The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-11
GEN. KITCHENER REPORTS A BAT
TILE, WITH HEAVY FATAL
TIES ON BOTH SIDES
GEN. SPRUIT AMONG THE SLAIN
LORD RAGLAN SAYS TROOPS, NOT
PEACE COMMISSIONERS ARE
GOING TO AFRICA
MAJ. CREWE LOSES A PoMPoM
Came Near Losing His Whole Com
mand So Hard Did the Beers
Under Gen. Devvet
Press Him.

Z LONDON, Feb. 10.-Lord Raglan, under
Secretary of state for war, informed the
correspondent of the Associated Press
today 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 beginning to end" he said
The policy Of the government is the
very opposite of what would prompt
such step. Troops, not peace COMMITS
sioners are going to South Africa"
KITCHENER REPORTS FIGHTING
The war office has received the follow
ing dispatch from Lord Kitchener, the
commander in chief in South Africa:
Pretoria, Feb. 9.-The columns work
Ing eastward occupied F.rmelo, Feb. g.
with slight opposition A large force of
Beers, estimated at 1000 under Louis
Botha retired eastward About 800
wagons passed through Ermelo OH the
way to Amsterdam and very large guam
titles 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 exceeding bit
ter. Fifty Beers surrendered.
Louis Botha with 1000 men attacked
Gen. Srnith-Dorrien at Orange camp,
Boutwell,, at a. m. Feb 6.-He was re-
was killed. Gen. Randemerer was Sc
Verely wounded, two field comets were
killed, twenty of the Seer dead were left
in our hands and many severely wound
ed. Our casualties were "a killed AMI So
wounded
Our movement to the east is reported
TO have thoroughly upset all the enemy's
calculations and created a regular panic
in the district.
Christian Dewet appeared to be cross
ing the line south Of JagersfQp ZEN road
TO the west this morning, having failed
TO effect a crossing by the drifts east Of
Bethu,ie.
In Cape Colony, Calvinia has been o.
cupied by Col De Isle, who entered
Feb. 6, the enemy retiring towards Ken
hacdt Col Haig IS driving the Midland
commanders northward past Aberdeen"
MAJ. CREWE. HARD PRESSED
EAST LONDON, Cape Colony, Feb. 10,
"Details have been received here of Sc
we're fighting at Taksberg mountain.
forty miles east of the railway and about
midway between Smandeel and Bloem-
fontein. Mai. Grove with composite
column travelling southwest, sighted the
mountain on the morning of Jan. 81 He
heard heavy firing and knowing that Col
Pitchers column was on the other side
of the mountain he concluded that this
officer was in action. Consequently he
hui Iied forward only 10 meet Beers
streaming down and evidently retiring
from Col. Pitchers lyddIte shells. I'M
mediatelY Maj. Crewe brought three
Blteen-pOunderS and a 'pomDom'' to hear
on the Beers, who, however, were found
TO be so numerous that 1t was impOssib' e
10 head them. Orders were given to re-
turn TO camp about two miles from the
mountain. The column rested until 4
In h., 1Fy.
resumed southwest
Mai. Crewe was Just touching the
southern point of the mountain when a
terrific rifle fire opened from large force
o. Bocrs who were in ambuscade on the
mountain. The fight soon became gen.
eraI The Beers Cutnumbered the British
i've to one and We're attacking them on
Doth tanks and the rear. The British
pompom damned and became useless
Maj Crewe 'grasped he situation and py
brilliant move got the convoy into a
safe position.
ABANDONED THE "POMPOM."
Petween Z and s in the evening the
Beers charged the position and turned
both TANKS The British ammunition be.
came exhausted and Maj. Crewe was
obliged to retire and abandon the pom
pom after the advance party had en-
deAVored to save IT. and had sustained
severe loss.
a rear guard action was fought by
Maj. Crewe into the camp where the
wagons had been laagered He PERSONAL
~ superintendent the retirement. the
Beers harassing him throughout. En-,
trenchments were thrown up during the
night
When morning came Maj. Crewe start
ed to toiE Gen. Knox, twelve miles south.
The Beers Immediately attacked him,
compelling him to fight second rear
guard action for few miles. Gen. De-
wet reasonably commanded the Beers es-
umated at 1900 Maj. Crewe's force was
only 200. Eventually the British officer
joined Gen. Knox and returned to Bloom
Icrtein.
Lord Kitchener has highly compliment
ed Maj. Crewe upon the achievement.