The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-04-11
In SOUTH AFRICA.

1t now appears that the Beers have
conceived the audacious plan of at
tempting to invest Lord Roberts at
Blotmfontein or, at least, to endeavor
to delay his northward advance by
harrassing the British lines of COM
munication.
On his side Lord Roberts is en-
trating his forces and preparing to take
every advantage of the bold but risky
tactics of the enemy. He is not likely
to strike at any of their forces until he
is certain of delivering a crushing blow.
The situation in the absence of any
official despatch from Lord Roberts is
both mystifying and interesting. There
is little doubt that Lord Roberts is
hampered by the necessity for re.
mounts and transport; and the loss of
the convoy guns and all of Colonel
Broadwood's baggage was serious
matter. The Beers are now trusting
to what they believe to be their gu.
perior mobility.
Generals Colvill9 and Frenoa have
given up the movement against the
Beers east of Bloemfontein and re-
joined the main army. 1t doubtless
seemed to Roberts vaiu thing to
send from 10000 TO $4,000 or his best
troops into the wilderness with a field
transport in the direction of a right
angle with the chosen line of advance.
The Beers have probably moved else
where and If to the southwest General
Colgille could as easily strike them
from Bloemfontein as by following
them across the plains. These infer
ences still leave the situation bewilder-
ing for the time being. The enor-
mously superior British forces appear
| inactive in every part of the war field,
waiting yet, probably for the accumu-
lAtion of material tor a swift advance
| to the Transvasl frontier. Military
commentators and the public are irri-
| tated and confused. Everyone is wait
PRETORIA, April 5.-Sharp fighting
occurred about Mafeking April 2. The
garrison made sortie and General
Palmer's cavalry attacked the Beers at
Ramathlabam station. Both British
! forces were repulsed.
LONDON, April 6.--General Methu.
en- wires the war office from Bishop,
Orange Free State, under date of April
5 that he has captured General Vile
bois and body of Beers.
Boshof is town in the Free State
| sixty miles northeast of Kimberly.
Gen. Villebois is probably the French
officer. Villebois de Mareuit formerly
Gen. Joubert's chief of staff and STRAIT
egist of the Republican forces.
LONDON, April 6-The following
from Gen. Methuen is posted at the
war office:
"BosHoF, April 8, 1:20 P. MI sur.
rounded Gen. 'Villebois and body OF
Beers today. No one escaped. Gen.
Villebois and seven Beers were killed
and about eight wounded. We have
fifty-four prisoners. Our losses are
four killed and seven wounded. The
attack lasted four hours. My corps be.
haved very WELL 1t was composed OF
yeomanry, the Kimberly mounted corps
and Fourth battery of Royal artillery
LONDON, April 6.-Roberts wires
the war office: "Blomfontein, Apr
5,9P.M. Another unfortunate occur
renee, resulting, fear, in the capture
of party of infantry, consisting Of
three companies of the Royal Irist
Rifles and two companies of the Ninth
Mounted Infantry, occurring near Red
dosburg, little to the east of Bethany
Station, within few miles of thil
place. They were surrounded by {
stronger force of the enemy, with fou
or five guns. The detachment was en-
gagged from noon on the third to 8 A
M. of the fourth, and has apparently
surrendered. Immediately heard tn,
news on the afternoon of the third,
ordered Gatacre to proceed from
Springfontein to Reddosburg with al
speed. Gatacre reached Reddosbur,
at 1890 on the morning of the fourth
unopposed. He found no trace O
missing attachments. There is n,
doubt all were taken prisoners.
| '(Signed) ROBERTS"