The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-07-27
Encouraged BY Chinese
Crisis.
BATTLE AND FOICHASE
Gen, Roberts is N king Strenuous
Efforts TO Pacify the Orange
Free State,

NEW YORK, July ia dispatch to
! the Tribune from London says: Lord
| Roberts reports from Pretoria battle
and n foxchase. The battle was
brought on by General Botha, who at
tackled General Pole-Carews position
east Of Pretoria VIII le General HamH-
ton was moving northward and driv-
| ing back Dclarey's commando and
| General French was in the center. be-
tween the two wings. This was
| vigorous counter stroke planned when
| I ord Roberts had succeeded In cutting
of communications between the two
| Boer forces and was pushing back the
| weaker column from Waterfall.
THE British positions were CALAMITY
J defended by the Canadian ana the New
| Zealand mounted Infantry and the
Irish FusIIeers and n series OF despcr-
ate attacks was repulsed.
The losses were balanced on each
side, but included two brave Canadian
officers Lieuterarts Borden and Birch,
10 whom Lord Roberts pays fine trib-
ute.
While Lord Roberts army is virtual
~ on the defensive within few miles
Of Pretoria he has sent Lord Methuen
and General Smith Dorrien from Kru-
gersdorp to Rustenberg, to clear the
western district. where recent success
SEES have caused n renewal OF the bad
feeling against the British. The fox
hunt had begun In the Orange river
COLONY, where Generals Hunter and
Rumble were slowly but surely closing
around General De VETS commandos.
The fox has suddenly started across
country toward Lindley, with the
mounted forces of Colonel Broadwood
and Ridley In hot pursuit. The Boer
force does not exceed 1.5O0 men, with
FIVE guns and the pursuers, II their
horses are In good condition. may sue
coed in running II down. IL TINS can
be done, the paciflcation OF the orange
river colony ought to be effected
rapidly. as the remaining commanders
cannot keep up the fight In the noun
tairs If Van Reenan's pass and Har-
rismlth have been taken from Lady
smith, but the hare must first be
caught.
The renewal OF the Beers activity Is
probably due to the effect of the crisis
in China. Mr.. Kruger and Mr.. Steyn
| have perceived In the Far East diver
sion in their favor which they pre-
viously expected either from European
diplomacy or from American politics.
A BRITISH DISASTER.
LONDON, July 12.--Lord Roberts re-
ports to the War Office under date OF
Pretoria, July 18TH. as follows: THE
enemy, having failed in their attack
upon our right rear as mentioned in
my telegram Of July 9th, made de-
termined attack upon our right flank
Yesterday. and, / regret TO say, sue
ceeded in capturing NitraPs Mex, which
was garrisOned by q squadron Of the
Scots Greys with two guns of \ Bat
terry of the Royal Artillery and FIVE
companies Of the Lincolnshire regi-
ment The enemy attacked In superior
numbers at dawn, and, seiang the hills
commanding the mex, brought heavy
gun FIRE 20 bear upon the small gar
rison.
INITIALS Mex Is about eighteen miles
| from here. near where the road crosses
| the Crocodile river. II was held by us
In order 10 maintain road and tele-
graphic communication with Rusten-
berg, The fighting lasted. more or
less, throughout the day, and inme-
dlately on receiving Information this
morning Of the eremy's strength dis
patched re-enforoements from here un-
der Colonel Godfrey OF the Kings own
Scottish Borderers. Before. however,
| they reached the spot the garrison had
been oyerpowered The guns and
greater portion Of the squadron OF the
Grays had been captured. owing TO
| the horses being shot, also about nine
/ ty men Of the Lincoln Regiment a list
Of the casualties has not been received,
but / fear they are heavy.
| simultaneously an attack was made
on our outposts near purdepoort,
north OF the town In which the Sew
enth Dragons We're gagged The regi-
ment was handled with considerable
skin by Iieutenant-Co Low, and
kept the enemy Ia check until they re-
tired ON their supports aud would
probably have suffered bur slight loss
had not our troops mistaken some
Beers 10 the bushes for our men
"smith-porrien had a small engage
ment with the enemy yesterday near
krugersdorp ana INFLICTED heavy loss
on them,
"Buller reports that the Beers who
were destroying his line uf railway
near Paardekraal We're driven on yes
terday after short action,
"iiarl reports from Hendeburg that
the surrenderlng Of Boor arms and am
munitlon continues IN that district
| -sos