The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-03-31
THE BOERS
DRIVEN BACK
Kruger's Foremost SOL
diers Overwhelmed by
Infantry and
Cavalry.

London. March 5u-Lord Rob-
erts has resumed active work TO
certain extent. The official dis
patch, which follows, telling of an
engagement in which the Beers
were beaten from their position.
calls it vaguely an operation y
But as in its conclusion he used
division and two brigades and lost
$50 men, it would seem rather to
have been an advance in force.
This is the farthest North at which
British troops have so far operated
in the advance on Kroonstad.
The War Office has issued the
following from Lord Roberts to the
Secretary of War:
"Bloemfonteln, March 30, DE p.
m.--Owing to the activity of the
enemy en- our immediate front and
their hostile action towards 'the
burghers who surrendered under
the terms of my proclamation, l
found it necessary to drive them
from some kopjes they had occupi-
ed near the Karee siding station
few miles south Of Brandtort.
"The operation was successfully
carried out by the Seventh fuckers
Division. assisted by the First and
Third Cavalry, under French, and
lie Calais regiment of mounted
infantry. The enemy retreated to
Brandford and our troops now hold
the kopjes.
Our casualties were: Scottish
Borderers-killed, Captain Going;
wounded, Captains Sellar, Luard,
PEBBLES, Gurgenvcn and Edwards,
Lieutenants Coulson and French,
and about 100 rank and file. "
London, March 3l.--The Times
says this morning: Boer aggrcs-
siveness north Of the Modder has
reused Lord Roberts to strike soon
er than was anticipated. General
French, the handy man Of this CAM
paign, was, as usual, sent ahead,
and with him Tucker and the Sew
enth Division. They met the Boers
at Karee Siding, Oh the Bloemfon-
tein-Pretoria Railroad, twenty
miles from the State capital, and
succeeded in driving them from the
kopies.
This was evidently all advance
guard skirmish on both sides, as
the main Bo:r force is atBranliort
fourteen miles north.
For an advance skirmish the
fighting was fairly brisk, the Brit
ish losses being 10 killed and
wounded, but as indicating the
1ong-expected advance to the north
the movement is received with great
satisfaction in London. The adj
vance IN force will probably COM
mence two weeks hence, and in
clude five divisions of infantry, four
brigades of cavalry. two brIgades
Of mounted infantry, besides veo-
many and colonials. This will be
the biggest army yet concentrated
to face the Beers and if the latter
attempt to make decided stand at
Bradtort or kroonstad the war may
be virtually over before the Vaal is
reached. The Beers, however, are
lately becoming adopts in retreat
ing tactics.
Meantime a large British forceis
gathering at Barklv, on the north
bank OF the Naal. intending to adj
vance on the Boer right flank at
Warrenton.
General Buffers army, too, has
vastly recuperated since Lady
smith was relieved, and despite the
tremendous strength OF the Boer
de(enses in the Darkensberg passes
it is expected that Butler will make
his way across the obstacles and
Join the forces of Roberts for the
| final march on Pretoria. Krugcr's
threat to rctake Bloemfonteln is
hardly credited here unless as a
desperate effort to screw up the
Beers courage to a policy OF resist
ance.
The Bloemfonteln CORE spondent
of the Daily Chronicle, telegraph
ing on Thursday, March %, says:
'prcsidcnt krugcrs latest
proclamation warns the women and
: children to leave Bloemlontcin with
in five days as he intends to bom-
bard and destroy the city and to
shoot the burghers whom he cap
lures there.
Vigorous measures have been
taken by the British TO harrass
maraudng bands of Transvaal
Beers. The latter are resorting to
guerrilla methods, chiefly against
the Free Statcrs who refuse to Join
| kr,lrrr. ~