The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-03-17

BOers Regarding he buHe OF the
White Flag.
Tendon, March l3.-A dispatch to the
war office from Lord Roberts. deated
D%riefontein, March II, 7:15 Il. H.. says:
'The enemy opposed us throughout
yesterdays march, and from their init
mate knowledge of the country gave
lis considerable. trouble. Owing. how
ever, to the admirable conduct OF thu
troops the enemy were unable to pre-
vent us reaching destination. The
brunt of the fighting fell on Gen. KEEL
ly-Kenny's division, two battalions OF
which, the Welsh and Essex, turned
the Beers out of two strong positions
mt the point of the bayonet."
Beers Resisted StubbOrnlS.
Driefontein, o. Il. S.. March IL. -
BroadwOod's cavalry brigade, advanc'
ing on Bloemfentein. unexpectedly
found the Beers in a strong position i'll
the D%riefontein kopjes Saturday. Gen.
h lly-Kenny's division arriving, severe
ighting.epsued. The Beers resisted
stubbornly, but We're driven from their
center position, leaving Il number of
dead and forty prisoners. The British
force is moving forward to-day. Dur
ing the fighting, in which five regi-
ments took part, with artillery, the
Beers, though forced from their center
position, clung tenaciOusly to the other
kOpjes, Smelling the british freely from
three guns and two Vickers MaXims.
The British cavalry began to turn tine
Boer position, but night fell before the
movement was completed. The Beers
retired during the night. All of Satur-
day was occupied in fighting. The
Beers maintained a stubborn rear
guard action along a running front OF
twelve miles on & very difficult ground.
The British were advancing in three
columns. Gen. Tucker, to the South
ward,
Occupied Petrusberg Unopposcd.
Gen. Kelly-Kenny, after following the
river bank, moved in the direction OF
Abraham's Kraal. At Dreifontein.
about eight miles south of Abraham's
Kraal, the Beers were found posted i'll
considerable strength on the ridges
connecting several kOpjes where they
had mounted guns. The action began
at 8 in the morning with an artillery
duel. Gen. French's cavalry and Gen.
Porter's brigade supported u guns.
The Boer artillery was accurately
handled and the British cavalry found
a task harder than they had expected.
Gen. Broadwood, with logged perse-
verance moved altogether six miles
southwark, trying to find a means to
get round, but the Beers followed, be-
hind rising ground, and ever attempted
to outflank him. Meanwhile the Sixth
division of infantry, advancing on the
Boer left, slowly forced the enemy to
retire. Had the infantry been able to
move faster the Beers would have been
enveloped. The last shot was fired ut
7:3O p. IN. In the morning not a Boer
was to be seen. The prisoners belonged
to President Kruger's WI Commando.
Warned by Roberts.
London, March 13.-The war office
has received the following advices from
Lord Roberts, dated Sunday, at Drie-
fontein:
1.-The following telegram has been ad.
dressed by me to their honors, the
state presidents of the Orange Free
State and the South African Republic:
Another instance having occurred OF
gross abuse of the white flag and of the
signal of holding up hands in token OF
surrender, it is my duty to inform you
that If such. abuse occurs again l shall
most reluctantly be compelled to order
my troops to disregard the white flag
entirely. The instance occurred on q
kopje east Of Driefontein Farm yester-
day evening, and raj witnessed by
several of nv own staff officers rs 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 was
found in .Commandant Cronje's laager.
and this has been the case after every
engagement with your honor's troops.
Such breaches Of the recognized usages
Of war and of the Geneva convention
are a disgrace to any civilized power.
A CODY of this telegram has been sent
to my government with the request
that 1t may be communicated to all
neutral powers"
Beers In Force at BiREarsberE.
London, March 13. = The dispatch
from Durham IS to the engagement
near POmerOy seems to explain the
Beers accounts of skirmishing IN the
Helpmakaar district, and although Col.
Rethune's force numbered only a few
hundred. the news shows that the
Roers are in considerable numbers In
B~iggarsberg. There is no confirmation
OF the rumors of the raising OF the
siege of Mafeking. concerning wnich
the grayest anxiety continues to Dc
felt. The British reported casualties
to this date are as follows: Killed.
2418: wounded, S.747; died Of disease
1890: missing, 3,4S3; total. 1857.
Rebels Laying Down Their Arms.
cane Town, March 13.-News from
Iadyerey. Herschel and Aliwalnortl
show that the rebels are laying down
their arms in large nhmbers!.and tina
TIC Beers all along the border are ~
serinns straits. The rebels assert that
Beers are subsisting on bread n
,water and so-called coffee, made Of
80. Other rebels are leaving to 11gnt
the Free State. British rule Q
restored at Ladygrey, where q
NJ fleht is reported TO have occurred.
S.snvirebels being killed. It Is reported
thouis,andsf5of rebels contemplate
snrrendering to Gen. Brabantt.
Presiaents make Peace z:
nndon. March 12.---The Daily Mail
received the following dispatcn
irom Pretoria. dated Saturday, Aarcll
sSssand censored by the Boer govern
:.s.,,Y 81 "a President Kruger. 4 nd Presi.
astsatoyn :...,.Vtt wired TO Lord Sails.