Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-12
Meets Strong Boer Opposition Along
Kopjes Near Driefontein.
HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES
British General Protests Against
Abuse Of White Flag.
COL. BETHUNE DRIVEN BACK

Lcndon from Lord Roberts, dated Driefon-
TEN, March II, 7:15 am, says:
THE enemy occupied us throughout yes
terday's march. and from their intimate
Knowledge OF the country gave us consider
able trouble. Owing. however, to the ad-
mirable conduct of the troops, the enemy
were unable to prevent US reaching our
destination. The brunt of the fighting fell
on Gen. kelly-kenny's divisions, two bat
talons of which, the Welsh and Essex,
turned the Beers out Of two strong posi-
tons at the point of the bayonet
Il cannot get the precise number of cas-
ualues before l march, but Will communi-
cate 1t as soon as possible. The Beers SUI
fercd heavily, 102 of their dead being left
on the ground. We captured about twenty
prisoners.
Among the killed are Capt. Eustace of
the Buns, Capt. Lomax of the Welsh regi-
ment, and Mr.. McKartie. retired Indian
civilian, attached to kitchcner's Horse.
Among the wounded arc:
"Buffs-Col. Hickson, leg, severe; Lieut..
Ronald.
welsh Regiment-Lieuts. Torklngton,
Pope and Wimberley.
Essex regfment-Capt. Broadwood.
Field artillery-Leut. Devenish.
Medical corps-Major White and Lieut..
Berne.
Australian artillery-Col Umphely, alb
domen, dangerous"
Abuse of the White Flag.
The war office has received the follow
ing advices from Lord Roberts, dated
Driefontein, Sunday. March II, 9:45 am:
The following telegram has been ad-
dressed by me to their honors. the state
presidents of the Orange Free State and
the South African Republic:
Another instance having occurred of
gross abuse of the white flag land of the
signal of holding up hands in token of. sur
render 1t is my duty to inform you that
If such abuse occurs again. l shall most re-
luctantly be compelled to order my troops
TO disregard the white flag entirely.
The instance occurred on kopje east
of Driefontein farm yesterday evening, and
was witnessed. by several of my own staff
officers, as well as by myself and resulted
in the wounding of several of my officers
and men.
a large quantity of explosive bullets of
three different kinds was found in Com
nandant Cronjes lager. and this has been
the case after every engagement with your
fonors' troops. Such breaches of the recog-
niZed usageS Of war and of the Geneva
convention are disgrace to any civilized
power. A copy of this telegram has been
sent to my government with the request
that il may be communicated to all neutral
powers.
What the Maps Show.
The Associated Press correspondent re-
marks regarding the above dispatches:
The war Office maps show a group OF
hCpjes and large water pan at Dreifon-
tein a position which has apparently con-
siderable defensive advantages. The Beers
who retrcated to Abraham's Kraal from
Poplar Grove must have moved southwark
or else fresh force must have come from
BloemfOntein or the Orange river.
The opposition met at Dreifontein was
somewhat unexpected, the idea being that
if there was any resistance it would be
at Petrusberg. Profiting by their expert
ence. the Beers were prepared for British
Ranking movement, but in extending their
position in order to avoid being outf1anked
they probably weakened their center, thus
making it possible for the British infantry
to carry this with q bayonet charge.
Lord Roberts dignified protest against the
abuse of the white flag is regarded as the
most important fact of the situation. Ac-
cording to the accounts supplied by the cor
respondents the instance appears to have
been most fragrant. and there is no doubt
that Lord Roberts will carry his threat
INTO execution.
Correspondents Story of the Fight.
The London Morning Posts correspond
ent at Driefontein, te1egrapiling Sunday,
says:
The fight throughout was much involved
The enemy evacuated ana reoccupied posi-
tons, subtly concealing their intentions and
only withdrawing their guns Il few minutes
prior to their impending capture. Their
guns outranged ours, the naval brigade nor
arriving in time.
Our cavalry horses were completely tired
by the repeated Withdrawals The turning
movement was begun too late. The enemy
attempted with Photograph to lure us to oc-
cupy kopje which they held. but detect
ing the deception. We returned
A press dispatch from Driefont,in says:
Broadwood's cavalry. brigade, advancing
on BloemfOntein, UNEXPECTEDLY found the
Beers in a strong position in the Driefontein
kopjes yesterday. Gen. Kelly-Kenny's di-
vision arriving, severe fighting ensued. The
Beers resisted stubborniy, but We're driven
from their center position, leaving num-
Der of dead and forty prisoners. The Brit
ish force is moving forward today.
During the fighting, in which five reg,-
ments took part. with artillery, the Beers,
though forced from their center position,
chung tenaciously to the other kopjes she'll
ing the British freely with three guns and
two Nickers-MaXims.
Night Ended the Attack.
1.-THE British cavalry began to turn the
Boer position. but night fell before the
movement was completed The Beers re-
tired during the night. A large number of
Australians We're engaged yesterday The
1st Australian Horse Brigade, with the
Scots Grays, advanced within 800 yards Of
the Beers under heavy fire.
THE New South Wales Mounted Infan-
try Joined in the pursuit of the Beers north
ward"
According to another account, all Of Sat
urday was occupied in fighting. The Beers
maintained a stubborn rear guard action
along a running front of twelve miles on q
very difficult ground. The British were ad-
vancinS in three columns. Gen. Tucker, to
the southwark, occupied Petrusberg unop-
posed. Cen. kally-Kenny after following
p1n in ha
Abraham's Kraal
AT Dreifontein, about eight miles south of
Abraham's kraal, the Beers were found
posted in considerable strength on the
ridges connecting several kopjes, where
they had mounted guns.
The action began at in the morning with
an artillery duel. Gen. French's cavalry
and Gen. Porter's brigade supported our
guns. The Boer artillery was accurately
handled, and the British cavalry found the
task harder than they had expected
Gen. Broadwood, with logged perseyer-
ance, moved altogether six miles south
ward. trying to find means to get round
t,,,tt 81, fn11a lal