The Worthington advance., 1901-02-15
SEVERE. FIGHTING.
British Detachment Put to Rout-
Enlargement In Which Boer
Troops Are Repulsed.

East London, Cape Colony, Feb. o.
Details have been received here of Sc
we're fighting at Tabaksberg mountain.
40 miles east of the railway and about
midway between Small Deel and
Bloemfontein. Maj. Crewe, with q
composite column travelling southwest,
sighted the mountain ON the morning
OF january 81. He heard heavy firing
and. knowing that Col. Pitchers col
umn was on the other side of the noun
tain, he concluded that this officer was
in. action. Consequently he hurried
forward, only to meet Beers streaming
down and, evidently retiring from Col.
Pitchers lyddite shells. Immediately
MAJ. Crewe brought three 15-pounders
and a "pompon" to bear on the Beers,
who, however, were found to be so num-
erous that it was impossible to head
them. Orders were given to return to
camp, about two mics from the noun
tain. The column rested until four in
the afternoon, when the march was re-
sumed southwest.
Maj. Crewe was just touching the
southern point of the mountain when
terrific rifle fire opened from large
force of Beers who were in ambuscade
on the mountain. The fight soon. be-
came general. The Beers outnumbered
the British five to one, and were at
tacking them on both hanks and the
rear. The British ''pompom" jammed
and became useless. Maj. Crewe
grasped the situation, and by brilliant
move got the convoy into a safe posi-
tion. Between seven and eight in the
evening the Beers charged the position
and turned both hanks. The British
ammunition became meexhausted, and Maj.
Crewe was obliged to retire and aban-
don the pompom after the advance
party had endeavored to save it and had
sustained severe losses.
A rear guard action was fought by
Maj. Crewe into the camp, where the
wagons had been laagered. He person
ally superintended the retirement, the
Beers harassing him throughout. En-
trenchments were thrown up during
the night. When morning came Maj.
Crewe started to join Gen. Knox, 12
miles southwest. The Beers immedi-
ately reattacked him, compelling him
to fight second rear guard action for
a few miles. Gen. De Wet personally
commanded the Beers, estimated at
2,500. Maj. Crewe's force was only 700.
Eventually, the British officer joined
Gen. Knox and returned to Bloemfon-
tein. Lord Kitchener has highly COM
plimented Maj. Crewe upon the
achievement.
London, Feb. 1.-THE war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Kitchener, the commander in
chief in South Africa:
"Pretoria, Feb 9-The columns work
ing eastward occupied Ermelo February
6 with slight opposition. A large force
Of Beers, estimated at 1000, under Louis
ons with families passed thraakgh Ermelo
on the way to Amsterdam, and very large
quantities of stock are being driven east.
A peace delegate under sentence of death
and other Boer prisoners were taken away
by the Beers. All the reports show that
the Beers are exceedingly bitter. Fifty
Boers surrendered.
Louis Botha. with 1900 men, attacked
Gen. Smith-Dorrien at Orange camp. Both
we'll. at three a. m. February 6. He was
repulsed after severe fighting. Gen. Spru,t
was killed, Gen. Randemeyor was severely
wounded, two field cornets were killed,
20 Of the Beers were left dead in our hands
and many severely wounded. Our casual
ties were "a killed and So wounded.
"Our movement to the east is reported
to have thoroughly upset all the enemy's
calculations and created regular panic
in the district.
christian De Wet appears to be cross
Ing the line south of Jagersfontein road
to the west this morning, having failed to
effect crossing by the drifts east Of Beth
ulie.
I'm Cape Colony, Calvinia has been oc-
cupied by COL De Lisle, who entered Feb
ruary 6, the enemy retiring toward Ken
commanders northward past Aberdeen. >"
hardt. Col. Haig is driving the Midland
London, Feb. 11.-Lord Raglan, un der
secretary of state for war, informed
the correspondent Sunday that Gen.
Sir Evelyn Wood is not going to South
Africa, and that no peace commission
is contemplated. "The report as to a
peace commission is false from begin
ming to end" he said. "The policy of
the government is the very opposite of
what would prompt such a. step.
Troops, not peace commissioners are go
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