Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-21
DEWETSDORP FIGHT
Artillery Battle Between the British
and the Beers In Which There
Are Few Casualties.
BRITISH OFFICERS CAPTURED
A Newspaper Correspondent Who Will
Have to Spend Some Time At the Race
Track At etoria-Night At
tack On Wepener.

Bloemfontein, April 20.-Continuing
their march Friday, Generals Cherm-
side and Rumble came in contact with
the Beers near DeWetsdorp at noon.
Fighting continued until dark, and was
principally carried on by artillery,
which temporarily silenced two Boer
guns.
A LONG-RANGE BATTLE.
The British command the hills for
miles around the Beers, who are re-
ported to hold strong positions, but are
probably retiring. The casualties on
the British side were slight, most Of
them occurring among the yeomanry
and the mounted infantry. Firing was
at long range. None of the British
troops were killed.
A BOER ATTACK.
Boshof. Orange Free State, April 21.-
At midday yesterday General Methuen's
field force at Swartz and Kopjesfontein
was ordered to return to Boshof. It's
convoy extended over six miles. The
escort took up a position on hill COM
manding the road just in the nick of
time, as 1000 Beers with two guns sud-
denly appeared in the vicinity and
opened a heavy fire. The British, how
ever, held them in check until the COL
umn reached a point of safety, when
they retired. The British had several
casualties. The Beers fought deter
minedly, and must have suffered con-
siderably, as they once advanced to
within 300 yards of the hill, whence the
concealed detachment of British opened
a heavy fusillade on them.
BOERS REPULSED AT WEPENER.
Aliwal North, April 21.-Captain Little
and Lieutenant Holbeck, and M. Milne,
a Reuter- correspondent fell into the
hands of the Beers while trying to reach
Wepener. The prisoners were robbed of
all their possessions and then sent as
prisoners to Pretoria. Their native
servants, who escaped, state that four
guns in the Boer laager near Wepener
have been disabled, and that the Beers
had 100 men killed. They also report
that the Beers made night attack on
April II, but were discovered while
creeping along deep ditch. The Cape
mounted rifles fired into them at a dis
tance of 200 yards, with the result that
the Beers lost five wagon loads Of killed
and wounded. A simultaneous attack on
other quarters was repulsed by the Brit
ish, who used their bayonets. The Beers
still surround -Wepener, but there has
been little firing lately.
BOER GENERALS PROMOTED.
Pretoria, April 21.-Major General
Schalkburger has been gazetted vice
president dn succession to the late
General Joubert), and General Louis
Botha has been gazetted acting COM
mandant general (succeeding General
Joubert), in command of the Transvaal
forces.
THE RELIEF OF WEPENER.
London, April 21.-General Cherm-
sides and General Rundles' divisions
We're only twenty miles from Wepener
yesterday, so unless unforeseen difficult
ties arise they should be getting in
touch with the besieged colonial force
and by tomorrow have accomplished
It's relief. The two divisions are over
whelmingly superior to the Boer forces.
AS governor Of the Free State, Major
General Prettyman is organizing a
corps of mounted police and dividing
the country into sections to be admin
istered by commissioners, probably
army officers. Lieutenant Girarouard,
director Of railroads, is forming rail-
road corps, with prospects of perma-
nent employment.
PORTUGUESE TROOPS LANDED.
The transport Portugal, with 800
troops from Lisbon, arrived at Lorenzo
MARQUES. The presence of these re-en-
forcements will make Portugal feel
easier regarding the Boer protest
against the British use of Beira.
FIRING AT LADYSMITH.
From Ladysmith comes the news Of
firing heard yesterday morning in the
direction of Sundays river. It was
maintained about an hour. Shipping and
Boer activity are reported at Klipdam.
MERELY A SKIRMTSH.
London, April 21.-!The war office re-
ceived the following dispatch from Lord
Roberts:
"Bloemfontein, April 21.-Rundles'
force came in contact with the enemy
yesterday four miles southwest Of De-
Wetsdorn. They occupied strong posi-
tions covering the town. The yeomanry
and the mounted infantry seized anoth-
er position, which enabled Rdndle to
drive the enemy off and to occupy high
ground the enemy was holding. Rundle
advanced this morning early, and IL
now again engaging with the enemy.
Our casualties yesterday were two men
severely wounded, and Lieutenant
O'Connor and seven men slightly
wounded"
President Mckinley Declines.