The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-10-09
| SEVERE BRITISH REVERSE
Lovat's Scouts Lose Heavlyin a Fight
With Kritzinger.
SITUATION GROWING SERIOUS

The Dutch In Cape Colony Are snid to
Be in Revolt-British Unable to OBJ
tain News Of Boer Movements -
Burghers' Supply Of Men and Ainmu'
ni-ion Seemingly Inexhnustfble.
London. The War Office has re-
ceived the following dispatch from
General Kitchener at Pretoria:
"Ilritzinger, while endeavoring to
force a passage Of the Orange River
near Herschell rushed the camp Of a
party Of Lovats scouts. 1t failed to
cross the river. but the scouts lost
heavily. Lieutenant Colonel, the Hon.
Andrew Murray. and Captain Murray,
his Adjutant, were killed. Deeply re-
grer the loss of Colonel Murray, who
throughout the. war had led LoVats
scouts with great gallantry. Under
cover Of darkness the Boers~managed
to carry off gun. They were prompt
ly followed up, and the gun was recov-
cred in a smart engagement, in which
Kritzinger lost two killed and twenty
taken prisoners" -.
General Kitchener also reported
that the British captured by the Beers
In the ambush near Scheeper's Mex
have been released, and that the Brit
ish casualties in the recent Vlakfon'
tein engagement, when the Beers cap
tured q company of mounted infantry
and two guns, were one otticer and
five men killed, twenty-three men
wounded. and six officers and 1O9
men taken prisoners. General Kitch-
ener announced that these prisoners
have been released.
The Commander-in-C Chief in South
Africa further reported the capture
of two commanders, one consisting OF
flfty-fye men under Commandant
Kochs, and the other consisting OF
ffty-four men, including P. j. Botha'
who were taken with forty-eight Wag-
ons and their belongings.
General Kitchener's latest dis
patches, although they contain good
news as we'll as bad, have done little
to reassure the public concerning the
state Of affairs.
According to the latest adVices from
Cape Colony the situation there Is
very serious, owing to the sympathy
and aid which the Dutch are giving
TO the Boer commanders. The British
find it additionally difficult to obtain
news of Boer movements. General
French's task Is described as the hard
est allotted to him in the whole course
Of the war.
At Pretoria the strength Of the
Beers in the field is now estimated
at 1000. If these figures be correct.
the Beers must be constantly getting
recruits. Their supply Of arms and
ammunition seems to be inexhaustible.
In Boer circles in Holland it Is as
serted that everything is prepared for
O Dutch rising in both Cape Colony
and Natal.
A most alarming letter from Cape
Town ls published in the Daily Ex-
press. The writer says:
1.-THE Beers are overrunning Cape
Colony. They are on both the coast
lines and within forty miles Of Cape
Town. Even the Intelligence Depart
ment does not know how many Colon
ial rebels have taken up arms in the
last fortnight.
1.-THE town guard Of Cape Town has
been, ordered to hand in the magazine
:ifies and ammunition, ostensibly be-
cause these are wanted at the front.
Martini-Henry's have been served out
instead"
In conclusion the writer declares
that "the Dutch element in the colony
Is in revolt, and it is useless to dis
guise the fact"