The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-14
Driven Back By Lord Rob-
eEts &c al Points.

ei,ts CO al Points.
Leodoo, March 8, As n,.-The
Beers a7psse 10 na7e made 40 stacd
wna.e7a7, except iha. @5'ie 10 retfea.
tne7 :.ice rePaIsea Geserai Freaen's
c2salr7 with rife fire fbo eae'ay
probably got away With thei. entire
force General French is still 'oIcw-
;De them and keeping between them
and Bloemf fortein
The evacuation Of the northern
districts of Cape Colony is uow con-
plete. The British are in possession OF
the railroad crossings
Col Baden Powell at Mafekiog seems
to be in grave ueed Of outside help.
Otherwise ne would Dot allow the
correspondents to send o7t Information
respecting the distress of the garrison.
\ readjustment of some of the
higher commands is taking place.
General White is to 60 to Stormberg to
take supreme ommaud of General
Ga.acre's division and the British
Tenth division. now iD process Of
formation, which will be uoder the
immediate command Of General Hunter,
Sir George Whites chief Of staff
The Daily News makes the following
editorial announcement: ut was
rumored 10 London yesterday-and we
have some reason for believing the
rumor to be correct-tbat the two
republics made Informal and uuof6cia!
overtures Of peace on the preceding
cay.
u afortuna.ely the conditions we're
Of such charac,e. as to preclude the
possibility Of leading to aoy result
Terms which might have been gladly
accepted before the 9aT, in order TO
avert it. are i'm possible after the war.
with ali the sacrifices it has eotailed. "
WEDNESDAYS OPERATIONS.
Osfoateio. March Lord Roberts
movement today again thoroughly sur
! pr;sed. ou.wisted aad outmanoedvred
sae Beers, who Asd almcs. wir5ou:
6rirg shot The plan Of battle vas
as follows General Colvilie's division
extended along the north bank ;
General Tucker held the centre reserve
and the Guards brigade ba13 the centre
advanced. Geoeral Kelly Kenny's
divisioa was ordered to uake huge
aaokiog movements 90 the BocFs left.
70 loving Geoera! French, who wss
instructed to move southeast uo!ii
opposite the Boer fank sac thea to
swing around tie rear
Every mcvemens was admiTaSly
exsca.ad acd eotlrely success:al TIE
Beers 0eca surprised as vas eyiden;
fron the state Of ;he deserted caraps
Twice zoe British GaVa'r7 were a!saos;
in position to charge bus ;aey adp''
that the7 were fo:ied b; tie s.aaoeu
wing Of the Beers
..Wben las, seen GeDsral F:eoch
Sas pursuing ;he eoeny viseFeps!5J
! He was be.veeu them aao Bloe,afon-
,eio, about II miles frozn toe right
wing
.Gensfal Co!V:!le merely demon
s,rated against hisn ucuota:o
occupied by the Trausvasl troops vho
are COW fleeing. in consequence Of the
Aigh, of the Free S:ate-s south Of the
river It is impossible at p!esens 70
give the Boer Numbers. but 1t is
estimated that they reach 1000, all of
whom ere pow 10 flight
The Ninth Lancers a,tempsed to get
close to the Beers right, With the
object of charging, but the Beers care
out 10 great force ADD the Lsncers
we're compelled to retire A batter?
was then sent forward to hold tie
enemy 10 check, while the GTahsms
iown volunteers ard company OF
mocnted infantry. supported BE- smother
battery. engaged the Boc5s On their
right aenk
Tie Beers fred she'll. failing short,
however, aud they naae stubborn
defense on tie kofj2 on our right.
ao6ladiug tie battery aod killing IS ct
the battery horses The mounted
infantry gradually repeiied the Bosrs
and the battery ,hen took pos:tion and
expelled them f.om their iaager 10
confusion.
The Bosrs beld a strong position on
the north bank Of the river but the
flight from the southern back com
PEELED them to retreat They showed
great adroitaess in gestiog away the
wagons and displayed bold front
while the rest of tue force vas busy 10
spanning.
General Freuch's division consisted