Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-02-15
ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE THE BoEF
LEADER "A MOST sPEcTAc-
uLAR AFFAIR.
WE'RE ENTIRELY HEMMED IN

) Z : :; X 4 { i &
Kitchener's Close Drawn Net Of Fire
and steel Unable to Withstand the
DauntIess Bravery and Dashine
Charges of the Burqhers Powerful
SearchIiahts Illuminated the Scene
of the AlI-Niaht Fight.
london, Feb. 1.-THE detailed &C.
counts which have just reached here
of Lord Kitchener's combined move
ment to drive out the Beers from the
enclosure of blockhouse lines show
that the conflict was very picturesque
and the most exciting incident of the
whole campaign. Although apparent
" surrounded by an impenetrable ring
of fire and steel the Beers dauntIess
bravery and dashing charges ultimate,
ly resulted in the majority's escape
from the meshes of Lord Kitchener's
close drawn net.
The British commanders scheme
was the most extensive ever carried
out during the present war. 1t con-
sisted of continuous line over 30
miles in length. Lord Kitchener, who
personally directed the operations,
was in close touch day and night with
every detail of the movements. The
Beers, though hard pressed, shrank
from attempting to cross the railroad,
which was patrolled through the
night, by armored trains, equipped
with powerful searchlights. The train
lights were supplemented by tenn
porary searchlights and the spectac-
ular effect, as witnessed from the
trains, was most striking. By the side
of the railroad were the dark forms OF
men lying in trenches, or standing, do
ing sentry duty. The gloom OF the
moonless night was ,interm1ttently re-
lieved by the sweep OF the search
lights. .. .-
The battle at Hebron ragged from
9 o'clock Friday night until 2 o'clock
Saturday morning Throughout the
five hours a fearful ring of fire from
rifles, cannons and pom-poms swept
along the British lines in holding
General Dewet's Beers, who made re
peated attempts to break out OF the
circle of troops. From various posi-
lions, behind rocks and dongas, the
Beers kept up vigorous fusillade,
hoping to find a weak spot in the line.
simultaneously others charged, but
again and again we're the Beers re
pulsed, leaving dead, wounded and
prisoners in the hands of the British.
Dewet Holds Conference.
At the outset of the preparations
the Beers realized that the operations
were not merely. an primary drive, ;"
but a movement threatening them
with. total anuihilation, and General
Dewet assembled his whole force and
discussed the situation with the com
manders, with the result that the
Beers were split up into three forces.
On Thursday night 500 Beers, headed
by Vancellers, rushed force of the
Imperial light horse. About 100 burgh-
ers got through, but the remainder,
encountering a tremendous fire, werJ
turned back.
Friday nights conflict ebbed and
swelled over an area of 40 to SO miles
in which the long hunted, harassed
and desperate men endeavored to
find outlets. The Beers at one spot
got within so yards of the British fir
ing line, but the barbed wire baked
them and forced them to retreat.
Aided by the electric searchlights,
the British narrowed the surrounding
territory with shrapnel, shells and
Maxim, bullets. In the northern sec
ton the Beers made desperate effort
to break through. Collecting a NUM-
Der of cattle the Beers drove them
down on, the British lines Bending
low in. their saddles they rode among
the cattle, making it impossible TO dis
tinguisI1 them in the darkness. The
British pickets opened terrible IRE
and the Beers were everywhere met
with a relentless hail Of bullets. A
long line of fame ran up and, down
the firing line, nearly 80 miles in
length, as the armored trains flashed
their searchlights over miles of .coun
try. The reports of the quick firing
guns along the entrenched line and
the booming of the field guns and
pcm-poms sounded amid the sharp
of musketry, while Hebron
fort contributed to the universal din
with the deep roar of its naval gun.
This lasted, for some 20 minutes,
when, gradually, the rattle died down
until only the crack Of single shots
was heard, then all was again quiet.
The Boer attempt to break the Brit
ish circle" had failed. A few of them
among them was General Dewet.