Evening star., 1901-11-04
BOTHA LED THE ATTACK
MORE DETAILS OF THE LATEST
BRITISH REVERSE.
Correspondent of London Daily Mail
Says War Will Last Another
Year.

LONDON, November 4-The special dis
patches from South Africa upon the disas-
ter to Col. Benson's column show that the
first attack was made in binding rain
storm.
The heaviest casualties occurred while
Major Wools-Sampson. who is Johannes
burg reformer and an officer in one Of the
colonial levies, was gathering the convoy
under the brow of hill. a most dfficult
task.
II is assumed in London that the two
ffteen-pounders remained in the posses
sion Of the British, but the kilograms are
not clear on this point.
A dispatch from Pretoria dated Novem-
ber 8, says: Further details have been
received regarding the attack by the
Botha last week upon Col. Benson's
column near Brakenlaagte, eastern Trans
vaal. 1t appears that Gen. Botha, who
had been Joined by another big COM
Col. Bensons rear guard October 30 on the
march and captured two guns, but was un-
able to retain them. Col Benson fells NOR
tally wounded early in the fight.
Major Woos-Sampson took command,
collected the convoy and took up posi-
ton for defense about 500 yards from in
trenchments prepared by the Beers. The
captured guns were SO situated that neither
side could touch them
The Beers made desperate efforts to over
whelm the whole British force, charging
repeatedly right up to the British lines
and being driven back each time with
heavy loss. The defense was stubbornly
and successfully maintained through the
whole of the following day and succeed
ing night, until Col. Barter. who had
marched all night from Bushmans kop,
brought relief in the morning of November
l. The Beers then retired. Their losses
are estimated as between 300 and 400.
Col. Benson did not long survive. Not
only did Gen. Botha direct the attack, IS
already cabled, but he personally shared
in the fighting.
Edgar Wallace, a correspondent of the
London Daily Mail, writing from Pretoria
under date of October u, again protests
against official optimism, and declares that
the war will not be ended for another year.
He urges the immediate dispatch OF large
reinforcements of both men and horses.
Even when all that is possible has been
done in this direction" he says. 'it will
be necessary to wait grimly and not to ex-
pect any quick result"
A riotous scene occurred yesterday after
noon in Peckham, suburb of London. A
small gathering Of the local branch of the
Democratic League undertook to. hold
meeting to protest against the war In South
Africa. The manifestants started in pro-
cession for the place of meeting. but before
they arrived there they were hooted. buff
feted and dispersed. crowd estimated at
10000 gathered to oppose them. There
were many ugly rushes and the police were
barely able to protect the struggling pro-
Beers from the fury Of the populace. After
considerable fighting. during which man
was stabbed, the pro-Boers were removed
urder police protection. The victorious
crowd them held jingo meeting and sang
Rule Britannia
Dispatches from Warsaw say the news
papers there assert that contract has
been entered into for the supply Of 10000
horses for the British cavalry in South
Africa.
Queen Alexandra, following the example
of the late Queen Victoria, is sending
Christmas gifts to the troops in South At
rica. For this purpose she, has ordered
thousands of brier pipes, each silver mount
ed and bearing the stamp of the crown and
her majestys monogram.