The Holly chieftain., 1902-06-06
War in >Soufb Africa
From First TO Last.

customary gallant. Dal smut ALH4Seii
up along with hi people to bear the
brunt OF the alta on the diamond
mining company property.
British coluna sent out of Lady
smith to Lombart Eop was attacked
by the Beers; it ammunition carried
by mules lost in the stampede. its
guns sharing tht -lme fate. After a
gallant defense r.a column surren-
dered.
Meanwhile LorI Methuen was ad-
vancing 10 the .cici of Kimberley.
He was opposed Yg the Beers at every
step and after fl ing three fierce ba;-
ties. gaining a 'w miles each time,
was repulsed al Nasersfonteia, where
he sat down to await the coming CT
Lord Roberts.
Gen. Butler hal by this time ar
rived in the couurry with strong rein
iorcements and a.'ermned to relieve
l.adysmith. To 10 this he advanced
through Natal an took up position
on the Tugela river. The Beers
moved down to Iofend the crossing
and the British moved forward almost
without reconno sance. The conse-
quence was that this foolish frontal
attack was repuLsed with great los,
and worse than all the British bat
terry of eleven guns taken by the
Beers, the battery having advanced
too close TO the burghers' concealed
trenches.
Another series of movements was
then undertaken TO drive the Beers
out of the hills, but one attack after
another failed. At last the vigor of
the British attack made way
through Peters hill and Lord Dun
donald rode into Ladysmith February
rs, 1900, after siege of more than
four months.
Lord Roberts meanwhile had been
pushing through the heart of the
country with a large body Of troops
He took over Methuen's command and
with the troops at his disposal began
a series Of tlanking movements by
means of which he sent Gen. French,
the cavalry leader into Kimberley,
compelling Cronje to retire with what
speed he might. Cronje. however, was
too slow, aud along with 1900 men
and six guns surrendered at Paarde
berg on February 81, 1900 Lord Rob
erts. with his chief of staff, Lord
Kitchener, pursued the retreating
Beers through the Free State to
Bloomfontein, which surrendered on
March 13. the Beers retiring to Pre-
toria, which capital surrendered June
), 1900. Gen. Brinsloo, with 3,34S men.
surrendered to the British September
l. 1900; eX-President Kruger fled to
Europe and Lord Roberts returned
home to England.
Lord Kitchener, by building series
of blockhouses, connected with barbed
wire fences, succeeded then in driving
the Beers out of a large stretch OF
territory, but Dewet, Delarey, Botha
fare and even as late as on March 8,
1902, captured Gen Methuen and
broke up his column of 1900 men in
night surprise. The Beers were
dressed in British uniforms
The pursuit of the Beers still con-
tinued with considerable vigor and
after the Dutch government had
sought frutlessly to offer to negoti-
ate between the parties the Beers un-
der acting President Schalk-Burger,
perhaps moved by the British foreign
minister's courteous reference to
themselves and the fact that they re-
allied that oyertures for peace must
come from the Beers in the field, as
well as pressed hard by the British
troops, sought permission to commit
nicate with the other leaders with
view to arranging terms of surrender