Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-26
b0ER ATTEMPT
TO RUSH BRITISH
WAS A FAILURE,

Paardeberg, Saturday, Feb. 24-l es-
terday there was most interesting SER
les of fighting along the British front.
! One thousand Beers, commanded by
General Dewet, who were known to be
operating in the immediate front, at
early dawn yesterday determined to at
tempt to break through the British lines
and aid General Cronje. A body of five
hundred Beers moved toward the Brit
ish left and cantered in the direction of
d kopje with the object Of occupying 1t
Unfortunately for the Beers, however,
the kopje was held by a company Of
Scottish Borderers who opened heavy
fire. The Beers galloped off but moved
again towards another British position
with exactly the same result. They then
made a third attempt to occupy another
position but the Borderers were again
ready to receive them. The third re-
pulse Thoroughly disconnected the Beers
who gallooed away in a panic.
Later perceiving another kopje the
Beers moved quickly toward 1t. This
kopte was unoccupied but the Borderers'
not to be beaten, raced the Beers for the
position and won, occupying the kopje
and driving off the Beers. A portion of
the latter ultimately occupied a kopje
hanked partly by the Borderers and fac
ing another kopje held by the Yorkshires.
"A vigorous fusilade ensued the British
firing accurately and succeeding in ST.
fencing the Boer fire.
Meanwhile the Bluffs were ordered to
reinforce the Yorkshires in case the
Beers should be reinforced. The Brit
sh attack worked around to the right
of the kopje held by the Yorkshires where
the 18th battery was stationed, the 62nd
battery being placed at farm near the
center Of the Borderers position A Wig.
orous shelling, accompanied by a Brit
ish fusilade, completely .silenced the
Beers company of Yorkshires were
sent to clear out the Boers but the at
tempt failed, the Beers opening heavy
fire, and the British having no cover
The British then again opened heavy
rifle fire which again silenced the Beers.
The Beers made several attempts to
run but the Maxims opened upon them
effectually and checked them. The
Bluffs now worked carefully and eau
tiously around and got within $50 yards
of the Beers. Eighty Beers surrendered
but many, 1t appears, escaped, going
singfy. 4
&xAOS| VI tWAC tplASOueiS ldu just arrived
from Ladysmdth. They complained OF
the bad generalship Of their leader.
Nearly every man carried explosive bull
let's and five British were wounded with
these missiles. I have seen the bullets,
of which one Boer carried fifty.
There is no longer the slightest doubt
that the Beers are gradually discard
ing all rules of civilized warfare. The !
other day they poured the contents OF
a Maxim gun into an ambulance, which
happened, however, to be empty, some
800 yards away from the nearest troops !
The war balloon is doing excellent
service. Early this morning it rose to |
a great height and discovered in the |
bed Of the river four wagons which con-
tained ammunition. These were ex-
ploded by the British shells an hour af- |
terwards. The balloon observer also
discovered number of horses concealed I
near by and these also received atten-
ton from the British shrapnel.
The Gordons are now incorporated in
the Highland brigade, making four kilt
ed regiments. The Highland light in
fantry, who are not killed and are 4
fine body OF men, are going to Join Gen.
eral Smith-Dorien's regiment.