The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-03-09
ARE ON THE RETREAT.
Gen. Roberts Reports That He Has
Completely Routed the Enemy.
British Troops Invade Transvaa1
SOiI-rIying Column Gets in Via
ZuIuIand and SI<irmishes
With the Beers Daily.


vaguely as strong" In view of the
fact that the Kimberley light horse is
under the control of the DeBeers Co.,
Lord Roberts visit to Kimberley prob
ably had to DO with an arrangement
with Cecil Rhodes to use this company
of troops.
London, March G.-Winston Church
i'll, describing the relief of Ladysmith
in dispatch published by the Morn
ing Post, says:
1T has been effected At a cost of
upward of 5000 officers and men in an
army only $500 strong"
He goes on to pay a high tribute to
Sir Redvers Butler, emphasizing the
confidence his men had in him, with
out which the enterprise could hardly
| have succeeded"
Of Gen. Buffers attack on February
% Mr. Churchill says: Considered in
itself, it was a masterpiece, sOundly
conceived, boldly launched and skill
FULLY executed" lie adds that Much
also was due to the greatly improved
intelligence department"
Mr.. Churchill points out that the
Beers now hold Van Renen's pass, but
that a majority of the Free Staters
have accompanied the Transvaalers
northward.
Gen. Butler reports Natal now prac-
tically clear of the enemy, and that
he can not hear of any formed body
of them anywhere. The Beers left
some ambulances full of their sick
from which the mules had been taken
for transport service.
Osfontein, March 6.-Gen. Gatacre
occupied StOrmberg yesterday. The
lines of railway north and west will
now be repaired. Gen. Clements is at
Joubert's siding station beyond Coles
berg. The duke of Marlborough, with
the Oxford company Of the Imperial
Ieomanry, has left Cape Town for
Naauwpoort.
Cape Town, March MANY women
who are reported to be good shots are
| among the Boer prisoners arriving
here. The Dutch church has issued a
! manifesto in favor of the BOer repub-
lies retaining complete independence.
Lord Roberts has accepted the homo
rary colonelcy OF the City of London
volunteers.
London, March IA special dis
patch from Durham says a flying coll
umn of British troops from Zululand
has entered the Transvaal and has
been daily skirmishing with small par
ties of Beers. The force consists of
mounted infantry, Natal scouts and
artillery, ali commanded by Maj
Prendergast. The column first cross
ed the border on February IS. 1t now
occupies an entrenched position on
Catasa hill, nine miles within the
Transvaal.
London, March s-The war office
has posted the following adyices from
Lord Roberts, dated at Poplar Grove,
Wednesday evening, March ::
I'VE had a very successful day and
have completely routed the enemy,
who are in full retreat.
1.-The position which they occupy is
extremely strong and cunningly ar
ranged with a second line of entrench-
ments, which would have caused us
heavy loss had q direct attack been
made. The turning movement was
necessarily wide, owing to the nature
of the ground, and the cavalry and ar
tillery horses are much done up.
THE fighting was practically con-
fined to the cavalry division, which, as
usual, did exceedingly well, and Gen.
French reports that the horse artil~
lery batteries did great execution
among the enemy.
"Our casualties were about 80. re-
gret to say that Lieut. Keswick was
killed and Lieut.. Bailey was severely
wounded, both of the 18th lanciers.
Lieut.. De Crespigny, of the I'd life
guards, was severely wounded. The
remaining casualties will be tele-
graphed tomorrow.
The correspondents differ as TO the
enemy's strength. The Daily Nails
representative thinks the Beers num-
Der something more than 1000. The
Daily News man estimates them at
10000. As these figures come from ob-
servers at headquarters, it is clear that
Lord Roberts force was Overwhelm-
ingly superior. He can scarcely have
fewer than $4,000 Immediately avail
able, as the guards brigade reached
him from Lord Methuen Tuesday.
Lord Methuen now commands only
volunteers and the local forces at KIM
berley, some OF whom have gone to-
ward Mafeldng.
London, March S.-A dispatch to the
Times from OsfOntein, dated Tuesday,
March 6, says: "A commando OF 5000
beers has offered to surrender. but on
impossible terms. Gen. Cronje's losses
were greater than he admitted. Sixty
bodies of Beers have been found IN
one grave"
Not After DelagOa Bay.