The evening times., 1900-04-21

BOSHOF. o. F. S, April 21.-A strong
body of Beers with several guns made
fierce attack on a column of Lord Me-
thuen's force yesterday. The Beers were
held in check while the convoy, which the
British column was protecting passed
through safely.
The convoy and part Of Lord Methuen's
field force had been ordered TO return from
swartz Kopje to this place The Beers,
who numbered about 2OO0, fought in the
most determined manner At one time
they advanced within 500 yards O. the
kopje where the British were concealed.
LONDON. April 21.-Reports from ALI
wal North tell of terrible execution
wrought by the British upon the Beers
during a night attack on Wepener. Il IS
declared that after the action the 9oers
carried away FIVE wagon loads of dead and
wounded. This account is given By native
servants Of British officers captured by the
Beers. the servants having escaped from
the Boer laager at Wepener. The officers
were Captain Little, OF General Brabant's
Colonial Cavalry. and Lieutenant Holbeck.
who with Mr. Milne. a correspondent, fell
TO reach Wepener a week ego. Everything
was taken from the prise ners, who were
sent to Pretoria. Their native servants,
who escaped. say that four guns were disa-
bled and that the Beers have lost 100 in
killed alone.
The Beers made q night attack on April
II. but were discovered, while creeping
along deep ditch, by Cape Mounted Rifle
men. who fired into them with Maxims at
a distance of 200 yards, with the result
that The Beers lost five wagon loads Of
killed and wounded. a simultaneous at
tack in other quarters was -5pulsed by the
British who used their bayoncts.
The Beers still surround &eaeaer. but
there has been little firing lately. Reports
from Mazeru place the British losses at
Wepener thus far at % killed and 10
wounded.
Dispatches from the front say that Gen.
Sir Henry Rundle's Eighth Division was
fghting near De Vets Oorp yesterday
There were few British casualties. as the
engagement was simply iong-range ar
tilIery practice. The R"ers fell back two
miles 70 the east. and the British occu-
pied the burghers' first position.
A despatch from Wakkerstroom, Orange
Free State, dated April 20. says:
There was smart engagement yester-
day between the British troops and the
Beers. The British Imperial Yeomanry
and Colonel SidwelTs Mounted Infantry
were the principal troops engaged and
they behaved splendidly. They located the
Beers on the heights near De Vets Dorp
and seized the most important hill. which
General Brabazon's troops held stubbornly
from IL O'Clock in the forenoon, when
they were re-enforced by infantry and
three batteries of artillery. The British
infantry hold the hill tonight"
Dispatches from Natal report that the
Beers opened a heavy shell fire on the
British at Elandslaagte this morning.
President Steyn, Of the Orange Free
State. has Issued orders 10 the Burghers
to hold tight the grain districts around
weperer. Ladybrand and Ficksburg.
A despatch from Pretoria dated April 10
says: Word has been received here from
Hoopstad, Orange Free State. that a SHARP
fight has occurred north of Boshof. between
the advance guard Of General Delarey'
force. comprising $50 Beers and a body
Of British The British, l. is declared
were repulsed and left twenty dead on the
field
A despatch from Ladysmith, dated today
says: Firing was heard at intervals today
in the direction of Sundays River. 1t was
maintained for an hour"