The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-12
PUSHING ON.
Roberts Reports That He Is
One Day Nearer
To the Capital of the Orange
Free State.
MARCH Is UNOPPOSED.
He Had a Hard Days Fighting
on Saturday.
Beers Continue to Get Away
With Their Artillery.
MARCH Is UNOPPOSED

from AaSvogel kOp, under date OF
March u, 5:35 a. m:
I'VE were unopposed during the
march yesterday. The officers left at
the last camp to record the list of cas-
ualties have not yet arrived. The fol-
lowing additional casualties are known,
however:
Killed-Lieutenants f. N. Parsons
and A. B. Coddington, of the Essex
regiment
Wounded-Leutenant C. Berkeley.
severely; L. L. Lloyd, arm; G. H. Raj
eigh.
General Gatacre reports that he was
within mile of the Bethulie railroad
bridge yesterday. The bridge was par
tally destroyed and the enemy was
holding the opposite bank"
BUT rs MILES AWAY.
London, March 12.-At the present
rate of progress Lord Roberts should
be in Bloemfontein Wednesday, March
IA, though all calculations may be up
set by the development of more siren
uous resistance than the Beers have so
far attempted
The distance between Lord Roberts
and the Free State capital is now so
small-only about 25 miles-that it is
apparent the Beers either contemplate
making a determined stand on the out
skirts of the town or for strategic rea-
SOIlS DCSI KNOWN TO themselves are d1-
lowing Lord Roberts to occupy it after
merely harassing his advance.
AN ALL DAY FIGHT.
Dreifontein, March 11-An of yes
terday was occupied in fighting. The
Beers maintained a stubborn rear
guard action along running front of
twelve miles on very difficult ground.
The British were advancing in three
columns. General Tucker, to the south
ward, occupied Petrusberg unapposed.
General Kelly-Kenny. after following
the river bank, moved in the direction
of Abraham's kraal
At Dreifontein, about eight miles
south of Abraham's kraal, the Beers
were found posted in considerable
strength on the ridges connecting sew
eral kopjes, where they had mounted
guns.
The action began at o'clock in the
morning with an artillery duel. Gen
eral French'S cavalry, and General
Porter's brigade supported our guns.
The Boer artillery was accurately han
died, and the British cavalry found a
task harder than they had expected.
General Broadwood, with dogged per-
severance, moved altogether six miles
southwark, trying to find a means to
get round, but the Beers followed be-
hind rising ground, and even attempted
to Outf1ank him.
Meanwhile, the Sixth division of in
fantry advancing on the Boer left,
slowly forced the enemy to retire. Had
the infantry been able to move faster,
the Beers would have been envelOped.
The last shot was fired at 7:30 p. m.
This morning not a Boer was to be
seen. The prisoners belonged to Pres
ident Kruger's own command.
London, March IA dispatch to the
war office from Lord Roberts. dated
Driefontein, March II, 7:15 a. m, says:
1.-The enemy opposed us throughout
yesterdays march, and from their in
innate knowledge of the country gave
US considerable trouble. Owing, how
ever, to the admirable conduct of the
troops, the enemy were unable to pre-
vent US reaching our destination. The
hrunt of the fighting fell on General
Kelly divisions, two battalions
of which, the Welsh and Essex, turned
the Beers out of two strong positions
at the point of the bayonet.
"I cannot get the precise number of
casualties before I march, but will
communicate it as soon as possible.
The Beers suffered heavily, 102 of their
dead being left on the ground. We
captured about 20 prisoners.
Among the killed are Captain Eus-
tace, of the Bluffs; Captain Lomax, of
the Welsh regiment, and Mr.. McKar-
tie, a retired Indian civilian attached
to Kitchener's force.
Among the wounded are: Bluffs
ant Ronald
welsh egiment-Lieutenants Tor
kington, Pope, Wimberley.
Essex eginent-Captain Broad
wood.
':Field artillery-Li Deven-
ish.
Medical corps-Major Waite, Lieu
tenant Berne.
Australian artillery-Colonel Um-
pheley, abdomen, dangerous"
The Morning Posts correspondent at
Dreifontein telegraphing Sunday, says:
The fight throughout was much in
volved. The enemy evacuated and re-
occupied positions, subtly concealing
their intentions and only withdrawing
their guns a few minutes prior to their
ranged ours, the naval brigade not ar
irving in time.
Our cavalry horses were completely
tired by the repeated Withdrawals The
turning movement was begun too late.
The enemy attempted with heliograph
to lure us to occupy a kopje which they
held, but detecting the deception, we
returned.
A dispatch to the Times from Drei-
fontein, dated Sunday, says:
The storming Of Alexander kopje by
the Welsh was q particularly fine piece
moving thir guns was very remarkable.
The New South Wales mounted in
fantry made a gallant but unsuccess-
full attempt to capture gun
BOERS DRIVE BRITISH BACK.
Durham, March 1.-THE Natal Mer-
curry has the following dispatch from
Greytown, dated today:
"a force composed of Bethune's
mounted infantry, the Umveti mounted
rifles and the Natal police. with three
Maxims under Col. Rethune, reached
Pomerby Thursday, March g. The fol-
lowing morning the Boer pickets opened
fire.
"a general engagement soon ensued.
the Beers using pompoms and two big
guns. There was heavy firing on both
sides. Col Bethune. seeing the, impossi-
bility of dislodging the Beers without
artillery, retired south Of the Tugela,