The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-15
STUBBORN RESISTANCE
OFFERED BY THE Beers TO GENERAL
ROBERTS' ADVANCE.
CROSSING OF TIE ZAND RIVER

In Face of Boer Fire From Entrench-
ments-Ffghting for Several Hours
Before the British Can Secure Loda-
ment-Then a Bayonet Charge puts
the Beers to Flight-Their Rout
Significant.
London, May u.-Lord Roberts tele-
graphs to the war office from Riets-
spruit, under date of May 10th, even
ing. as follows:
we have had a successful day and
have driven the enemy from point TO
point. French, with Porter's and
Dickinson's brigades Of cavalry and
Hutton's mounted infantry, crossed the
Zand at Vermentes kraal. and then
worked round in a n~ortheasterly direc-
ton TO Maatschaphy, being opposed
continuously by the nem Pole
Carew's division and Gordon's cavalry
brigade, augmented by ~. battery of
the Royal Horse Artillery and by
Henry's ard Ross mounted infantry.
crossed the river by a drift near the
railway bridge. My headquarters &C
~companied this force. With the infan-
try portion We are eight miles north
of the river. The cavalry and mount
ed infantry are at Ventersburg road
station, and IKE division is at
Deel F~onteinnard. Ian Hamilton's
force and Broadwood's cavalry brigade
were making for the cross roads near
Ventersburg when / last heard from
them. Mamilton'S column met with
stubborn resistance and Smith-Dor-
lens brigade was engaged for some
hours in protecting the rear and flank
of his forces.
The drifts are extremely difficult
and much baggage has still to come
up. We shall, however, march at day
break n push on as far as possible
in the Arkonsdad direction.
The only casualties reported at pres
ent are: Killed-rank and file 4;
wounded 5. No returns yet from the
cavalry nor Hamilton's force"
ROBERTS AT VENTERSBURG.
Cape Town, May 11.-Lord Roberts
wires that the is at Ventersburg, that
he is continuously opposed but that
he is making progress.
BRITISH FIGHTING THEIR WAY
FORWARD.
Riet Spruit, Thursday Morning, May
; 10.-The Beers opposed the British ad-
vance holding positions north of Zand
drift back along the whole line. from.
General Hamilton on the east and
General Hutton on the west. Chiefly
artillery was engaged. The Sussex
regiment charged a kopje at the point
of the bayonet and the East Lanca-
shires captured another. The British
loss is insignificant.
General Hutton had a series of ar
tillery duels with the Beers, the Beers
always retiring. Twenty Beers were
taken prisoners. The advance con
tinues. The Beers are fighting half
heartedly. The Free Skaters are sick
of the war.
London. May 1.-THE Daily Express
in it's second edition today publishes a
dispatch dated Riet .Spruit, May 10,
morning, describing the crossing of the
Zand river by the British. 1t avs
THE rear guard of the Beers, with
their guns. resisted the advance. The
mounted infantry, two batteries and
pom-poms cleared the way n the
Third cavalry brigade acted as a
screen before the main column. Gen.
eral French was on the left and Cen
eral Hamilton or the west. They had
destroyed all the bridges during their
retreat. 1t is impossible to ascertain
the Boer losses, but they are thought
to be heavy. Those of the British
considering the important advance
made. are considered light"
A special dispatch from Riet Spruit
dated May 10, describing more fully
yesterdays successful operation says:
General Hamilton's scouts had on
two previous days ascertained the
Beers position and strength. On We'd
nesday night the Cheshire regiment
crossed the river, entrenched them
selves and prepared to hold the passage
for the regiments following them.
"At day break on Thursday the main
body crossed at two or three points.
The mounted infantry were then in ac-
ton driving off the advance of the
Beers, preparatory to a general for
ward movement. The Boer right first
gave way, but Tucker and Hamilton
had a tougher task on the left. The
Beers had six guns and served them
we'll, working with great determina-
ton; but the British worked up closer
and closer, their guns meantime firing
necessarily.
1.-THE East Lancashire and the Sus-
sex regiments by Ii O'Clock had work
ed well to the front. The order vas
given and like a flash the two regi-
ments sprang forward simultaneously
and in a few moments had secured
two commanding ridges.
1.-THE line was now within
1000 yards of the Beers main trench.
The latter were already losing heart
from the demonstration on their flank,
but they kept up a rapid, though wild
| fire.
"At this moment the final charge
was ordered and away went the Lam
cashires and the Sussex regiment
again. but the Beers could not stand.
and they fairly bolted and the rout of
the Beers along the whole line was
then completed"
ONLY forty popr1iSfS attended the