Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-04-12
A WELL LAID TRAP
Britons Walked Into 1t and Lost
Six Pieces of Artillery.
A Number Of Soldiers in Charge of the
Rig Gums Were Also Captured
An Ambush Near Biocm-
fontein-Cronje Sails
for 81. Helena.

consisting OF the Tenth Hussars,
household cavalry, two horse batteries
and force of mounted infantry under
Col. Pitcher, which had been garrison
ing Thaba Nchu, was obliged, in con-
sequence of the near approach of
large force of Beers, to leave on Fri
day night.
Col. Broadwood marched to the
Bloemfontein waterworks, south of
the Modder, where he encamped. At
dawn Saturday the camp was shelled
by the enemy from near point. Col.
Broadwood sent off convoy with the
batteries, while the rest of the force
remained to act as a rear guard.
The convoy arrived at a deep spruit,
where the Beers were concealed, and
the entire body walked into an ambush
and was captured, together with six
guns.
Pretoria, April 2.-President Kruger
says that the last expressed desire of
the late Gen. Joubert was that he
should be succeeded as commandant
general by Louis Botha.
Maseru, Basutolard, April 2.--Presi-
dent Steyn lis reported to have gone
to Ladybrand to stir up the burghers
there to renewed resistance.
The Dutch who surrendered their
arms at Ladybrand are now suffering
seizures of their live stock.
Great things are expected by the
Beers of the new commander-in-chief
Gen. Botha, who has made his reputa-
ton wholly during the present cam
paign. Foreign officers serving with
the Beers have expressed surprise at
his clever tactics.
London. April 3.-The latest news
from the front adds little to the public
knowledge of the convoy disaster. The
disaster is regarded as a direct result
of he inability of Gen. French to cut
off the commando of Gen. Olivier and
the other commandos when escaping
from the Orange river.
The war office has received n dis
patch from Lord Roberts in which he
gives a partial list of the missing Brit
sh officers. OF go battery, four Off
GERS were wounded, two of whom are
missing One gunner was killed and
40 non-commissioner officers and men
are wounded or missing.
The Bloemfontein correspondent of
the Daily Chronicle, describing the
loss of the convoy, says:
"The Beers opened with Il murder
GUS fire. 1t was simply slaughter.
The Kaffir drivers of the convoy ran
away, leaving their teams and it was
impossible for our men to hit the hid
den enemy.
sour gunners fought bravely trying
to save the guns, but our people were
greatly hampercd by the Kaffirs, who
ran hither and thither looking for
cover from the fearful fire that pour
ed in on all sides. Meanwhile the
enemy were hotly pressing Col Broad
wood, whose mounted troops were
completely surrounded.
The British showed magnificent
bravery. The opportune arrival of re-
inforcements saved Col. Broadwood
from annihilation. One hundred wag-
ors were lost through the cowardice
of the kaftir drivers. 1t is reported
that two guns have been recaptured.
The whole force is retiring on Bloem-
fontein."
Cape Town, April 4.-Gen. Cronje,
Col. Schiel AND 1000 Boer prisoners
sailed for St. Helena last night.
Two small parties of Beers escaped
from the Greenpoint track. One party
was traced TO a railway train. which
was stopped and searched near Cape
Town. The Beers jumped through
one of the windows of the train and
got away.
London. April 4-No news has yet
been received of the expected battle
between Gen. French and the Beers.
There is now but a remote prospect of
the recapture of the guns. This, no
ever, is regarded as quite tritiing com
pared with the political effects of the
disaster. As the Bloemfontein cores
pondent of the Times remarks, Com
mandant Olivier's strategy in re-occu-
pying Ladybrand and Thaba NChu
was bold and even brilliant. Most of
his force is composed of Free Staters,
and the advantage gained by them will
have a disturbing effect ON the mind
of the Free State population.
London, Aprn 5.-1t looks as
though the Boers had conceived the
audacous plan of attempting to in
vest Lord Roberts at Bloemfontein
or at least to endeavor to delay his
northward advance by harrassing the
British lines of communication.
On his side Lord Roberts is concen.
trating his forces and preparing tc
take every advantage of the bold but
TlShN litlItS pl tit tlitllN' ilN 10 iIo'
likely to strike at any of their forces
until he is certain of delivering q
crushing blow.
The situation, in the absence ot
any official dispatch from Lord Rob.
crts, is both mystifying and interest
ing.
The Daily Mail has the following
from Bloemfontcin, dated Tuesday
April 3: "Col. Porter, with 80 carbi'
ncers and Scots Greys and two guns
performed brilliant deed Sunday
He charged Il large body of Beers
and rescued 90 odd British prisoners
including II officers, who were cap
tured the previous day. There were
no casualties on the British side"
VIII spend 100000 IA Month.
Washington, April 3.-Arrange-
,npr,tc have been made nv the war de-