The evening times., 1900-04-03
THE AMBUSH AT DooRN sPRUIT
Terrific shell and Rifle Fire Mows
Down the British.


Down the British.
LONDON. April "A despatch from a
correspondent with General Roberts army.
dated Blocmfontein, April ?, 40 p. m,
says:
"BroadwOOd and Alders0n's brigadCs suf-
fered severely at the hands Of a great Boer
force at Doom Spruit on Saturday morn
ing. Doom SprUit is some three
miles west OF the waterworks which sup
ply BIoemfouteiu The waterworks are
some twenty miles up the Modder River.
Colonel Broadwcod found Thahanchu
nteuable. over ten thousand Beers with
good artillery, had been sweeping through
the eastern portion Of the Free State and
re-enlisting the burghers. On Friday
they began shelling Broadwood at long
range. Broadwocd did not reply. but
moved eastward at dusk and az o'clock
Saturday morning reached the drift re-
ferred to above. He did not attempt 10
send his transport across during the night,
but started at daylight Saturday. He had
to cross Doom Spruit drift. which is a
tributary Of the Modder River.
The Beers, who were in ambush. allow
Cd twenty wagons to cross the drift and
then opened a terrific she'll and rife FIRE,
throwing the British Who were not pre-
pared for an attack. into great confusion.
Q and { Batteries of the Horse Artillery
were fired on from distance of 300 yards
by the Boer rihemen. The commander OF
the batteries shouted out the order. Left
wheel, gallop," but the Mausers OF the
Beers dropped men and horses with such
rain Of lead that everybody for time
was compelled to seek shelter. But vol
unteers came forward heroically. and took
teams with them, saving four guns Of @
and one Of Battery.
The Beers had occupied the entire
length Of the river bed during the night
and all the British Hanks. excep; that 20
;hs southwest. were covered. The couduc-
tors and drivers OF the transport became
Uluic-suicken. This was especially true OF
the Kadirs who hid their heads among the
forage sacks and screamed in terror.
General ColyilIe-s Ninth Division from
BIoemfoutein moved down and occupied
Doom Spruit Sunday afternoon. Colonel
Pitcher with force Of Irregular horse en-
tered Ladybrand on Thursday morning
The English residents received him en-
Enthusiastically and there was a great dis
play OF bunting. He arrested the Lancrost
and sent him here as a prisoner. Later on
a strong force Of Beers attacked Pitcher
end he was compelled to retire.
In the hghtngat Doorn Spruit the trans
port was sent across first in order TO be out
Of range Of the Boer artillery. The Brit
ish artillery was sent to take a position to
the westward and reply to the Beers. The
drivers Of the British artillery horses say
they were looking over their shoulders
when the Beers began shelling them at
long range. The Beers disarmed the trans
port. almost without firing on il. When the
batteries approached the drift. about zoo
Beers, who were at Doom Spruit waited
till the horses were within a few hundred
yards Of them and then opened a deadly
1ife fire. knocking over horses and drivers
a part OF Q Battery succeeded IN reaching
high ground and shelter and got into ac-
tion at l,2o0 yards. The Mounted Police
ealloped to the southwest. and the trans
port and the remainder OF the battery be
came iammed on the spruit which was full
Of dead horses and mules. This prevented
the Beers from securing all Of the guns.
and the British saved FIVE Of them
General CoNlle's Ninth Division ar
rived in the afternoon. having made ie-
tour to the north through omen country.
General Smlth-n"--',n's brigade came
from the sou aU. were .... To pOur vol