The evening times., 1900-03-31

LONDON. March 31.-The War Office has
received a despatch from Lord Roberts
dated at Bloemfontein yesterday. in which
he saws that reports point TO the enemy
leaving Brandfort for the north. He also
corrects the casualties in Thursdays en-
gagement He reports now that one officer
was killed and nine wounded, mostly Sc
verely. OF whom one has since died. OF
the men nineteen were killed. 159 men
we're wounded. and three are missing.
A news despatch from Bloemfontein,
dated yesterday, says;
The Karee Kopies are now garrisoned
by tbe guards. The Beers, with one gun,
made a strong fight for three hours and
then retreated 10 Keeps Spruit. eight miles
south Of Brandfort General French on
the right and Major NJ H. F. lie Calais
with his mounted infantry on the left car
ried out turning movements. while Gener-
al fuckers Seventh Division Of Infantry
attacked the centre.
"Rudyard Kipling accompanied Le Gal
Iais' Brigade during the attack. A large
force OF Australians took part in the fight
ing The firing all along the line was very
heavy The Beers were entrenched in
kOpjes rising like a fortress The cOloni-
al troops displayed the greatest GOODNESS
IN attacking the Beers and the New South
Wales Lancers lost many horses
despatch from a correspondent with
General Roberts Army. dated at BlOem-
fontein. March 30. S p. IL, says
There was a long-range, wide, and eN-
tended fight among the irregular hills be-
yond Karee Siding today. General Tucker
took his troops 10 the bridge on Tuesday.
and on Wednesday camped near General
French
lie Calais mounted infantry held the
intervening position before Braudfurt.
This place proved to be occupied by the
Beers particularly "a rocky hill, which was
held by a commando OF 700 with one =
FOUNDER which controlled the railroad.
The mounted infantry drew a steady
Mauser FIRE while the British pOmpOms'
were engaging the hill gun Men fell on
both sides while struggling for possession
Of this hill. which was the key Of the pO-
stiOn.
General Chermside was engaged from
room till o'clock. when the Beers evacu-
ated the Hill and the main ridge. Then
General French attempted to outhauk the
Beers to the west and they were seen gal
lopiug % the north. The British occupied
the ridge. from which. across easy country.
your correspondent saw the spires and
roofs Of Brandfort glistoniug in the sun.
The fighting showed that minority OF
the Beers did all the work. the MAORI y
having fed from the positions they had
previously held for the purpose Of drawing
the British fire. Bennett Burleigh, the war
correspondent took Rudyard Kipling under
fire for the first time.
"A BOer paoihcO. who has returned from
north OF Glen, says there is anxiety at
KrOonst8d as TO the whereabouts OF Gro
Belar's and Lemner's cOmmaudOs which
are now in the southeast country. North
or Glen the country is grassy and watery
and the horses become more fit every day
"A majority Of the members Of The Free
State VOlksraad refused 20 attend a con-
ference which President Steyu called al
kroOnstsd to endorse a proposition for the
continuance Of the war
There was an impressive military fu-
neral this morning Of Colonel Cough, late
Of the Fourteenth Hussars The tody was
brought here from NCrvals Pont this
morning. Lord Roberts and staff attended
and the military bands played dirges The
residents. with barred neads. Witnessed the
funeral cortegc passing through the
streets.
Another despatch from Lord Roberts 70
the War Ofice. dated B,oemfOutein.
king 10 March 10 is to the effect that
the health and spirits Of the garrison are
good They have made a sea' chlight. and
their ammunition work has also been sue
cossful. They have also introduced pa
per currency, 10 which they are now adding
pound notes. The food is lasting Well"