Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-04
BRITISH ARE TRAPPED.
Walk into an Ambush Set by the
Beers.
GEvEN BIG GUNS ARE CAPTURED.


British Loss Ii 35O-The Surprise Was
So Complete That There Was No Chance
for the British to Fight-Text of Lord
Roberts Dispatch Describing the AInir
-Rumored Recapture of Guns.
London, April 2.-The war Office re-
ports that Colonel Broadwood lost
seven guns and all his baggage in the
ambush laid for him by the Beers on
Saturday. The casualties numbered
$50. The war office has received the
following dispatch from Lord Roberts.
dated Bloemfontein, April 1:
II received news late yesterday even
ing from Colonel Broadwood, who was
at Thaba 'Nchu, thirty-eight miles east
of here, that information had reached
him that the enemy was approaching
in two forces, from the north and the
east. He stated that If the report
proved true he would retire towards
the waterworks, seventeen miles near
err Bloemfontein, where we have u de-
tachment of mounted infantry for the
protection Of the works.
Shelled by the Enemy.
"Broadwood was told, in reply, that
the Ninth division, with Martyrs
mounted infantry, will march at day
light today to support him, and that if
he considers 1t necessary he should re-
tire from the waterworks. He moved
there during the night and bivouacked.
At dawn he was shelled by the enemy,
who attacked on three sides. He i'm.
mediately dispatched two horse artil-
lery batteries and his baggage toward
Bloemfontein, covering some of them
with his cavalry.
"Some two miles from the water.
works the road crosses O deep mullah,
or spruit, in which during the night a
force of Beers had concealed them.
selves.
| Boers Well Hidden. r
$50 well were they hidden that our
leading scouts passed over the drift
without discovering them, and it was
not until the wagons and guns were
entering the drift that the Beers
showed themselves and opened fire
Many Of the drivers of the artillery
were Immediately shot down ut shor,
range and several of the guns were
captured. The remainder galloped
away, covered by Roberts horse,
which suffered heavily.
"Meanwhile, Lieutenant Chester.
masters Of Relnington's scouts found q
| passage across the spruit unoccupied
by the enemy, by which the remainder
Of BrOadwood's force crossed. They re.
formed with great steadiness, notwith.
standing all that had previously oc
CURED.
Had Lost Seven Guns.
"Broadwood's report, which has
just reached me, and which contains
no details, stated that he had lost sew.
en- guns and all his baggage. He es.
Inmates all his casualties at about $50
including 200 missing. On hearing this
morning that Broadwood was hard
pressed, Immediately ordered Gen.
eral French with two remaining cayal.
~ brigades, to follow in support Of the
Ninth division. The latter, after 9
magnificent march, arrived on the
scene Of action shortly after 2 p. m
Broadwood's force consisted Of the
Royal Household cavalry, the Tenth
Huzzars, G and U batteries of the Roy.
al Horse artillery, and Pitchers bat.
TALON of mounted infantry. The
strength of the enemy is estimated al
from 5000 to 10000, with guns, the
number of which is not yet reported
Another Dispatch from Roberts.
The war office has received another
dispatch from Lord Roberts dated at
Bloemfontein, Sunday, April 1, 8:15 p.
M, in which, after referring to his
previous telegram, he gives a partial
list of the missing British officers. OF
20" battery four officers were wound
ed, two of whom are missing. One
gunner was killed and forty non-com
missioned officers and men are wound
ed or missing. Lord Roberts then con-
tinues:
"In 'U' battery all are missing ex-
cept Major Taylor and sergeant ma
jor. The two cavalry regiments did
not suffer SO much. A report has
Just come in that the enemy has re-
tired towards Ladybrand, leaving
twelve wounded officers and some sew
enty men ut the waterworks. We
are now sending an ambulance for
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