Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-02
BRITISH LOSE HEAVILY
KITCHENER REPORTS SERIOUS RE-
VERSE IN TRANSvAAL.
Nine Officers and Fffty-FOur Men
KiIled-16O WOunded-Two
Guns Lost.

LONDON, November 2.-Lord Kitchener
has reported to the war Office disaster to
the British near Bethel, Eastern Transvaal,
in which two guns were lost, several off,
GERS killed or wounded and fifty-four men
killed and 100 wounded.
The following is the text of Lord Kitch-
eners dispatch, dated Pretoria, Novem-
Der I:
II have just heard Of a severe attack
| made on the rear guard Of Col. Benson's
column when about twenty miles north
west Of Bethel, near Brokenlaagte, during
thick mist
THE strength of the enemy is reported
/ to have been thousand. They rushed two.
guns with the rear guard, but It Is uncer-
tain whether they were able to remove
them.
II fear our casualties were heavy. Col.
Benson was wounded, but not severely. A
ing
Later Lord Kitchener telegraphed as fol-
lows:
"Col. Barter, who marched from the con-
stabulary line yesterday, reached Beascn's
column early this morning Friday) pnop-
posed. He reports that Col. Benson died Of
his wounds.
1.-The other casualties are the following:
killed-Col b. Guinness, Maj F. d. Muir
ray, Capts. M. w. Lindsay and F. I. Thor
| Old Lieuts. E. V. 1. Brooke and R. L. Shep
herd. and Second Lieut.. A. ]. Corlctt. Died
| of his wounds-Capt. Eyre Lloyd"
Lord Kitchener then gives the names of
thirteen other officer who were wounded,
most of them severely, and announces that
| 81 non-commlssioned officers and men were
killed and 100 wounded, adding that 10 of
| the latter have since died of their wounds.
The dispatch then says:
II assume that the guns have been re-
covered and the enemy has withdrawn but
I have no further details.
Il deeply regret the loss of Col. Benson
and the officers and men who fell with him.
In Benson the service loses a most gallant
and capable officer. who invariably led his
columns with marked success and judg-
ment.
1.-The fighting was at very close quarters
and maintained with great determination
but have not yet received a reliable esti-
mate.
1.-THE Beers retired east"
Col. Benson has been for some time op-
Grating in the vicinity of Bethel, which
northeast of Standerton. He surprised q
Boer laager October % near Trichardsfon-
tein, taking thirty-seven prisoners. Three
days later according to Lord Kitchener's
report at the time. after a long night
| march, the commanders under Grobelaar
and Erasmus heavily attacked Benson's
| rear guard and tanks at Yzirvarkforte.n,
but were easily driven away"
Whether this was the attack which re-
suited disastrously whether the
Beers who had been repulsed took advan-
IaSe OF the InlSt 10 RENEW the attack Is Sttil
unexplained. Lord Kitchener does not give
the date OF the Bethel engagement.
An earlier dispatch from Lord Kitchener
dated Pretoria, received here today, says:
Col. Kekewich, during night surprise of
Van Albert's lager, northeast of Rusten-
burg about sixty miles west of Pretoria),
captured seventy-eight Beers.
A dispatch from Amsterdam, dated No
vember /, says: The Boer deputation here
summoned Messrs. Leyds and Van Boescho-
ten by telegraph yesterday from Brussels
to consider dispatches received from the
Boer leaders in the field, saying that the
fighting burghers were determined to make
reprisa1s If the British continued hanging
and shooting rebels and others. The Boer
authorities in South Africa affirm tnat the
adoption of reprisals would be bad policy,
and that in order to strengthen their posi-
ton they request Mr.. Kruger to let them
know his opinion, he still has the great
est hold on the minds of the Eurghers
The meeting lasted four hours, aud it was
decided to advise Mr.. Kruger to comply
with the request of the Boer authorities
and to take the opportunity to or.ng the
subject of British executions IN South AZ
RIGA before the European public IN an open
letter.
DR.. Leyds has gone to Hilversur1 to PIE
sent the matter to Mr.. Kruger.