The sun., 1900-06-12
BRITISH FORCE CAPTURED.
DOkRS STRIKE A HEAVY BLOW AT
ROODEVAL IN THE FREE STATE.

RO0DEvAL IN THE FREE STATE.
DssSysAirs Regiment est Up and Many Taken
Prsss.srs-Robsrts's Line Of Communica-
sssss otil Cst-Bslier Has Not Advanced
Yrsn oaas vlei-kraser at nacAAdodors.
SpseSss CoSk DsspaieA to THE SUN.
LONDON, June i2-0en. Roberts, telesraphlo
commmicsfon Il sull apparently cut ON
Nothing has been received from him or the
correspondents with his army. The thorough
ness Of the Bosr attack on his communications
s shown by the disaster to the Derbyshire
regiment which Is reported In the following
despatch from Gen. Bir Forestier-Walker
CAPE Town. June 10. 2O6 p. M.-KnoI at
Kroonstad reports: Casualties reported AZ
Roodeval on June I received from stonham.
oommsndnx Imperial Y Yeomanry hospital. dated
Rhenoster River June 9, and received here
under Q Tag Of truce: Killed-Lieut. Col BAIRD
Douglas, Lieut. Harley and iis men; wounded.
3 offioers. Including the Canadian ohicer Lieut.
Blanchard. and 50 men Of the Derbyshire
Regiment and 7 men Of the Cape Pioneer Rail-
way Regiment stonham reports that many
srs severely wounded. The remaining force OF
Dsrbyshires and details are prisoners. All eI-
ospt sig men In hts camp are wounded The
camp was lately occupied by the Fourth Derby
shires. Inquiries are being made and tho
names will be tsissraphcd Is soon - posi-
bls.'"
Another despatch from Gen. Forester
Walker says.
"CApE TowH. June 10. eos P. M.-Kelly-
Yennyreports from Blosmfontein. June 10 II
A. NJ, that Methuen with the greater part OF
bs division was lighting early on the morning
Of the sth. ten miles south Of Hebron. where
COsvile with the Highland Brigade was re-
ported TO be- Methuen left Lindley on June s.
With ample supplies for himself and Colvle.
having Paxet to hold Lindley with sufioent
force ana supplies. Kslly-Kenny ordered Knox
10 impress the enemy g outposts, believing that
the enemys strength had been exaggerated.
All "a quite and there Is no anxiety regarding
the districts to the southwark.
Communications north OF Kroonstad have
been out since June g."
These reports are causing increaS1ns uneas-
ipess here, though AZ yet II hardly amounts to
hnxiety. The Roodeval afiatr is not eluGidsted.
Gen. Forester Walkers being the only report
that has been received concerning It
Part Of the despatch Is very obscure. Ths
concluding portion may mean that whole
r,riment,--the Fourth Derbyshires-hAs been
captured. or that only battalion Is lost. Tho
onioaals at the War Office say they are unable 10
eluoidats the message. 1t was issued Just as
received.
The War Office has received the following
despatch from Gen. Butler:
HEADQUARTERS, NATAL, June II. SIS A. M
Ny force concentrated at Kip River at the
junction with Cans vei last night We antc-
mated at that deflle force Of the enemy OF
about 5000, who had, l think. intended to
occupy Il. but who retired "A soon "a our heavy
guns opened, which were smartly brought into
action by Major May and Capt. Jones. The
South African light Horse and the Second
Cavalry brigade were smartly engaged while
covertnR our left Our casualties were about
sIx killed and seven wounded"
Gen Butler has apparently not advanced be-
yond Cans vlei.
A despatch to the Central News from Pre-
toria, dated June 6. seems to settle the doubt
regarding the British prisoners. 1t says
that i5O officers and $500 non-commis-
stoned officers and men are safe In the British
encampment. The Beers were only able to re-
move 900 OF the prisoners. although they in
tended to take all Of them.
The Timess Lorenzo Marques correspondent
says that 900 British prisoners are In fenced-in
enclosure at Nooitgsdacht. None Of them IL
above the rank OF Captain. They are entirely
without shelter. but have plenty Of blankets and
food. A representative of the American Lega-
ton at Pretoria is actively interested in their
oehalf The prisoners train. as 1t was leaving
Pretoria, was subjected to heavy British fire. 1t
being the impression that It contained fugitive
burghers No serious injury was inflicted.
President Kr0ger remains at Machadodorp
with bodyguard OF 900 burghers. The stores
are being removed from Machadodorp to
Lydenburg a. quickly as possible. The
residents Of the latter place are resolved not to
defend the town under any circumstances.
The War ONCE publishes the names Of
officers and 4s men who have died from disease
In the hospitals. including Lance Corporal A. r.
Van Ornan OF the Canadian Mounted In
fantry. who died Of enterio fever at
Bloemfonten. Capt z. F. Harrison Of the
Canadian Mounted Infantry and Stan Sergeant
q. Cunie OF the Canadian Infantry are danger
ously III. theformer at wynberg and the latter
at Cape Town. L