Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-05-01
A STUBBORN BATTLE
The Beers Made Persistent Attacks
Upon the British Forces At
Thaba N'Chu.
WONDERFULLY AGGRESSIVE
Queen Victoria Is Angry Because hespion-
kop Dispatches We're Published-Ar-
tillery Duels Seem to Be Daily
Occurrence.


patch has been sent by Lord Roberts te
the war office:
'Bloemfontein, April 3O-The Beers
made very persistent attacks around
Thaba NChu on Saturday and Sunday
But the position, the eighth (Rundle's)
division holds is strong, and he had the
assistance of Gordon's and Dickson's
brigades, the cavalry under French and
Smith-Dorrienis infantry brigade, and
body of the mounted infantry under
Ian Hamilton. Pole Carew's division
returned from Dewetsdorp yesterday"
PLANS KEPT SECRET.
Lord Roberts also reports that the ad-
ditional casualties sustained during the
fighting on April 27 around Thaba
N'Chu includes Lieutenant Geary. Mel
ther the commander in chiefs nor the
correspondents dispatches throw any
light on the plans being adopted to oust
the Beers from the neighborhood of
Thaba N'Chu, and how long before a
determined effort will be made to reas-
sert British superiority is only a matter
of surmise.
REMARKABLE AGGRESSIVENESS
In the meantime the Beers are re-
markably aggressive especially in view
of the large forces opposing them. They
made a daring attempt to cut off the
British convoy, which got into broken
ground between Thaba NChu and De-
wetsdorp, opening fire from adjacent
hills. In the nick of time General Bra
bant, with strong force of yeomanry
returning from Wepener, arrived and
extricated the convoy General Rumble
is covering the advanced camp facing
the Beers position to the east, where
they are strongly intrenched. General
Ian Hamilton and General Smith Dor
rien occupy strong positions on the road
to the north.
MUCH ARTILLERY FIRING
All accounts tell of much artillery fir
ing, with scarcely any casualties. 1t is
hardly likely that two such forces can
much longer patiently face each other
without more stirring occurrences.
General Brabant's column is expected
to join General French shortly. Strin-
gent measures are being adopted to pre-
vent the Boer guerrillas from securing
supplies from other centers.
CAPE PARLIAMENT.
The Cape parliament has been sum-
moned for June %.
THE QUEEN ANGRY.
At the conclusion of General George
Whites visit to Windsor to-day Queen
Victoria decorated the defender of La
dysmith with the cross and the star of
the Royal Victorian order. 1t is learned
that the queen was more angry than
for years over the publication of the
Spion Kop dispatches.
WILL HOLD OUT.
London, May IA dispatch from
Mafeking, dated April 20, says: "The
Beers have been busy for several days
blowing up the railway southwark.
There was little firing during the past
week. The town will respond cheerfully
to Lord Roberts request to hold out an
other month. Fever is rife, but other
wise the health of the garrison is good
and all are WELL"
A BATTLE AT HAUTNEY.
London, May 1, 7:15 p. m.-The war
Office received the following dispatch
from General Roberts:
"Bloemfontein, May Liam Hamilton
marched yesterday in northerly di-
rection from Thaba N'Chu with body
of mounted infantry and Smith-Dor-
rien's brigade of Clements division. At
Hautney he found himself opposed by
strong force commanded by General
Botha in person. Re-enforcements
reached this force during the day, and
directed that French strengthen him
during the night from Thaba N'Chu.
This he was able to do, as the numb, ~
of Beers in the neighborhood of Tharh
N'Chu has considerably decreased. In
addition to these troops, Hamilton
should be re-enforced during the day by
Broadwood's cavalry and Bruce-Han-
ilton's infantry brigade. Hamilton men
toned that his casualties yesterday
were about thirty. Maxwell's brigade Of
the seventh division yesterday occupied
Vlaksontors and Schauskraal and row
Of kopjes without meeting opposition
but the mounted infantry were engaged
some hours"