Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-04-07
.HONORS NEARLY EVEN
In the Latest Exchanges Between
the Forces of the British s---
and the Beers. e55
GEN. MAREMIL DIES ON THE FIELD

Surround Five Companies of Britishers
Fight Them for Twenty-Four Hours and
Capture What Are Left-Dublin Paper
| Has an Issue Suppressed Because OF an
| Alleged SsdItious Article-Queen Vie
| toria Drives in q Humble Quarter.
| Capetown, April IA determined
attempt to escape was made today by
the Boer prisoners at Simontown.
Fourteen succeeded in getting away.
Carnavon, Cape Colony, April g.
1t is reported 200 insurgents. who
| were not aware that Sir Charles Par
sons occupied Kenhardt, and who were
on their way to that place, were cap
tured by the British.
The Canadian artillery returned
here from Van Wyks Vlei.
London, April Roberts reports
to the war office as follows: Bloem-
fontein, Friday, April 6.-Casualties
at Roddersburg: Officers killed, Capt.
F. g. Casson, Lieut.. c. f. Barclay,
both Northumb berlands; wounded, 2;
captured, s. Non-commissioned Off
GERS and men killed, 8; wounded, 33.
The rest were captured. Our strength
is 167 mounted infantry and 425 in
fantry. The enemy is said to be 5000
strong with five guns"
London, April THE war office yes
terday posted Il dispatch from Lord
Roberts announcing Lord Methuen's
capture of lifty-four Beers and the kill
ing of General VillebOis deMareuil, the
chief of stan of the Boer army. This
news had been judiciously started
few minutes, when Il second telegram
was bulletined, reporting the loss OF
five companies of British infantry. The
lost companies are part OF the force
guarding the railroad at Bethany. thir-
ty miles south of Bloemfontein. The
Beers are evidently operating in force
near the railroad and there is Il poSsi-
bility of the line being interrupted for
a brief period at any time. As the CAB
tured British soldiers were in Il posi-
ton To defend themselves for nearly
twenty-four hours and were then
forced 10 surrender the lighting must
have been severe.
Loss MareuiI of Heavy One.
In the death of General NillPboiS de
Mareuil the Beers lose their best in
soldier in continental methods
of warfare. AS the late General Jou-
bert's chief of staff his brain devised |
the Boer defenseS against General |
Buffers advance 10 the relief of Lady
smith. He is supposed to have chosen |
the gun positions and to have laid |
down the covered trenches. He dis |
posed the Beers ut the centers. from |
Which they We're sent maSSed to |
the defense of any part of wide arc. |
General Villebois de Mareuil was the |
most notable of all the soldiers of for |
tune serving with the Beers. lie had |
written occasional interesting letters |
TO French correspondents.
Mcthuen's Capture of Beers.
London, April 1.-The Daily Tele-
graph has the following from Boshof, |
dated Thursday: Lord Methuen'S |
MafekinG relief force was concen-
trated here today. The Beers are il
force Il few miles distant ON the Nah |
river. This town is practically de-
serted. all the men being with the conf
mando under Commandant Duplessis.
who controls the district. Lord Meth
uen commanded in Il spirited little ac-
ton nine miles TO the south
east. where he surrounded sew
enty Beers on Il kopje. Not Il
man escaped. We took fifty-four priS-
oners. sixty horses and a quantity of
baggage. General de NilleboiS was
killed during the action. 4 BOer
hoisted Il white flag and then fired
after killing a British off
GER. The murderer was instantly shot"
"Bohs" Has n Big Contract.
Roberts telegram says that the loss
If five companies took place near Red
lersburg. a little east Of Bethany. This
Attest disaster more particularly illus
rates the heavy task involved in hold
ng the railway. This body of some
100 British troops without guns. which
disappeared so completely within thir-
y-tive miles of the great British army,
lad for its business 10 guard a section
If nearly ninety miles OF railway be-
ween Bloemfontein and Springfon-
elm If il could thus be spirited away
low is Lord Roberts to ensure his con
inually extending communications?