTS.
London, March 6.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts:
POSITION OF BRITISH ARMY.
"Osfontein, March 6-General Cat
acre occupied Stormberg yesterday. The
lines of railroad northwest will now be
repaired. General Clements is at Jou-
bert's siding, station beyond Coles
berg The duke of Marlborough, with
the Oxford company of imperial yeo-
many, left Cape Town for Nauwpoort.
General Butler reports that Natal is
now practically clear of the enemy, and
he cannot hear of any formed body of
them anywhere. The Beers left some
ambulances full Of their sick, from
which the mules have been taken for
transport service"
THE BOER POSITION.
Osfontein, March 5-The Boer posi-
tion has been fairly located about four
miles from the British front, extending
about eight miles. The Beers right
consists of high, long mountain on
the north side Of the river, which Cen
eral French shelled this morning. APP
parently the space between the noun
tain and the river has been intrenched.
South of the river the Boer lines cover
more ground A few days ago their left
rested on the high kopjes standing In
the middle of the plain. They have now
extended two miles further south, while
six small kopjes stand in the plain be-
tween the left and the center, forming
ridge, behind which the Beers move
unseen. The weakness of the whole po-
sition. however. is that it can easily be
turned in either direction.
FOUND SOME BOERS.
Ladysmith, March 3.-Three regi-
ments of cavalry accommodating north
ward to-day saw body Of Beers be-
hind Pepworth hill. Two long trains
ready to leave promptly moved before
the troops reached them. The Beers
blew up culvert behind them as they
went. The British pressed large body
Of Beers in the vicinity Of Pepworth.
The Beers opened heavy rifle fire. The
British field guns replied The British
did not press the attack and the Boer
fire ceased on the British retiring.
HORRORS OF WAR.
London, March 6.-The Beers in
northern Cape Colony are in full re-
treat to the Orange Free State. The
possession Of Stormberg puts General
Gatacre In railroad communication with
General Clements at Colesberg, for
though the Beers partially wrecked the
railroad, 1t Is understood 1t can be
quickly repaired, and thus the entrance
of additional British troops into the
Free State be greatly facilitated. The
position gained by General Brabant at
Dordrecht Is reported to be exceedingly
strong. According to Times corre-
spondent the Boer numbers alone en-
abled them to retreat from Dordrecht
practically unhindered. He also reports
that the Beers deliberately fired at
close range on stretcher party.
General Whites garrison has begun
to arrive at the Mooi river camp, and
will 60 further south. They are ema-
ciated and exhausted, and say the road
to Colenso presents scenes that exceed
In horror those depicted In Dantes' "In-
ferno." Dead men and animals are ly-
Ing, mutilated and purified, In trenches
formerly occupied by the Beers, and fill
the air with sickening stencil. In
cases where hurried burial had been
attempted rains washed the earth
away.
A dispatch from Osfontein says. ac-
cording to the Boer prisoners, an impor-
tant British success will cause Presl.
dent Steyn to flee to Pretoria.
INDEPENDENCE OR DEATH.
Brussels, March 6.--The Transvaa
agency here confirms the statement
that President Kruger Is ready to con
clude peace with Great Britain on thu
basis Of independence for the two re-
publics, otherwise the struggle will con
tinue to the bitter end. The agency be
lieves the Afrikander element in Cap,
Colony and Natal will rebel rather thar
allow annexation, and that the Dutcl
members of the Cape Colony parliamen
will vote by acclamation in favor o
Boer Independence.
TO RELIEVE MAFEKING.
London, March q, + a. n.--Mafeking 4
to be relieved as soon as the British
force already on the way from Kimber
ley can raise the siege. This force is de
scribed vaguely as Strong" The Kim
berley light horse Is mentioned as
component, In view Of the fact that tn
Kimberley light horse is under the con
troll Of the De Beers company, Lor,
Roberts visit to Kimberley probabl,
had to DO with an arrangement Wit