Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-14
A 5O-MILE LINE
Drawn About the Beers bv
General Kitchener.
MerciIess Fire for Hours Poured in
from Whole Extent.
DeWct Finally Divides Forces and
Most CT Them Escape.

London, Feb. 1s.-The detailed ac-
counts which have just reached here Of
Lord Kitchener's combined movement
to drive out the Beers from the enclos-
ure of blockhouse lines, show that the
conflict was very picturesque and that
it was the most exciting incident of the
whole campaign. Although apparently
surrounded by an impenetrable ring Of
fire and steel, the Beers dauntless
bravery and dashing charges ultimately
resulted in the majority's escape from
the meshes Of Lord Kitcheners close
drawn net.
The British commanders scheme was
the most extensive ever carried out
during the present war. 1t consisted of
continuous line over so miles in
length. Lord Kitchener. who personally
directed the operations. was in close
touch, day and night, with every detail
% the movements. The Beers. though
hard pressed, shrank from attempting
TO cross the railroad, where armored
trains, equipped with powerful search
lights, 'patrolled the line throughout the
night.
The train lights We're supplemented
by stationary searchlights and the
spectacular 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 sentry duty. The gloom of the
moonless light was internationally re-
lieved by the sweep Of the indefati-
gable searchlights.
The battle at Hebron (Orange River
Colony ragged from o'clock Friday
night until 2 o'clock Saturday morning
Throughout the five hours a fearful
ring of fire, from rifles, cannon and
pCm-poms, swept along the British
lines from Louwspruit to Hebron,
southwest, away to Lindley and Kroon-
stad). in holding DeWet's Beers, who
made repeated attempts to break out
Of the circle Of troops.
From various positions, behind rocks
and dongas, the Beers Kept up a vigor-
Gus fusilade. hoping to find weak
spot in the lines. simultaneously they
charged. but again and again were the
Beers repulsed, leaving dead. wounded
and prisoners in the hands of the Brit
ish.
At the outset of the preparations the
Beers realized that the operations were
not merely an ordinary drive" but n
movement threatening them with total
humiliation, and General DeWet as
sembled his whole force and discussed
the situation with the commanders,
with the result that the Beers were
split up into three forces. On Thurs
day night, 800 Beers. headed by Van
Golfers, rushed a force of the Imperial
Light Horse, yelling: storm, Bur-
ghers." About 100 Beers got through,
but the remainder. encountering a ire
mendous fire, We're turned back.
Friday nights conflict ebbed and
swelled over an area of 40 to so miles.
in which the long hunted, harrassed
and desperate men endeavored to find
outlets. The Beers at one spot got
within 30 yards of the British firing
line, but the barbed wire baked them
and forced the burghers to retreat.
The firing never ceased. Aided by
the electric searchlights the British
narrowed the surrounding territory
with shrapnel shells and Maxim bull
let's.
In the northern section the Beers
made most desperate efforts to break
through. Collecting a number of cat
tie, the Beers drove them down on
saddles, the Beers rode among the cat
tie, making it impossible to distinguish
them in the darkness.
The British pickets opened a terri
BILE fire and the Beers were everywhere
met with relentless hail of bullets.
A long line Of flame, cracking like
burning wood, ran up and down the
firing line, nearly 80 miles in length
as the armored 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 pom
poms sounded very deep amid the
sharp cracking of the musketry, while
Hebron fort contributed to the uni
versal din with the deep roar of it's
naval gun.
This lasted for some 20 minutes,
when gradually the rattle died down
until only single shots were heard.
Then all was again quiet
The Beers attempt to break the
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