Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-04-10

London, April IA dispatch
> was received at the war office
" announcing that Gen. Methuen
had fought battle with Gen.
Mareuil and Il body of Beers
$ near Boshof: that Gen. Mareuil
and seven Beers were killed.
eight were wounded and fifty
: taken prisoners.
= =
London. April 6.-4:09 p. m.-The fol-
lowing is the text of Lord Roberts dis
patch to the war office announcing the
capture of five companies of his troops.
1t is dated Bloemfontein, Thursday,
April ):
Another unfo1 tunate occurrence has
occurred resulting, | fear, in the capture
of party OF infantry consisting of three
compan es of the Royal Irish fuslliers and
two companies of the Ninth regiment of
mounted infantry, near Reddersburg, a
little eastward of Bethany railway sta
ton within few miles of this place.
They were surrounded by stronger
force OF the enemy with four or five guns.
Orders to Gathers.
The detachment held out from noon,
April ), until April 4, 9 a. M, and then,
apparently. surrendered. for 1t Is report
ed that the firing ceased at that time.
immediately after / heard the news,
during the afternoon of April 3, | ordered
Gatacre to proceed from SprlngIonteln,
his present headquarters. TO Redders-
burg, with all possible speed, and | dis
patched the Cameron Highlanders hence
TO Bethany. He arriv 81 at Reddersburs
at 1890 yesterday me- ming without OPP
position, but got no news of the missing
detachment. There can be no doubt the
whole party has been made prisoners.
Gen. Mareuil Killed.
London. April 6.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfontein,
Thursday, April D:
'Methuen telegraphs from Boshof Tin
the Orange Free State, little north
east of Kimberley, as follows: Sur
body of Beers today. None escaped.
Villebois and seven Beers killed, eight
wounded Fifty prisoners. Our losses
were: Killed-Capts. Boyle and Viii
liams, both Of the yeomanry, and two
men OF the yeomanry. WOunded-About
hours. The corps behaved very well. Our
force was composed OF yeomanry, the
Kimberley mounted corps. and the
Fourth battery of artillery.
The News in London.
London April THE war office, about
t p. H.. posted a dispatch from
Lord Roberts announcing Lord Methu-
ems capture of fifty-four Beers and the
killing OF Gen. Nillebois Mareuil, the
chief of staff of the Boer army, This
news had been judiciously started a few
minutes when a second telegram was
bulletined reporting the loss of five com
panies Of British infantry. Both dis
patches were issued in time 10 be printed
in the last editions of all the evening
newspapers. The lost companies are
probably part of the force guarding the
railroad at Bethany, thirty miles south
Of Bloemfontein. The Beers are evil
IDENTIFY operating in force near the rail-
road and there is a possibility Of the
line being interrupted for u brief period
at any time.
The Beers Great Loss.
In the death of Gen. Nillebois Mareuii
the Beers lose their best-instructcd sol
dier in continental methods of warfare.
As the late Gen. Joubert's chief of staff
his brain devised the Doe" defenses
against Gen. Buffers advance 10 the
relief of Ladysmith. He is supposed 10
have chosen the gun positions and to
have laid down the covered trenches.
He disposed the Beers at the centcTs.
from which they were sent massed TO the
defense of any part of Il wide arc. Gen.
FilleboiS Mareuil was the most notable
OF all the soldiers of fortune serving
with the Beers. He had written occa-
sional interesting letters to French cor
diers were III a position to defend them
selves for nearly twentyfour hours and
were then forced to surrender the fight
ing must have been severe.
The Beers were also in force yesterday
FIVE miles from Jaegersfontein, situated
sixty miles south Of BloemfOntein. They
had brush with the British patrols
Adviccs from Springfontein, dated & p.
H., April >, announce that the Beers
have been sighted west of the railroad.
Brou woods Losses Still Grow.
It is officially announced that the Brit
ISL casualties in the BOer ambush near
Sannas post total up 40, including 1863
missing. So wounded, 4 killed. The miss
ing include 134 artillerists, % life
guards, % men of the Tenth Hussars
and Il of Roberts Horse. The others
arc divided among numerous regiments.
Roberts is Taking Steps.
Bloemfontein, April 5.-Small bodies of
Beers can be seen in the vicinity of this
town but the Beers are still in the neigh
borhood of the waterworks. Lord Rob-
crts is taking steps to meet the activity
Of the Beers.
Advised to Keep Quiet.
London, April Cecil Rhodes arrived
in this city today. He Is well and cheer
full, but is much more exclusive than he
was on his previous trip home. This
Is doubtless owing to the fact that DR..
Rutherford Harris the former secretary
Of the British South Africa company,
and Alfred Belt, the South African finan-
cier, met Mr.. Rhodes at Funchal, Island
of Madeira. and advised him to observe.
on South African affairs, especially as
to his alleged differences with Col. Keke-
WITCH at Kimberley.
Mr. Rhodes reception was in marked
contrast TO his former ovations The
public did not show the slightest interest
in him. From the time Of his arrival no
was surrounded by a bodyeuard com
posed of Messrs. Belt Harris, Hawkes.
ley and Rochefort Maeuire and other
henchmen, who hurried him from the
boat to the train and from the train to
a cab without permitting him to speak
to anyone.
r-.@rrr.