Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-06
Five Entire Companies Cap
tured by the B0crS.
BoER GENERAL KILLED
Was Chief Of Staff, an Old
Campaigner and Very Sue
ceSSful Whole Body
Wiped Out.

London. April 6.-Lord Roberts reports
that five companies of British troops
have been captured by the Beers near
Bethany. The following is the text dis
match to the war office announcing the
capture:
'Rloemfontein, April 5.-Another un-
fortunate occurrence has occurred, re-
sulting fear, in the capture OF party
of infantry consisting of three COM
panies of the royal Irish fusileers ana
two companies of the 9th regiment OF
mounted infantry near Reddersburg.
little east ward of Bethany railway sta
ton within a few miles of this place.
They were surrounded by strong force
of the enemy with four or five guns.
"The detachment held out from noon
April 3, until April 4th, 8 a. m., and
then apparently surrendered for it is re-
ported that the firing ceased at that
time. Immediately after ! heard the
news. during the afternoon of April 3rd,
/ ordered Gatacre to proceed from
Springfontein, his present headquarters,
to Reddersburg with all possible speed,
and dispatched the Cameron Highland
ers hence to Bethany. He arrived at
Reddersburg at 10:30 without opposition
but could get no news of the missing de-
tachment There can be no doubt that
the whole party has been made prison
ers.''
London, April 6-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfontein, April
S:
Methuen telegraphs from Bosprorf Qn
the Orange Free State) a little northeast
of Kimberley as follows: "Surrounded
General de Villebois Mareuil and body
of Beers to-day and nome escaped. Mar
euil and seven Beers killed, eight
wounded, fifty prisoners.
Orr losses were: KILLED: Captains
Boyle and Williams. both of the Yeo-
manry and two men of the Yeomanry,
both wounded. The engagement lasted
four hours. The corps behaved very
well.
"Our force was composed of the Yeo-
many, the Kimberley mounted corps ana
the Fourth battery of artillery"
Gen. de Villibos Mareuil was the chief
of staff of the Eoer army. He was ABOUT
80 wears old ond is said to have been re-
snonsible for many Boer success IN
Natal and later in Cape Colony, and the
southern part of the Orange Free state.
It is said he entered the Boer service
merely because war was his business. he
went through a number of campaigns.
Rloenfontein. April 5.-Snall bodies OF
Roers can be seen in the vicinity OF this
town and Beers are still in the neigh
horhood of the waterworku. Lord Rob-
rest is taking steps to meet the activity
of the Beers.
London. April 6-Dunraven's sharp
shooters started for South Africa today
amid unusual scenes of enthusiasm.
Dunrayen. at the last moment, decided
to accompany the force as supernu-
merary captain. The corps will see SER
vice on the northern border of the trans
vaal
London, April 6.-The war office about
4p. m, posted dispatch from Lord Rob-
erts announcing Methuens capture OF
fifty -four Beers and the killing of Cen
eral Villebois Mareuel, chief of staff of
the Boer army. The news had been ju-
diciously started only a few minutes
when a second telegram was bulletined
reporting the loss of five companies OF
British infantry.
Both the dispatches were issued in time
to be printed in the last editions of all the
evening newspapers.
The lost companies are probably part of
the force guarding the railroad at Beth
any, 80 miles south of Bloemfontein. The
Beers are evidently operating in force
near the railroad and there is possibility
of the line being interrupted for brief
period at any time.
In the death Of de Villebois Mareuil the
Beers lose their best instructed soldier in
the continental methods of warfare. AS
the late Joubert's chief of staff. his brain
devised the Boer defenses against Buffers
advance to the relief of Ladysmith. He
was the most notable of all the foreign
5. soldiers serving the Beers. As the cap
stured British soldiers were In possession
of a position to defend themselves for
nearly "a hours and were then forced to