Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-04-03
Col. Broadwood Walks Into q
Boer Trap and the British
Casualties Were $50.
ENEMY APPROACHING IN TWO FORCES.
The English Troops We're Shelled BY
the Beers, Who Made at Attack
on Three Sides.
Il Is Rumored That the Guns Taken
e"Frohh" Brondwood's Cuihmnnd
Nc Were Re-Captured-Great Ac-
: 80 itfSity Along vaal River.

it 'r -.
Y London, April 3.-The war Office re.
ports that Col. Broadwood lost seven
guns and all his baggage in the am
bush laid for him by the Beers on
Saturday The casualties numbered
$50.
The war Office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts,
dated Bloemfontein, April /: II re-
ceived news late yesterday evening
from Col. Broadwood, who was at
Thaban Chu. thirty-eight miles east
of here, that Information had reached
him that the enemy was approaching
in two forces, from the north and
the east. He stated that if the re-
port proved true he would retire to-.
wards the water works. seventeen
miles nearer Bloemfontein, where we
have had a detachment of mounted
infantry for the protection of the
works.
"Broadwood was told in reply that
the 9th division with Martyrs mount
ed infantry will march at daylight
to-day to support him. and that if he
considers ii necessary he should re-
tire from the water works. He moved
there during the night and bivouaced.
AT dawn to-day he was sheled by the
enemy, who attacked on three sides.
He Immediately dispatched two horse
artillery 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 nullah.
or spruit. in which during the night
force of Beers had concealed them
selves. So well were they hidden that
our leading scouts passed over the
drift without discovering them. and
it 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
horses We're Immediately shot down
at short range and several of the
guns were captured. The remainder
galloped away, covered by Roberts
Horse, which suffered heavily.
Meanwhile, Lieut.. Chestermasters
of Iiemington's scouts, found pas
sage across the spruit unoccupied by
the enemy. by which the remainder of
Broadwood's force crossed. They re-
formed with great steadiness. not
withstanding all that had previously
occurred.
"BroadwoOd's report, which has
just reached us. and which contains
no details, stated that he had lost
seven guns, and all his baggage. He
estimates all his casualties at $50, in
cluding 200 missing.
"On hearing, this morning, that
BroadwoOd was hard pressed, | imme-
diately ordered Gen. French. with two
remaining cavalry brigades, to follow
in support of the 9th division. The
latter, after magnificent march, ar
rived on the scene of action shortly
after 2 p. m.
''Broadwood's force consisted of the
Royal Household cavalry, the 10th
Hussars, q. and L. batteries of the
Royal Horse artillery, and Pitchers
battalion of mounted infantry.
"The strength of the enemy is es-
timated at from 5000 to 10000 with
guns, the number of which is not vet
reported"
The rnmors of the re-capture by the
British of seven guns taken from Col.
BrOadwood's forces. based on dis
patch to the Chronicle, fails to com
penSate London for the severe shock
experienced by the humiliating de-
feat sustained within II few miles of
the headquarters of the British army
of occupation. The public is painful
ly surprised to learn after all that
has come and gone that British oti-
GERS of high position can still neglect
precautions which the veriest tyro
might he expected to observe, and
blunder into traps which the obServ-
ance Of the elementary military rules
would have revealed. There is no at
tempt to minimize the discreditable-
ness of the whole affair, so far as the
British are concerned. or detract
from the deXterity of the Beers who
were apparently commanded by Gen.
Dewitt. The tactics of the burghers
were evidently eXcellently conceived
and boldly carried out, and unless
the reinforcements sent by Lord Rob
erts have turned the tide and re-
captured the prisoners couple of
men from two crack corps of
the Household cavalry and the 10th
HluSsars are now on their way To
swell the growing deposit OF British
prisoners at Pretoria.
President Kruger is said to have
promised to reoccupy BlcHmfontein
this week, and the stubborn burghers
seem TO be closing around the place
in such forces as promises to be trou-
blesome, especially when it is real
lied that the activity of a strong
Boer force in the vicinity of Paarde-
berg has already interrupted direct
Kimberley, Sunday, April l.
There is great Boer activity along
the Vaal i1ter. About 5000 burghers
have assembled at various points be
tween Fourteen Streams and Chris
tiana. Xbout roo men are dccupying
north of Klipdam, and 400
man ora nnatynn