The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-24
WARM FIGHT AT LEEUW KOP.
BRITIsH DROVE OFF BOERs AFTER
A HARD STRUGGLE.


ResuItins Casualties-Force Had
Reen sent Under POIe-Carew and
French to Assist Rumble in Re-
Iieving Wepener-Canadians I'm
der Fire-Many Beers at Wepener
But Their Position Is Dangerous.
London, April 23.-The war office late
this evening issued the following dis
patch from Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfon-
tein, April 2S, 2:3Q p. m:
Yesterday I dispatched the Eleventh
Division, under Gen. Pole-Carew and two
brigades Of cavalry under Gen. French
from this point to assist Gen. Rumble. The
force reached Karriefontein without much
opposition.
Casualties reported: Welsh regiment,
private killed, Capt. Prothero mortally
wounded and seven men. Yorkshires,
eight wounded. Eighth Hussars, one
killed one wounded. Fourteenth Hussars,
one wounded Royal Artillery, two wound
ed. Seventh Dragons, Lieut.. Jenkins and
ten men missing.
Capt. Rotton, Royal Artillery. broke
an arm by fall.
Gen. Pole-Carews mounted infantry
seized Leeuw kop high hill few miles
north of their last nights position. The
enemy evacuated hurrledy, leaving some
rifles and ammunition"
Gen. Rumble reports that twenty-five
men of the First Worcesters are missing.
Fifty-three were sent with wood to an
outpost after dark, and only eighteen re-
turned. Their numbers and names will
be repo ted to day, as well as four womde
ed yesterday"
The war office has given no explanation
Of the apparent discrepancy in the figures
as 10 the men of the Worcester Regiment.
How Beers Were Driven OF.
London, April 24.-The Bloemfontein cor
respondent of the Standard, describing
The operations at Leeuw kop, says:
AT an early stage the cavalry came
under a heavy fire from a pompom on
ridge adjoining Leeuw kop. Unable to
continue its march to southeast, Gen.
Dickson's brigade fell back to the north
to await the infantry attack.
The fanking movement having failed,
Gen. Pole-Carew with Gen. Stephenson 5
brigade, advanced in crescent form from
the west and south with the object of
enveloping the kopjes. The Welsh, War
wickshire, Essex and Yorkshire regiments
advanced in extended line, covering the
west while the Guards brigade took up
a position 10 the SOUTH with two field
batteries and naval guns. Sheltered by
the rocks the enemy opened a heavy fire
from rifles and pompom.
"Our men advanced over the open
ground in splendid style by succession of
short rushes, falling prone while pouring
in their voEeys. The approach of dark
ness threa tened 10 leave the Beers in pos
session bIIt iusf hpf0ra the EaSaX
Regiment calamity pressed forward and
drove the last man of the enemy from
Paarde kraal a bold spur of Leeuw kop."
The Bloemfonteiu correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph says:
The resistance of the Beers at Leeuw
kop was contemplate, considering the
strength OF their position. They escaped
IN an easterly direction, the guards falling
TO get quite round them"
The Bloemfontein correspondent of the
Times says:
THE British cavalry was checked. Col
Anderson worked partially around the
hanh of Leeuw kop but he was not sup
Porte'l The move checked the enemy, but
lear of nightfall precluded the poss bity
o. mate"
Many Beers at Wepener.
The strong body Of reinforcements
which Lord Roberts sent to assist the
relief Of Nepener and to endsavor to en-
Woat northward, furnishes further evl-
oenee that the Beers are assembled in
mueh larger forces around Wepener than
mad hi herto been supposed
AS the Times in an editorial this morn
ing remarks, whatever may be the diff
CUI e3 OF roads and rains the Beers al
WAYS appear to have guns, and sometimes
Og nes, VIII re they want them.
"A b0er dispatch, da ed Thaba Nchu,
AprI o. says that a esh supply of can
~ and ammunition las reached Gen.
DeWet at Jammersburg drift. 1t also as
sert9 that one OF Col Daighoty's guns
ms been smashed.
harrlefontein mentioned in Lord Rob-
ItS message TO the war Office. is fifteen
Iies southeast of Bloemfonteln. Leeuw
NoP Is TWO miles further south.
Apparently the British captured Paarda
MaaI Saturday night. The Beers evac-
r ua'ed Leeuw kop during the night, re-
moving the gun, and the British occu-
p'eu the kop the next morning.
Their Position Dang gerous.
Although the Beers appear 10 be offer
-t9 stout resistance to the British ad-
o@nce' their position is dangerous They
80" scarcely delay further their retreat
loTthWard without mourning The risk of
ing cut off. Usually they have been
ar.' informed regarding the British plans
aHt they are not likely to run such
.'sA' especially as they have partially ac-
C""pAshed their object IN drawing large
.oTees from Bloemfontein on long
i.afahes and have thereby delayed the ad-
vance % Pretoria
Ihe Morning Post, commenting upon
e cliiculty Lord Roberta is experience
l'-, asserts the wisdom OF arranging for
rte'dy How of reinforcements
-' report that a Boer commando was
! iankfort proved 60 be without foun-
SSuoH' but evidently there IS a large
'"'e opposing Lord Methuen.