The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-05-12
BRITISH KEPT BUSY.
Stubborn Resistance of Their Ad>
vance Made by Beers.
Latter, However, Are Forced to Re-
tire with Heavy Losses After Sc
we're Fighting-Few BRIT
ish Killed.

fish Killed.
London, May THE war Office has
published the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated Vet river, Satur-
day, May 5, 7:15 p. m:
st marched here to-day with Pole
Carew's division. Headquarters and Wa
| Wells brigade. of the Seventh division, are
two miles in the rear. Maxweil's brigade.
of the same division. Is the same distance
| to our right.
"The enemy are In considerable strength
| on the opposite bank of the river. Our guns
engag ed theirs for some three hours with
out being able to force a passage of the
river, but shortly before dusk the mount
| ed infantry. under Gen. Hutton. turned the
| enemy's right, and in very dashing man
ner pushed across the river under heavy
shell and musketry fire. We are now biv-
ouacking for the night within three miles of
Vet river. Our casualties, l hope, are not
numerous.
Hamilton was in action yesterday. and
succeeded In preventing junction OF two
Boer forces by well-executed movement
by some Of the Household cavalry, the
Twelfth lancers and Kitchener's horse,
who charged body of the enemy and in
fiicted serious loss. The enemy fed, leav-
ing their dead on the field and their wound
''Macdonald's Highland brigade dislodged
the enemy on the right flank under cover Of
the naval guns, in which operation the
Black Watch distinguished themselves and
were very skillfully led"
Hamilton was advancing this morning
to difficult drift oyer the Kleine Vet Gilt
tie VeD river. -
Hunter reports that Barton's brigade
was heavily engaged this morning two
miles north of Ruidam. The enemy's posi-
ton was quite four miles long and strongly
held. He states that our men marched
magnificently and carried ridge after ridge
in grand style.
Casualties in this force, in Hamilton's
and Hunters will be reported as soon as
possible.
Capt. Miller, who was taken prisoner
near Thaba N'Chu. has been sent to Run
dies camp by the enemy with severe
wound in the abdomen.
"Brabant reports that one sergeant and
three men were captured on May while on
patrol. and that one of them. who had been
brutally Ill treated and left for dead by the
Beers, was found the following day.
Lieut.. Lilley. Victoria mounted rifles.
reported missing. was found at Brandfort
dangerously wounded. and has been most
carefully attended by the Netherlands am
bulance.
. A Severe Engagement.
'aiiShtoh, NAY d.-odtuiudy pch.
Barton drove from 1000 to 1900 Beers
from hilly positions at Rooidan, where
they awaited them. They retreated
after stiff fighting, leaving a number
of dead on the field. The British cas-
ualties were slight. Gen. Barton is
still pursuing. Windsorton and Kip
dam have been evacuated. Gen.
Paget's brigade is attacking the Boer
position at Warrenton. The engage
ment Saturday was severe and lasted
from nine in the morning until four
in the afternoon. More than once the
British infantry were obliged to en-
gage the Beers at close quarters. and
the Beers only retired when their re-
treat was nearly cut off.
The British losses were five killed
and 25 wounded-mostly Welsh fusi-
leers. The British took a batch Of
prisoners, including the Swedish am
bulance.. which they allowed to re-
turn. The Beers. in their hurried re-
treat, left 10 dead
Beers Retreat.
Vet Liver, May saturday the
tered the Beers holding Vet river,
with six guns, two being of long
range An artillery duel ensued.
Meanwhile Gen. Hutton, after n sharp
engagement. crossed the river on the
left just before sunset The Beers re-
treated during the night.
Gen. role-Carew started at day
L S,t Iax, 10 al,
He first came into contact with Beers
I holding the river at one o'clock p. m.
The British soon had two batteries
in action, and later they added two
naval nine Founders, two At and five
inch siege guns. The Beers fired with
great. accuracy and the duel contin-
ued undated. with terrible din, un-
til sunset. and even later there was
desultory firing. 1t is marvellous that
nobody on the British side was in
jured.
Later the whole British force crossed
the river. threatening the Boer right.
The Beers must have received about
the same time news of Gen. Hamilton's
occupation Of Winburg. About sunset
detachment of 26 Australians who
had crept toward the river bed found
themselves near kopje occupied by
the Beers. After firing they fixed bay
onets and charged, capturing the kopje.
All was done on their own initiative.
Thus night fell. Early Sunday morn
ing il was discovered that the whole
Boer force had fed. Gen. Hutton dur
ing the night got two squadrons to
blow up the line near Swaldsel.
The British discovered, at every hun
dred yards along the railway, con-
concealed small packets of high ex-
plosive. The Beers had destroyed three
bridges over spruits between here
and Brandfort, but in every case it was
possible to make detour. The Beers
appear to be fighting with much less
spirit. 1t is reported that they are
commanded by Gen. Lucas Meyer. The
bridge over the Vet river is complete
ly DESTROYED. Gen. Hutton captured
a Maxim and took ~ prisoners.
-
Chattel mortgages withheld from
record beyond time reasonably neces-
sary for its prompt recordation isIheld,
l. D..--lx. .,~.~.,s. C.--oI,, (CaIN AZ