The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-11
GEN. KITCHENER REPORTS A BAT
TILE, WITH HEAVY FATALI-
TIES ON ROTH SIDES
GEN. sPRUIT AMONG THE SLAIN
LORD RAGLAN SAYS TROOPS, NOT
PEACE COSISuss1ONERs ARE
GOING TO AFRICA
MAJ. CREWE LOSES A PoMPOM
Came Near Losing His Whole Com
mand So Hard Did the Beers
Under Gen. Dewet
Press Him.

- LONDON, Feb. 16.-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 a 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 Frmelo, Feb 6,
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. Snith-Dcrrien at Orange camp.
Boutwell,, at a, m, Feb. 6.-He was re-
pulsed after severe fighting. Gen. Spruit
was killed. Gen. Randemerer was Sc
Verely wounded, two field cornets We're
killed, twenty of the Boer dead were left
in our hands and many severely wound
ed. Our casualties were "a killed AMI IS
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 Jagersfopte.n road
to the west this morning, having failed
to effect a crossing by the drifts east of
Bethuie
In Cape Colony, Calvinia has been oa-
cupied by Col. De L!sle, who entered
Feb. 6, the enemy retiring towards Ken
hardt Col. Haig is driving the Midland
commanders northward past Aberdeen"
MAI. CREWE HARD PRESSED.
EAST LONDON, Cape Colony, Feb. TO-
"Details have been received here of Sc
we're fighting at Taksberg mountain.
forty miles east of the railway and about
midway between Smalldeel and Bloem-
fontein. Mai. Grove with a 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
hurried forward only 10 meet Beers
streaming down and evidently retiring
from Col. Pitchers lyddite shells. I'm.
mediately Maj. Crewe brought three
b1teen-pounders and ''pompom' to bear
Oh the Beers, who, however, were found
TO be so numerous that 1t was impossible
10 head them. Orders were given to re.
turn to camp about two miles from the
mountain. The column rested until 4
O'Clock in the afternoon when the march
resumed southwest.
Mai. Crewe was just touching the
scuthern point of the mountain when
terrific rifle fire opened from a large force
o. Bocrs who were in ambuscade on the
mountain. The fight soon became gen.
eraI The Beers cunumbered the British
fVe to one and We're attacking them on
beth tanks and the rear. The British
pompom iammed 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 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 Join Gen. Knox, twelve miles south
The Beers Immediately attacked him
compelling him to fight a second rear
guard action for few miles Gen. De-
wet reasonably commanded the Beers. es-
umated at $500. Maj. Crewe's force was
cnly zoo. Eventually the British officer
Jclned Gen. Knox and returned to Bloom-
Icntein.
Lord Kitchener has highly compliment
ed Maj. Crewe upon the achievement.