The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-04-12
TRAPPED BY Beers.
Col. brentwood Marches Into Am
bush Near Bloemfontein-Enemy
Capture Seven Guns.

London. April 5. - The warSofice re-
ports that Col. 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 fol-
lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts,
dated Bloemfontein. April /:
II received news late yesterday evening
from Col. Broadwood, who was at Thaba
n,Bhu, 3S miles east of here, that in
formation has reached him that the enemy
was approaching in two forces, from, the
north and the cast. He stated that If the
report proved true he would retire towards
the waterworks, II miles nearer Bloemfon-
tein, where we nave had a detachment of
mounted infantry for the protection of the
works.
"Broadwood was told in reply that the
Ninth division with Martyrs mounted in
fantry will march at daylight to-day to
support him, and that if he considers it
necessary he should retire from the water
works. He moved there during the night
and bivouacked. At dawn to-day, he was
shelled by the enemy, who attacked on
three sides. He Immediately dispatched
two horse artillery batteries and his bag
gage toward B~loemfontein, covering some
of them with his cavalry.
Some two miles from the waterworks
the road crosses a deep nullah. or spruit.
in which during the night a force of Beers
had concealed themselves. So well were
they hidden that our leading scouts passed
over the drift without discovering them,
and it was not until the gon n guns
were entering the drift that the Beers
showed themselves and opened fire. Many
OF the drivers of the artillery horses were
Immediately shot down at short range. n
several of the guns were captured. The re-
~ 49, @-1,y ~x.N~0l Iv b
erts' horse, which suffered heavily.
Meanwhile, Lieut.. Chestermasters, Of
Remington'sscouts, founda passage across
the spruit unoccupied by the enemy, by
which the remainder of Broadwood's force
crossed. They reformed with great stead!-
ness, notwithstanding all that had pre-
viously occurred.
"~Broadwood's report, which has just
reached me, and which contains no de-
tails, stated that he had lost seven guns,
and all his baggage. He estimates all his
casualties at about $50, including 200 miss
ing.
ION hearing this morning that Broadwood
was hare pressed, 1 Immediately ordered
Gen. French with two remaining cavalry
brtgades to follow in support of the Ninth
division. The latter, after a magnificent
march, arrived on the scene of action
shortly after two p. m.
"Broadwood's force consisted of the Roy
al household cavalry, the Tenth hussars,
@ and u, batteries of the Royal horse ar
tillery and Pitchers battalion of mounted
infantry.
18th strength Of the enemy is estimated
at from 5000 to 10000, with guns, the num-
Der of which is not yet reported"
New York, April "A dispatch to
the Herald from Pretoria says: Gen.
Louis Botha has been appointed to sue
coed Gen. Joubert as commander in
chief of the T%ransvaal forces.
Bloemfontein, April 2.-Gen. Lord
Roberts has sent a telegram of condo
lence to President Kruger on the death
of Gen. Joubert. Rudyard Kipling has
written q poem on Joubert's death,
which appears in The Friend of the Free
State.
Bloemfonte1n, April 5.-There are
numerous indications that, in pursu-
ance of their boast that they will re-
capture Bloemfontein, the Beers are
trying to surround the town and to
cut our line of communications to the
south. Large forces are reported east
and south, which are supposed to be
making for the railway. They still
held Thaba N'Chu and the w~aterworks
Lord Roberts is completing his con
c%entration. Four AZ guns and four
naval 12-pounders have been mounted
on kopjes commanding the plain. The
cavalry camp has been removed to a
better position northeast of the city.
Special precautions are being taken to
protect the railway southwark.