The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-02-19
BUTGHERY OF THE BOERs.
Kitchener Hunts Them Down as
Westerners do Jack Rabbits.

y London, Feb. 13.-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 conhct was very pictureque
and the most exciting incident of the
whole campaign. Although apparent
ly surrounded by an i1rpenetrable ring
of fire and steel the Beers dauntless
and dashing charges ultimately result
ed in the nnajority'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. It consisted
of continuous line over so miles in
length. Lord Kitchener, who person
ally directed the operations, was in
touch day and night with every detail
of the movements. The Beers, though
hard pressed, shrank from crossing
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 from
the trains was most striking.
The battle at Hebron ragged from
9 O'Clock Friday night until 2 O'Clock
Saturday morning. Through the five
hours fearful ring of fire from rifles,
cannon and pompoms swept along the
British lines, 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 vigorous
fusillade, hoping to find a weak spot
in the line. Simultaneously others
charged but again and again were the
Beers repulsed, 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 movement threatening them
with total annihilation. Gen. DeWet
assembled his whole force and dis
cussed 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
Van Golfers, rushed force OF the In
perial Light Horse, yelling Storm,
Burghers About 100 Beers got
through, bat the remainder encounter
ed tremendous fire and 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 endeavored to find
outlets. The Beers at one spot got
within 80 yards of the British firing
line. but the barbed wire baked the
burehers and forced them to retreat.
THE FIRING NEVER CEASED.
Aided by the electric searchlights,
the British narrowed the surrounding
territory with shrapnel, shells and
Maxim bullets. In the northern sec
tion the Beers made desperate effort
to break through. Collecting a num-
ber of cattle, the Beers drove them
down on the British lines. Bending
low in their saddles, tie Beers rode
among the cattle, making 1t lmpossl-
BILE to distinguish them in the dark
ness. The British pickets opened .
terrible Ere and the Beers everywhere
were met with relentless hail Of bull
lets. A long line of flame ran up and
down the firing line nearly 30 miles IN
length as the arnored trains flashed
their searchlights over miles OF. coun-
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 Beers attempt to break the
British circle had failed. A few OF
them succeeded in crossing the line and
among them was Gen. DeWet.
The Last Heard Of 1t.