Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-03-14
NEAR BL0EMFONTEIN.
General Roberts Should Enter the
Place Wednesday.
BLOODY BATTLE AT DREIFONTEIN.

London, March 12.-The war office
has issued the following dispatch from
Aasvogel Kop under date of March IL,
b:35 4. III.
I'VE We're unopposed during the
at the last camp to record list of cas-
ualties have not yet arrived. The fol-
lowing casualties are known, however,:
Notwithstanding II. y. Parsons
and A. d. Coddinston of the Essex reg
iment. Wounded-Lieutenan O.
Berkeley Severely; Lloyd Arm and G.
ii. Raleigh. General Gatacre reports
that he was within mile of the Be
THULE railway bridge yesterday. The
bridge was partially destroyed and the
enemy was holding the opposite bank"
Hard Fighting Last saturday.
A dispatch to the war office from
Lord Roberts, dated Drefontein,
March II. 7:15 a. NJ, says:
1.-The enemy opposed us throughout
yesterdays march. and from their in
innate knowledge of the country, gave
us considerable trouble. Owing, how
ever, to the admirable conduct OF the
troops, the enemy We're unable to pre-
vent us reaching our destination. The
brunt Of the fighting fell on General
Kelly Kenny's divisions, t wo battal-
ions of which, the Welsh and Essex,
turned the BUrs out of two strong po-
sitlons ut the point of the bayonet.
II cannot get the precise number of
casualties before march, but will
communicate 1t as soon aspossible. The
Beers suffered heavily, 102 of their
dead being left on the ground. We
captured about twenty prisoners.
Among the killed are Captain Eustaoe
of the Bluffs, Captain Lomax of the
Welsh regiment, and Mr.. McKartie, a
retired civilian attached to Kintchen-
er's Horse"
Should II mel, lsloemfontein Wednesday.
AT the present rate of progress Lord
Roberts should be in Bloemfontein
Wednesday. the 18th, though all cal
culations may be upset by the develop
ment of more strenuous resistance
than the Beers have so far attempted.
The distance between Lord Roberts
and the Free State capital is now so
small-only about twenty-five miles
| that 1t is apparent the Beers either
contemplate making determined
| stand OH the outskirts of the town or
| for strategic reasons best known to
themselves, are allowing Lord Roberts
| to occupy it after merely harassing his
advance. The numerical superiority
| OF the British troops leaves no doubt
in the minds of the critics here
that Lord Roberts will accomplish
his immediate objective, the occupa-
tlon of Bloemfontein. The comman-
der-In-chief's latest dispatch announc-
ing that General Gatacre is at Bethu-
lie bridge and the specials saying Cen
eral Gatacre commands the bridge ap-
proaches, put the Beers in that vicinity
between two British forces, Aasvogel
KOp, whence Lord Roberts sent his last
cable message, being 100 miles al
most due north of Bethulie.
| May Cover the Retreat.
| However. there is a large plain be-
tween them and the main body of the
Beers now confronting Lord Roberts,
with its ceaseless activity, may be
quite able to cover the retreat of the
| burghers confronting General Gatacre.
Once the British are in possession of
| the railroad from Bethulie to Bloem-
fontein, the junction at the Free State
| capital of Generals Gatacre and Rob-
| erts would lie matter of very few
days.
Commenting on the fact that Lord
Roberts found the Beers holding posi-.
| tons in part of the country sup
posed to have been left open. The
st. James Gazette says: mo more
damning Indictment was ever pre-.
ferred against any cavalry"
Rumors of the relief of Mafeking
continue to circulate, but fail of any
| confirmation. From Natal, which Gen
eral Butler so enormously declared
was free of Beers and from Cape Col
ony, where General Kitchener's stern
hand is upon the rebellion, there is nc
| news of any Importance.