Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-04-05

consisting of the Tenth ,Hussars,
Household cavalry, two horse batter
les and a force of mounted infantry
under Col. Pitcher which had been
~garrisoning Thaba Nchu, was obliged,
in consequence of the near approach
of a large force of Beers, TO leave
Friday night. Col. Broadwood marched
marched TO the Bloemf0ntein water
works. south Of the Moddcr. where he
tncamped at 1 Saturday morning. At
early dawn the camp was Shelled by
the enemy from a near point. Col.
Broadwood sent off a convoy with the
batteries. while the rest of the force
remained to act as a rear guard. The
ronV0y arrived at n deep spruit, where
the Beers were concealed and the en-
lire body walked into ambush and
were captured, together with six guns.
The less of life was o great since
most of the British had walked into
the trap before a shot was fired. Gen
Colvllle's division. which left Bloem-
fontein early Saturday morning, ar
rived here m noon Sunday and he is
now Smelling the Beers.
Reiterated in Haste.
London. April Seen. Buffers INK.
ious inquiry whether British officers
will ever learn the value of scouting
comes back with enforced emphasis to
the British public to-day on receipt Of
tidings that a convoy with guns has
walked deliberately into a Boer am
bush within about twenty miles OF
Blocmf"utein.
Lord Robe OWE report Of the az
fair. ii vet II aved by the war ofhce,
has not been published. and no ac-
count of the affair is available TO the
public except the dispatch from Bush
man Kop. Nothing can be said, there
fore, regarding the exact extent of the
British misfortune. Evidently Col.
BroadwoOd thought 1t necessary TO re-
treat in haste from Thaba Nchu, as
he marched all through Friday night,
apparently followed by a considerable
force of the enemy. The convoy and
guns had to pass through a deep
spruit, which the Beers had occupied.
Six or ten guns, comprising two bat
teries. all the wagons, and, ii is feared,
many men. fell into the hands of the
Beers, whose daring, displayed so mean
Bloemfontein. shows that they are
rapidly recovering neart arter the re-
cent reverses. The hope is expressed
here that Gen. Colyille will recover
the convoy and guns, but this is hare.
ly likely in such a difficult country,
and il is probable that the next news
Will be that
After a Stin Fight
Con. Colville has extricated Col.
Broadwood from his difficult position,
but failed to retrieve the disaster.
Severe criticisms are heard regarding
the renewal of the old mistakes of I'M
derrating the Beers and the absence
of proper ~precaution. No doubt the af-
fair will revive Boer hopes and inspire
confidence among the enemy at a criti-
eal moment. Great things are expect
ed by the Beers of the new command
er-in-chief, Gen. Botha, who has made
his reputation wholly during the pres
ent campaign. Foreign officers serv-
ing with the Beers have expressed
SURPRISE at his clever tactics.
The proof OF continuing Boer 2ctiv-
fly in the Free State will comnel
greater circumspecticn on the part of
the British, and will probably delay the
march of Lord Roberts northward.
Detailed accounts of the fight at Karee
Siding estimate the Boer forces vari-
ously from 5000 to 5000 men. Bra
bant's horse occupied Wepener last
Thursday unopposed. Lord Methuen
has issued the following notification at
Kimberley:
Il have received instructions that IL
any disturbances occur west of the
Naal river my force is to return and
punish the rebels immediately
British May Cross Portuguese Ter
ritory.
London. April 3. - The Lisbon cor
respondent Of the Daily Mail says:
THE Portuguese government has
wired orders to Beira that British
troops and ammunition be allowed to
pass through freely to Rhodesia. The
minister of foreign affairs, yeigo Beiro.
has announced in the chamber of dep.
uties that the government is in DOS
session OF railway bonds with which
to pay tie award OF the Delagoa Bay
railway arbitration tribunal.
steyn to Stir Them Up.
Meseru. April 3.-President Steyn Il
reported 20 have gone to ] edybrand to
stir up the burghers there to renewed
resistance. The Beers have removed
from the immediate vicinity OF Platte
berg and taken up a commanding DO
sitiop adjacent. The Dutch who sur
rendered their arms at Ladybrand ara
now suffering seizures Of their live
stock,
Roberts Graceful Act.
Bloemfontein. April 3.-Lord Roberts
has sent the following dispatch to
President Kruger:
Have Just heard Of the death or
Gen. Joubert, and desire to offer nv
sincere condolences upon the sad event.
Would ask you to convey to Gen. Jon.
bert's family an expression of INV
most respectful sympathy with their
sad bereavement, and to assure them
also from me that all ranks Of her
majesty's forces share my feelings of
deep regret at the sudden and untime.
ly end of so distinguished a general
who devoted his life to the service Of
his country and whose personal gal.
lantry was only surpassed by his hu-
name conduct and chivalrous bearing
under ali circumstances"
Botha Jouberc. Choice.
Pretoria, April 3.-President Krnper