Connecticut western news., 1902-04-10
TWO FIERCE BATTLES
DETAILS OF REGENT FIGHTING IN
 SOUTH AFRICA
At DoOrnbRlt Farm the British Lost Twenty-seven Killed and One Hun dred and FOrty-seven Wounded. Canadians Suffered Heavily.

Twenty-seven Killed and One Hun
 dred and Forty-seven Wounded.
 Canadians Suffered Heavily.
 Details received at Pretoria of the rear guard action during the night of March 31 between the Second Dragoon guards of Colonel Lawley's column and the Boers near Boschman's kop show that a force of POO British while en- deavoring to surprise a Boer laager on dark night rode straight into force of 500 Boers. The Boers were hidden in a drift and opened fire from almost under the legs of the British horses. A which both sides freely used the butt ends of their rifles. The British regain ed the ridge they had just left and commenced rear guard action.
 In the meantimeEa strong force of Boers had barred the road back to tho British camp. The coming of daylight enabled Colonel Lawley to see that the dragons were hard pressed. and he dispatched re-enforcements, with two guns, to their assistance. The re-en- forcements soon compelled the Boers to retreat.
 The dragoon guards had a very hard fight and were ordered to retire by squadron. The Boers disputed every inch of the road with them and contin- ually attempted to rush them, shout ing, Hands upr' At each successive position taken up the British appeared in diminished numbers, for as 1t grew lighter the aim of the Boers improved approximately.
 The following incident of the fighting Is reported:
 Commandant Pretorius, who was cap tured the previous day in Cape cart, was in charge of some national scouts. The scouts rode into a party of Boers dressed in khaki, supposing them to be British troops. The Boers opened fire, and Pretorius escaped in the confusion. One report says he was shot as he fled. Commandant Prinzloo is also report ed to have been killed in the fighting, as well as other Boer officers. The British wounded who fell into Boer hands were well treated by the enemy.
 Details received of the battle at DoOIhDdli IdTIn, III WHICH Inc bTlUSn l had officers and 24 men killed and 16 officers and 131 men wounded, while the Boers had 13T men killed or wound ed, show that quite 2,0O0 Boers opened a strong attack from different points, with three guns and a pompom. This attack was made at a moment when the British had left their luggage in laager in charge of the Canadian con- tingent and were galloping across the open plain with the intention of cap turing a Boer convoy which had been discovered five miles ahead.
 The British retired steadily and, hav- Ing dismounted, opened a return fusil- Jade on the Boers. While the baggage In charge of Canadians was sent for the British formed camp and started dig ging trenches. The smelling of the Boers stampeded the mules carrying provisions and caused confusion, but otherwise it was not very effective, as | many shells failed to explode. The Boer attack was very bold and determined. The Canadians in. front were attacked in strong numbers and gallantly repelled every attempt made by the Boers to break through them. One party of the Canadians fought un- til all were killed or wounded. The fighting was severe and general for fully three hours, but after the Brit 18th had formed their camp and started the trenches and the guns got into ac- ton the British forces in close order repelled numerous and determined at- tacks made under the personal exhorta- ton of the Boer leaders.
 Toward night the fire gradually ceas- | ed and the Boers retired.
 The British then telegraphed for aid and further intrenched their camp for | the night and to await the arrival of | General Kitchener, but the Boers made no attempt to renew the attack Casper Kruger, the eldest son of for
 mer President Kruger. and twenty
 four other relatives of MT. Kruger
 bearing the same family name are among those who have recently taken the oath of allegiance to Great Britain. Commandant Kritzinger, who was captured by General French at Han over road. Cape Colony, Dec. IT last and who has been tried by court mar tial on the charge of having committed four murders in addition to train wrecking and cruelty to prisoners, has been acquitted and is being well treat ed as an ordinary prisoner of war.