The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-15
.BOERS RESIST ROBERTS.
harass His Army on Its March to
Oreifontein.
5uRGHERs LEAVE 1902 DEAD.
Cngllsh General Threatens to Rstallat,
for Alleged Acts OF TrsaoAery BY
Ordering That HIS Troops DlsrssarS
the White Flag Entirely.

the White Flag Entirely.
London, March 13.-The following
dispatches from Gen. Lord Roberts
have been received at the war office:
! "Dreifontein, March IL. 9:55 p. M
The enemy opposed us throughout yes
terday's march. From their Intimate
knowledge of the country they gave
us considerable trouble. Owing, how
ever. to the admirable conduct of the
troops they were unable to prevent us
from reaching our destination. I can
not get the precise number of casual
ties before march. but will communi-
cate them as soon as, possible. The
Roers suffered heavily. One hundred
and two of their dead were left on the
ground. We captured about twenty
prisoners.
THE following telegram has been
addressed by me to their honors, the
presidents Of the Free State and the
South African republic: Another in
stance having occurred of gross abuse
of the white flag and of the signal Of
holding up the hands in token of sub
mission, 1t is my duty to inform your
honors that II such occurs again I
snail most reluctantly be compelled to
order my troops to disregard the white
flag entirely. The instance occurred
on a kopje east of Dreifontein last
night. 1t was witnessed by several of
my own staff as we'll 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 were found in Gen. Cronje's
lager, and after engagements with
your honors' troops. Such breaches of
the recognized usages Of war and the
Geneva convention are a disgrace to
any civilized power. A copy of this
telegram has been sent to my govern
ment, with a request that it may be
communicated to all neutral powers"
Aasvogel Kop, Orange Free State,
March 11.-Since dawn this morning
the British have been collecting Beers
who were killed or wounded at Drei-
fontein. The dead were buried In
groups. one numbering thirty-seven.
another twenty-three and third for
tythree.
They had mostly been killed by the
shrapner fire that was directed against
q long hillside that was subsequently
taken by the Welsh battalion. The
ambuiances found seventy dead else
where.
The British say their losses at Drei-
fontein were caused mostly by fragrant
treachery on the part of the Beers.
Gen. Roberts at once gave orders that
II such an act was repeated his troops
should show absolute disregard for
white flags during action. He also de-
nounced the act to the Boer leaders.
Upon reaching the deserted Boer DO
sitiQns an ambulance OF explosive soft
rosed and slit-nd as.s,fa.sfsfsapt ion Was4
found.
Dreifontein, March 1.-THE army
left Poplar Grove yesterday morning.
At 10 o'clock the cavalry Unexpectedly
found the kopjes at Dreifontein, eight
miles south of Abrahams drift. occu-
pied strongly by the enemy. They i'm
mediately attempted to outfank the
Beers, moving forward under heavy
shell and MaximVicker gun fire, but
leaving behind thin containing line
The Second brigade pushed south.
finding the enemy's position to be Of
great strength. The Sixth division
(Kelly-Kenny's) arrived at 1870
O'Clock. The Thirteenth brigade. led
by the Bluffs, and the Eighteenth bril-
gade, headed by the Welsh battalion.
proceeded to clear the koptes under a
hot, bewildering fire.
The Beers succeeded in doubling on
the British, whom they enfiladed from
the eastern and southwestern kopjes
near the main ridge. The artillery
made magnificent practice, though the
British guns were outranged by two
Elswick twelye-pounders The Ninth
division (the gaards1 arrived at
o'clock, but was too late to take part
In the fighting. The enemy lost many
horses and left two lead and several
wounded behind them.
The incident was small as regards
The number of troops employed, but it
was very creditable to the British.
The mobility Of the Beers in han
ding their guns was more remarkable
than ever. The New South Wales
mounted infantry CALAMITY but unsuc-
ressfully attempted to capture gun.
Later reports state that the Beers
have entirely disappeared, but an en-
gagement today is not unlikely. Not
withstanding the strong positions in
the kopjes. it is probable that.they will
not be able to prevent the British adj
vance,
London, March 13-Gen. Roberts
dispatches referring to Saturdays
fighting practically cover everything
that has been received concerning the
movements in the Orange Free State,
but 1t is distinctly apparent that the
complete story Of the engagement has
not yet been received.
Britain Losses In tho Wan
London. March 13.-The latest ON
cial figures OF casualties in South AT
RIGA show that the, British total in
killed, wounded and missing is 1886.
to which about 70 are addable. Ac-
cording to the latest official figures, of
565 officers and .7.10s men wounded,