Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-22
FIGHT NEAR LoBATsl,

insurscnt colonists. The free staters
refused TO go with him and are return
ing to their farms.
FIGHT NEAR LOi3ATSI,
Lobatsi, Friday. March l6-The Beers
under C0mmandant Snyman are ad-
vancing in force from Matthng toward
Lobatsi. Col Bodle made reconnais-
sance on March 10 and found Pitsani
and Potlugo occupied by Che Beers He
returned TO Goode Siding and made
demonstration on March a. lie found
the Beers in strength al sharp curve
on the railroad. They had mounted
gun on the line and were lying IN wait
for the construction train. DISK
firing occurred a few miles south OF
LObatsi on the morning OF the l5th. Tie
Beers Maxim was freely used
Col. Bodle came IN touch with the
Beers lust In time 20 prevent the camp
being surprised. The Beers attacked
the advance party and captured a few
boxes Of ammunition and nearly Sc
cured a Maxim. Lieut. Tyler was
Killed and Lieut.. Chapman captured
Col. Bodle coming 10 put the Beers
10 flight with heavy loss The Beers
Yesterday We're within q few miles OF
Lobatsi Yesterday afternoon the Beers
pressed closely on Col. Plumers main
camp and kept up q hot fire with
Maxim. killing a white man and ma
tive. They placed the Maxim and
twelve and half FOUNDER on a hill on
the east side of the line 1000 yards
from the camp,
NATIVES ASSIST BRITISH.
The Brhish right is - sedspy Chief
Bathion. who has waratd toe Beers not
! 10 enter his territory.
Col. Plumer's present endeayor Is TO
! insure the safety OF the railway north
/ Of Lobatsi and TO watch well the lett
flank. il Is probable that before the
/ B0crs retreat towards Pretoria they
viii tackle the Rhodesans IN force.
Ii Is reported that the burghers are
/ abandoning the enyirOns OF Mateking,
leaving only a sufficient number Of ar
! tillerymen to man the big guns. There
| are none at Ramathabama, where they
were supposed to have their base Col.
| Plumer's scouts were at Ramathlabama
yesterday
The usual Mafeklng dispatches are
overdue. but no anxiety is felt on that
score Dynamite explosions, wrecking
the railway, are proceeding south OF
Lobatsl.
PRETORIA REPORT NOT Be
LIENED.
London. March 22-The report from
Kroonstad. Orange Free State, via Pre-
toria. that the Beers. under the COM
mand OF Gen. Olivier. have defeated the
British troops under Gen. Gatacre IN
the vicinity OF Bethule Is not believed
here. A dispatch 10 the Daily News
from springfonteln dated Tuesday
March 20, says Gen Gatacre was AL
well and adds that he and Gen. Bra
bant had not lost dozen men IN Q
fortnight. The last adyices also placed
Gen. Gatacre about thirty miles north
of Bethulle, where the Boer report says
The defeat was inflicted. This, com
bined with the fact that no mention OF
the affair was made by Lord Roberts
In his dispatch of March q. confirms
the belief that the Kroonstad adyice'
are erroneous.
GRAVE ANXIETY OVER MA
FEKING.
The reports OF skrmishing near 10.
batsi. while apparently not iniiictinl
any serious loss on Col. Plumer''
column. cause grave anxiety In regarC
10 his ability 10 reach Mafeking
Further news from that quarter Is anN
iously awaited, for In the six days tina
have passed since the last messages
We're sent off a serious engagement
NAV have occurred though not Of Col
Plumer's seeking. The Beers seem de
termined not 10 give up their prey a
Mafeking without fierce struggle.
In reply 10 the mayor OF Capetown'
request 10 make "Mafeking relief day
a public holiday, Premier sehreine
wrote.
MAY the holiday come soon aud may
a spirit Of general good VIII and kindly
consideration prevail later
The Times In It's second edition pub
ushed a dispatch from Lourenzo Mar
cues which quotes President Steyn a.
saving at Kroonstad that the Boer
could continue the struggle for si'
months longer.
BoERs BURN A NATAL TOWN.
The Beers in the orange Free Stat
are taking advantage 81 the period o
inactivity 70 take rest. Those on IN
border are planning 20 show activity.
A special dispatch from Durham say
the town OF POmeroy. thirty miles cas-
of Ladysmith, has been burned by tn
Beers
A British detachment arriving a
Pomeroy as the Beers evacuated IN
place. shelled the burghers but the
succeeded In taking mp a strong posi-
ton In the hills with force estimate'
TO number 5000 men.
NO PEACE ovERTUREs.
II has been learned that no new peac
overtures. have been made TO Lord Sal
isbury, nor are any expected at presen
by Great Britain. The Geographic cor
respondence has been confined 10 IN
treatment OF British prisoners, Lor
Salisbury holding the presidents OF III
South African republics responsible.
The question Of safety Of Johannes
burg and the gold mines there had no
! been raised.
The correspondence exchanged be
. tween Lord Salisbury and Prosiden
/ Kruger VIII shortly be given 10 pariia
ment.