Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-05
FIGHTING
ONCE MORE
British and Beers Hammer
Each Other Fiercely Near
Bloemfontein.
B0ERs HOLD THEIR OWN

i ~
ting Slightly the. Worst of 1t
Federal Troops Posted
on Mountain.
Pretoria, Saturday, March 31.-(By
Associated Press.)-There has been
heavy fighting between Brandfort and
Bloemfontein. Wakkerstroom aud Err
melo commands attacked the 1000
British and drove them back with hea-
Wy losses. According to the reports
of the wounded, who have arrived
here, the fighting occurred all along
the line. The Federal troops held the
positions on our side and on the top
of the mountain, while the British po-
sitions were on the opposite side of the
hill. The British charged repeatedly,
but were repulsed. The latest re-
ports say that the Federals are more
than holding their own, but the final
result of the fighting is not known
here. The Federal loss is nine killed
and wounded. Reports from Brand
fort, received later, state that 1000
Federals attacked 5000 British sue
cessfully, but that $4,000 British re-
| Inducements arrived and the Federals
were compelled to retire after punish
ing the British severely. The Federal
loss, according to these reports, is
slight.
More Word From Roberts.
London, April 3.-(By Associated
Press. )-Fuller news of the disaster TO
the British army in the neighborhood
4 of Sannas Post does not tend TO i'm
| prove matters from the British point
of view. but, with the dispatches SO
mystifying, it is impossible to acc,l-
rately portray the present situation Or
to foretell the ultimate issue of Rob-
erts' attempt to retrieve the defect.
The war office has received the follow
/ ing from Roberts: 'Bloemfontein.
April g., 1890 p. m.-Continuation of
my telegram of March 81: There has
been considerable delay in getting ac-
action took place twenty-five miles
hence. The telegraph cable has been
interrupted several times, and the
ISlOUSy MCdtutI lulSllGlCu Will IuC
signaling. Altho there has been nc
engagement since. the force is contin'
ually in touch with the enemy.
4 There were many acts of conspicu'
|ous gallantry displayed during the
day s21
"We remained in action under the
cross-frs at 1000 yards, for some
hours, the officers serving the guns
as the casualties reduced the detach
ments. Several gallant attempts were
made to bring in two guns, the teams
|of which had been killed, but at each
Iattempt the horses We're shot.
i 1.-THE Essex, Munster. Schropshire
land Northumberland mounted infantry
and the Roberts Horse covered the re.
tirement of the guns. from that posi-.
4 ton to the crossing of the drift, but
were found by the cavalry two miles
\ further south, and withstood the de
termined attacks of the enemy in some
cases. They advanced within I
hundred yards. The "U'' battery o,
the Royal Horse artillery were sudden
lily surrounded in the drift and the Of
ficers and men all made prisoners
without a shot being fired. But Me. jon
. Taylor and the sergeant major sue
ceeded in escaping in the confusion
Five guns We're captured at the samt
|time. Further details tomorrow.
Roberts dispatch seems finally
to estimate their chances of adding
recovery of the guns, and the fact tina,
the Beers remain in occupation of t.,e
water works is taken as an indication
that they intend to make stand suf
ficiently long to cover the withdrawn
of the guns and wagons to a place .,
safety, altho the absence of definite
information regarding the movement.
of French's cavalry makes it Difficult
to estimate their. chances of aiding
this browning success to the blow al
ready inflicted.
A dispatch from Maseru, Basutoland
dated yesterday, says Earl Rosyln, VIII,
was acting war correspondent OF til,
Daily Mail in South Africa, and wht
left there on April on his way Il
'Chu, has probably fallen in the hands
of the Beers.
Deods of Heroism.
London, April 3.-(By Associate,
Press "A special dispatch from Bloem
: fontein, dated yesterday, says: Tn
loss of the guns was attended by Incl
uSL9S VI SpleIlOlQ HeiOlslH. HS ledu
| ing battery was SO near the Beers am
5 buscaded in the river bed that the lat
ter said: 1T is useless your attempt
, ing to advance. Throw down you
! arms The sergeant of the battery
: fearing the other battery would mis-
; understand the hindrance, rushed thru
/. the convoy and warned his comrades
: enabling the rearmost battery to saw
, a portion of it's guns, which came int
action later. A life guardsmen and
gunner got gun out under tremen
dous fire and four others We're save,
by the men dragging them off afte
. their horses had been shot,
Beers Hold WaterWorks.
Bushman Kop, Monday, April q
(By Associated Press.)-The Beers ar
still occupying the water works whic
i. the British sheIled yesterday Afternoon