Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-04-04
allTISg ARE TRAPPED.
Walk into an Ambush Set by the
Beers.
SEVEN BIG GUNS ARE CAPTURED.

In Killed. Wounded and Prisoners tho
British Loss il 35O-The Surprise Was
So CompIete That There Was No Chance
for the British 70 Fight-Text of Lord
Roberta Dispatch Describing the AFFAIR
--Ruusored Recapture of Guns
a London, April 1.-THE war Office re-
Vprts that Colonel Broadwood lost
Stgen guns and all his baggage in the
%abush laid for him by the Beers on
kiturday. The casualties numbered
y. The war Office has received the
FLOWING dispatch from Lord Roberts,
ted Bloemfontein, April i:
Il received news late yesterday even
y from Colonel Broadwood, who was
Thaba 'Nchu, thirty-eight miles east
w here, that information had reached
glim that the enemy was approaching
I'm two forces, from the north and the
east. He stated that IL the report
proved true he would retire towards
the waterworks, seventeen miles near
er Bloemfontein, where we have de-
tachment of mounted infantry for the
protection Of the works.
sheIled by the Enemy.
"Broadwood was told. in reply, that
the Ninth division, with Martyrs
mounted infantry, will march at day
light today to support him, and that IL
he considers it necessary he should re-
tire from the waterworks. He moved
there during the night and bivOuacked.
At dawn he was shelled by the enemy.
who attacked on three sides. He I'M
mediately dispatched two horse artil-
lery batteries and his baggage toward
Bloemfontein, covering some Of them
with his cavalry.
"Some two miles from the water
works the road crosses a deep mullah,
or spruit, In which during the night a
force of Beers had concealed them
selves
Boers Well Hidden.
$50 well were they hidden that our
leading scouts passed over the drift
without discovering them, and 1t was
not until the wagons and guns were
entering the drift that the Beers
showed themselves and opened fire.
Many of the drivers Of the artillery
Were Immediately shot down at short
range and several of the guns were
captured. The remainder gall0ped
awat, covered by Roberts horse.
which suffered heavily.
"Meanwhile, Lieutenant Chester
masters of Remington's scouts found a
passage across the spruit unoccupied
by the enemy, by which the remainder
Of Br0adwood's force crossed. They re-
formed with great steadiness, notwith-
standing all that had previously oc-
cured
Had Lost Seven Guns.
.Broadwood's report, which has
just reached me, and which contains
no details, stated that he had lost sew
en- guns and all his baggage. He es-
Inmates all his casualties at about $50,
including 200 missing. On hearing this
morning that Broadwood was hard
pressed, Immediately ordered Gen
eral French with two remaining caval-
nv brigades, to follow in support of the
Ninth division. The latter, after a
magnificent march. arrived on the
scene of action shortly after 2 p. m.
BroadwOOd's force consisted of the
Royal Household cavalry, the Tenth
Huzzars, G. and u. batteries of the Roy
al Horse artillery, and Pitchers bat
talon Of mounted infantry. The
strength of the enemy Is estimated AT
from 5000 to 10000, with guns. the
number of which Is not yet reported
Another DispatcI, from Roberts.
The war office has received another
dispatch from Lord Roberts dated at
Bloemfontein, Sunday, April l, S:15 p.
m, in which, after referring to his
previous telegram, he gives a partial
list Of the missing British officers. OF
co. battery four officers were wound
ed, two of whom are missing. One
gunner was killed and forty non-com
missioned officers and men are wound
ed or missing. Lord Roberts then con-
tinues:'
.'In " battery all are missing ex-
cept Major Taylor and sergeant ma
jor. The two cavalry regiments did
not suffer so much. A report has
lust come In that the enemy has. re-
tired towards Ladybrand, leaving
twelve wounded officers and some sew
enty men at the waterworks. We
are now sending an ambulance for
them