The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-13
Kitchener's Big Drive Failed
to Catch BOer Leader.
Line of Armored Trains and
Searchlights 80 Miles Long.
CIRCLE OF FIRE
Fierce Battle Ragged Through
One Entire Night
And Extended Over an Area OF
40 to so Miles.

London. Feb. 1S-The detailed ac-
counts which have just reached here Oh
Lord Kitchener's combined movement
to drive out the Beers from the en-
closure of block house lines show that
the conflict was very picturesque and
the most exciting incident of the Wflole
campaign. Although apparently sur
rounded by an impenetrable ring OF III e
ana steel, the Beers dauntless bravery
and dashing charges ultimately result
ed in the majority's escape from the
~leshes of Lord Kitchener's elose-draWn
net
The British commanders scheme was
the most extensive ever carried out
during the present war. 1t consisted
of a continuous line over fifty miles in
length Lord kitchener, who person.
ally directed operations, was in close
touch day and night with every detail
of the movement. The Beers, though
hard pressed shrank from attempting TO
cross the railroad, which was patrolled
throughout the night by armored
trains equipped with powerful search-
lights. The train lights were supple
mented by stationary searchlights, and
the spectacular effect, as witnessed
fIom the trains, was most striking by
the side of the railroad We're thedafh
forms of men lying in trencheS Cl
standing doing sentry duty The gloom
of the moonless night was Intermittent
ly relieved by the sweep of the search =
lights.
The battle at Heilbron ragged from .
o'clock Friday night until 5 o'clock Sat :
urday morning. Throughout the u
hours a fearful ring of fire from rifles,
cannon and pom poms swept along the
British lines in holding De VETS Beers,
who made repeated attempts to break
out of the circle of troops. From va
rious positions behind rocks and dongas
the Beers kept up a vigorous fusillade,
hoping to find weak spot in the line
simultaneously others charged, but
again and again were the Beers re-
pulsed, leaving dead, wounded and
prisoners in the hands of the British
At the outset of the preparations the
Beers realized that the operations were
not merely an ordinary drive, but a
move threatening them with total ami
hilatiOn, and General DeWet assem-
bied his whole force and discussed the
situation with the commanders, with
the result that the Boers We're split u3
into three forces. On the third nigft
800 Beers. hemmed by Van Golfers,
rushed a force of imperial Lighthouse.
ceiling storm, burghersi" About lCo
Beers get through, but the remainder,
encountering a tremendous fire, were
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 endeav-
ored to find outlets. The Beers at one
spot got within 30 yards of the British
firing line, but the barbed wire baked
the burghers and forced them to re-
treat.
The firing never ceased. Aided by the
electric searchlights the British han
rOwed the surrounding territory with
shrapnel shells and Maxim bullets. In
the northern section the Beers made a
desperate effort to break through. Col
lecting a number of cattle. the Beers
drove them down on the British lines.
Bending low in their saddles the Beers
rode among the cattle. making it i'm
possible to distinguish them in the dark
ness. The British pickets opened a
terrible fire and the Beers were every
where met with a relentless hail of bui-
lets. A long line of flame ran up and
down the firing line. nearly 80 miles i'll
length as the armored trains flashed
their searchlights over N lies of couII-
try The reports of the quick-firims
guns along the entrenched line and the
booming of the field guns and pom
poms sounded very. deep amid the shal ,
cracking of the musketry while He'll
brOn fort contributed to the universal
din with the deep roar of it's naval
gun.
This lasted for some twenty minutes
when gradually the rattle died down
until only the crack of single shots was
heard. Then all was again quiet
The Beers attempt to break the Brit
ish circle had failed. A few of them
succeeded in crossing the line. and
among them was General DeWet