The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-14
DE- VET ESCAPED En-
Kitcheners Well Laid Net
Failed to Hold.
WAS IMPRESSIVE SIGHT
Flash ofRifle as 1t Rent the
Darkness.

London. Feb. Iz-The detailed accounts
have lust reached here OF Lord Kitchen
er's combined movement TO drive out the
Boer forces from the enclosure or BLOCK
house lines. shows that the conflict vas
very picturesque and the most exciting
incident of the whole campaign Although
apparently surrounded BY al impene-
trable ring Of fire and steel. the Beers
dauntless bravery and dashing charges
ultimately resulted n thu majoritys es-
cape from the meshes Of Lord Kitchen
er's close drawn net
The British commanders scheme was
the most extensive ever carried out dur
ing the present war. II consisted OK =
continuous lire over fifty miles in length
Lord Kitchener. who personally directed
operations. was in close touch with every
detail OF the movements The Beers,
though hard pressed. shrank from at
tempting 10 cross the railroad which was
patrolied throughout the night by ar
nored trains with powerful searchlights-
The train lights were supplemented py
stationary ssarcniights and the spectac-
ulsr 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 doing sen
try duty. The gloom Of the noonless
night was internationally relieved by the
sweep OF the searchIights. The battle
81 Hebron ragged from o'clock Friday
night until 2 o'clock Saturday morning.
Throughout the FIVE hours. fearful ring
OF fire from rifles, cannon and pompons
swept along the British line in holding
Dewet's Beers. who made repeated at
tempts 10 break out OF the circle OF
troops. From various positions. behind
rocks ana dondas. the Beers kept UP
vigorous fusillade, hoping to find weak
spot in the line. simultaneously others
charged, but again and again the Beers
reDulsed. leaving dead. wounded and pris-
oners 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 move
rnent threatening them with total ami
husttou and General Dewet assembled his
whole force and discussed the situation
with the commanders, with the result
that the Beers were split up into three
forces On Thursday night 81 Beers,
headed by Vsncollers. rushed force OF
the Imeprial Light Horse, yelling storm,
burghers" About 100 Beers got through,
but the remainder. ercOuntsrtng ire
rnendous fire. were turned back
Friday nights conflict eb5ed and swell
ed over an area OF forty or fifty miles.
in which the long-hunted, harrssssd and
desperate men endeavOred 10 ind out
lets. The Beers at one spot got within
but the barbed wire fence baked the
burghers and forced them 10 retreat The
firing never ceased. Aided by the cleo
trio sesrchlights, the British narrowed
the surrounding territory with shrapnel
and shells and Maxim bullets. In the
northern section. the Beers made des-
perate effort 70 break through Collect
ing q number Of cattle, the Beers drove
them down on the British lines. bend
ing low in their saddles. The Beers rode
among the cattle, making il impossible
70 distinguish them in the darkness The
British pickets opened a terrible fire and
the Beers We're everywhere met with
relentless hail OF bullets. long line or
fame ran up and down the firing line,
nearly thirty miles in length. as the ar
rnored trains flashed their searchlights
over miles OF country. The reports OF
the quick firing guns along the entrenched
line and the booming OF the field guns
and pompons sounded very deep amid
the sharp cracking Of musketry. while
Hebron contributed 70 the universal din
with the deep roar OF its naval gun.
This lasted for twenty minutes. when
gradually the ra,tle died down until only
the crack OF single guns was heard Then
all was again quiet. The Beers attempt
70 break the British circle had failed.
A few Of them succeeded IN crossing
the line, and among them was General