The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-01
BOER COMMANDER CAPTURED, BUT
ALLOWED TO ESCAPE BY
DULL BRITONS
COURT-MARTIALs MAY RESULT
Kitchener Reports Notable Victory
of the English Troops After Two
Days Fighting, with Large
Loss Of Life.
BURGHERs SECURE TWO GUNS
Special to The Globe.

SDccINI 10 Inc UAODe
LONDON, Feb. 28.-War Secretary
Broderick announced in the commons to
day, with considerable JUNCTION, that Gen.
Dewet's son had been captured but he
failed to impart to the legislature more
surprising news. This is that the famous
Commander General Louis Botha had
also been made prisoner and had gotten
away again
That is a story held in reserve. and
may yet result in some court-martials.
The affair happened after the capture
of BOtha's laager near Knapdaar, and
the astonishing details would not now be
known had not a trick been played on
the British censor The tidngs came in
a private letter from officer in the
field, the letter having been mailed by an
intermediary at a free port 70 avoid the
censors scrutiny and certain mutilatiOn-
IT will be remembered that when Red
ington's troops made the night attack
at Knapdaar they captured several pris-
onerS and the camp equipment Of the
Beers. Among the men taken was Gen.
Louis Botha, but the British did not
recognize him, and the other prisoners
took care to shield him in every possible
manner.
After the pursuit of the fugitives had
ended the captured men were divided into
groups and Botha, fortunately for him,
was included in the number that was
instructed to the care Of the rear guard
from which he escaped during the excite
ment Of a skirmish.
Kitchener Reports Successes.
LONDON, Feb 29.-Following the rrec-
edent Of Lord Roberts, who announced
Gen. Cronje's surrender at Paardeburs
on the anniversary Of the battle of Ma
juba hill Feb. q, 183D, Lord Kitchener
to achieve a big success by a combined
movement, lasting two days. against the
Beer forces within the Harrisr1fth and
Van Reenen line Of blOckhOUses.
The Boer losses aggregate coo men
killed or captured and 2,O50 horses ana
2SCOC head Of cattle fell into the hands
Of the British troops.
This news was so welccm 20 the
British that 1t was read out in the house
Of commons today by the war secretary.
MI. Brodrick, from a dispatch of Lord
Kitchener, as follows:
Harrismith, Feb. 2s.-Yesterday the COM
bined operations of the columns ter
minated in driving the Beers against the
Harrismith and Van Reenen blockhOuse
line. The River Wlge was held by the
Leinster regiment and Elliotts mounted
infantry from Harrismith. while the col
umns formed on the Frankfort and
Botha's Pass blockhouse lire and al
vanced south, holding the entire country
between the Wilge and the Natal from
tier.
on the first night very severe attempt
to break through was made az "A point
between Rlmington's and Byng y columns
and the New Zealanders behaved with
great gallantry. The fighting was ar
close quarters and the Beers. as usual.
drove a large herd Of cattle in front OF
them. Mamie Botha, the Boer leader
was killed, and thirty-fve dead Beers
were found on the ground. over 100
horses We're killed and 5000 head of cat
tie were left in our hands. Other small
attempts to break out were made, and
in cases succeeded.
on the last day 45O Beers with rifles
and horses We're captured. Ali the coll
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