The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-04-06
CAUGHT IN BOER TRAP
Two British Batteries With Six Guns and
Convoy Captured.
FEW MILES FROM BlOfMFONTElN
Beers Drive British Battery From Thaba
kohu Into Ambush-Only Rear Guard
Makes Its Escape-DivisiOn Under Gen.
ColevilIe Leaves Bloemfontein to En-
feet "A Recapture.

BUSHMAN KOP, Saturday, March
31.-The British force commanded by
Colonel Broadwood, consisting Of the
Tenth Hussars, Household cavalry,
two horse batteries and a force of
mounted infantry under COloel, Pill
cher, which had been garriSoning
Thaba Nchu, was obliged, in conse-
quence Of the near approach of a large
force of Beers. to leave last night.
Colonel Broadwood marched to the
Bloemfontein water works, south of
the Modder, where he encamped at 4
o'clock this morning.
At early dawn the camp was shelied
by the enemy from a nea point. Col
onel Broadwood sent off a convoy with
batteries, while the rest of the force
remained to act as a rear guard.
The convoy arrived at a deep spruit
(stream) where the Beers were o N
cealed and the entire body walked into
ambush and was captured, together
with six guns.
The loss of life was not great, since
most of the British had walked into
the trap before a shot was fired.
General Colville's division, which
left Bloemfontein early this morning,
hOIC az hooh, lO IL "
Smelling the Beers.
LONDON, April General Buffers
anxious inquiry, whether British Off
GERS will ever learn the value of
| scouting, comes back with enforced
emphasis to the British public today
on receipt of tidings that a convoy
with guns has walked deliberately
into a Boer ambush within about TWEEN
ty miles of Bloemfontein.
Lord Roberts own report of the af-
fair, if yet received by the Wal office,
has not been published and no account
is available to the pubic except the
dispatch from Bushmankop. Nothing,
therefore. a be said regarding the
details.
Evidently Colonel Broadwood
thought it necessary to retreat in haste
from Thaba Nchu, as he marched all
through Friday night, apparently fol-
lowed by a large force of the enemy.
The forces and guns had to pass
through a deep spruit, which the Beers
had occupied.
Six of the twelve guns, comprising
two batteries, all the wagons, and, it
is feared, many men fell into the hands
of the Beers, whose daring, displayed
SO near Bloemfontein. shows that they
are rapidly recovering heart after their
recent reverses.
The hope is expressed here that Cen
eral Colville will recover the convoy
and guns, but this is hardly likely in
such a difficult country, and it is prob
able that the next news will be that
after a stiff fight General Colville has
extricated Colonel Broadwood from his
difficult position, but failed to retrieve
the disaster.
Severe criticisms are heard regard
ing the renewal of the old mistake of
undertaking 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 crit
ical moment.
Great things are expected by the
Beers of the new commander-in-chief,
General Botha, who has made his rep
utation wholly during the present
campaign. Foreign officers serving
with the Beers have expressed surprise
at his clever tactics. The proof of
continuing Boer activity in the Free
State will compel greater circumspec-
ton on the part of the British and
will probably delay the march of Rob-
erts northward.
Detailed accounts of the fight at
Karee siding estimate the Boer forces
v%ariously from 5000 to 5000 men.