The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-03-15
AT BL0EMFONTEIN
Beers Will Probably Make a
Firm Stand on the Outskirts
of the Town.
ROBERTS rs ONLY A FEW NILES AWAY
Numerical Superiority of the British
Leaves No Doubt as to Result
Of the Battle
Huriors of Relief of Mnfekinr Com
time to Circulate in London
President Kruger Wants
Intervention.

The Hague, March 13.-It is learne,
from reliable source that Presiden
hruger, through the consuls at Pre-
toria, has appealed for the interven
tion OF the great powers in the Trans
'aai war, and has also appealed I,
The governments of Belgium, Hol
land and Switzerland.
Driefontein, Orange Free State
March II, 6:35 a. m.-Broadwood'.
cavalry brigade, advancing on Bloem
fonteln, unexpectedly found the
Beers in a strong position in the
Driefontein kopies yesterday. Gen
helly-kenny's division arriving, Sc
we're fighting ensued. The Beers re-
sisted stubbornIy, but were driven
from their center position, leaving a
number of dead and 40 prisoners. The
British force is moving forward to-
day.
During the fighting, in which five
regiments took part. with artillery.
the Beers, though forced from their
center position, clung tenaciously to
the other kopjes. shelling the British
freely with three guns and two Vick-
ers-Maxims. The British cavalry be-
gan to turn the IIoer position, but
night fell before the movement was
completed. The Beers retired during
the night.
\ large number of Australians were
engaged in the battle. The lst Au-
stralian horse brigade, with the Scots
Grays, advanced TO within 500 yards
of the Peers under heavy fire.
The New South Wales mounted in
fantry joined in the pursuit of the
BOers northward.
The action began at s in she morn
ing with an Artillery dhe!. Gen.
French's cavalry and Gen. Porter's
brigade supported out guns. The
Boer artillery was accurately han
died, and the British cavalry found
task harder than they had expected.
The Beers also maintained IA stub
born rear guard action along n run
ming front OF 12 miles on very diff
fcult ground.
Gen. Broadwood with dogred per-
severance moved altogether six miles
trying TO find a means 10
get round, but the Beers followed be-
hind rising ground and even attempt
ed TO outfank him. Meanwhile the
sixth division of infantry, advancing
on the Boer left, slowly forced the
enemy to retire. Had the infantry
been able to move faster, the Beers
would have been cnveloped. The last
shot was fired at 1880 p. IN. The pris-
oners belonged to President Kruger's
own commando.
The British reported casualties up
to this date are as follows: Killed
e,41s; wounded, s,747; died Of disease,
/ ,O29; missing, 3,4s3; total, 1871
London, March IA correspond
INT of the Daily Mail at Lorenzo Mar
lues, telegraphing Saturday, says:
"According to Boer reports, the fall
If Mafeking is certain. There has
oeen heavy fighting this week, and
he Beers have been shelling the town
rom all the outlying forts, which
hey have captured. Col. BadcnPow-
III cleared all the natives out OF the
own. but the Beers drove them back.
"The Beers are preparing for
inal assault. with the idea that the
apture of Mafeking will raise the
spirits of the burghers."
London. March 12.-The Daily Mail .
las received the following dispatch
rom Pretoria, dated Saturday,
iarch 10, and censored by the Boer
government:
president Kruger and President
teyn have wired to Lord Salisbury
eace proposals, on condition that
he independence of the two repub-
cs be respected and the rebel colo
ials amnestied.
London, March 13.-At the present
ate of progress Lord Roberts should
e in Bloemfontein Wednesday, March
4, though all calculations may be
pset by the development OF more
trenuous resistance than the Beers
ave so far attempted.
The distance between Lord Roberts
nd the Free State capital is now
D small-only about 25 miles-that
is apparent the Beers either con-
,mplate making a determined stand
n the outskirts of the town, or, for
trategic reasons, best known to
,emselves. are allowing Lord Rob-
rts to occupy after merely harras-
ng his advance.
Commenting on the fact that Lord
oberts found the Beers holding po-
tions in a part of the country sup
osed to have been left open, the st.
lmes Gazette says: NO more
aiming indictment was ever prefer
ID against any cavalry.
Rumors of relief of Mafeking con-
nue. to circulate, but fail of any
From Natal, which
EN-. Butler so enormously declared
as free of Beers, and from Cape Col
Nv, where Gen. Kitchener's stern
md Is upon the rebellion, there Is
, news of any Importance.
Death of an Opera Singers Wife.