The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-04-04
IN SOUTH AFRICA,

LONDON, March 31.-The head of
the army of Lord Roberts is now about
twenty-one miles north Of Bloemfon.
teiu. 1t occupies a cluster of hills won
from the Beers after stiff fight in
which the British lost seven officers
and one hundred men.
The Beers had been using these
kopjes as base for marauding bands
that have been beating up the country
adjacent to Bloemfontein for supplies,
driving off cattle and forcing non-resi-
dent Free Skaters into their ranks
again. The enemy must have been in
considerable force as Lord Roberts
sent 5000 infantry and 5000 cavalry
against them.
Lord Roberts progress to Pretoria
will probably consist of series of such
forward movements in which Boer po-
sitions will be attacked by portion of
the army advancing rapidly with wheel
transport, the main army coming up as
the railway is repaired. The reason
why hot chase was not made after
Commandant Olivier is that Lord Rob-
erts did not wish to wear out the cav
airy transport. Gen. French lost 900
horses in the relief OF Kimberley and
the pursuit of Gen. Cronje. Lord Rob-
erts lost 5000 transport cattle at Water.
val Drift and it is estimated that he
had lost 1000 other animals since the
forward movement began on FEBRUARY
49, The advance beyond Bloemfon
TEN is through bare country, and the
supply officers foresee an increasing
difficulty 10 providing for a great army
moving along single line of railway
LONDON, April "A British convoy
has walked deliberately into a Boer
ambush within twenty miles of Bloeu :
fontein. Ev IDENTITY Colonel Broad
wood thought it necessary to retreat in
haste from Thaba Nchu as he marched
all through Friday night, apparently
followed by considerable force of the
enemy. The convoy and guns had 10
pass through a deep Spruit which the
Beers had occupied.
Seven of twelve guns, comprising
two batteries, all the wagons and it ia
feared, many men, fell into the hands
of the willy Beers, whose daring dis
played so near Bloemfontein, shows
that they are rapidly recovering heart
after their recent reverses. The hope
is expressed that General Colville VIII
recover the convoy and guns; but this
is hardly likely in such difficult cOun.
try and it is probable the next news
will be that after a stiff fight, General
Colville extricated Colonel Brentwood
from his difficult position but failed to
relieve the disaster.
Severe criticisms are heard regarding
the renewal of the old mistake of un-
derrating the Beers and the absence of
proper precaution. No doubt the af
fair will revive Boer hopes and inspire
confidence among the enemy at crit
zeal moment.
The Beers are expecting great things
of their new communicating chief, Gen.
Botha, who has made his reputation
wholly during the present campaign.
Foreign officers serving with the Beers
have expressed surprise at his clever
tactics. The proof of continuing Boer
activity 10 the Free State will compel
greater clrcumspection on the part of
the British and will probably delay the
march Of Lord Roberts northward.
Detailed accounts of the fighting at
Karee Siding estimate the Boer forces
variously from 5000 to 5000 men.
Brabant's Horse occupied Wepener
last Thursday unopposed.
The Morning Post says: "The at
tack on Thaba Nchu and the convoy is
sample of the mode in which the
Beers will try to conduct the war. 1t
is a legitimate mode, and the most eff
fective for Boer purposes. So long as
the Boer army keeps the field such at
tacks will embarrass the British, and
perhaps the best way to get rid of the
difficulty would be swift advance and
decisive blows against the main Boer
army"
LONDON, April 2.-Lord Roberts Of
ficially confirms the report or the am
bush of Col. Broadwood's convoy by
the Beers east of Boemfontein on
Saturday in which the British lost sew
en- guns and 800 men.